Public Policy Agenda - 2021 - 11

Professional Practice
and Workforce
Priorities
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists are the leading professionals distinctively
trained to assess, treat, and manage speech, language, cognitive, hearing, balance,
voice, and feeding/swallowing disorders. It is essential that safe working environments are
established and maintained, licensure and certification requirements are preserved, the
professions' defined scopes of practice are protected, small business owners are supported,
graduate and undergraduate student bodies are diversified, and a culturally responsive
workforce is enhanced. ASHA's public policy priorities as related to professional practice
and workforce are as follows:
*	 Advocate for evidence-based public
health policies that support a safe working
environment, such as the provision of
adequate and appropriate PPE, flexible
working hours, additional paid sick leave,
and telepractice technology.
*	 Advocate for public policies that support
the licensure and certification standards
of audiologists and speech-language
pathologists, and their ability to practice at
the top of their license at all times.
*	 Advocate for adoption of the Audiology
& Speech-Language Pathology Interstate
Compact (ASLP-IC).

*	 Advocate for public policies that recruit
and support (a) a diverse population
of undergraduate and graduate
students in audiology and speechlanguage pathology and (b) a culturally
responsive workforce of audiologists
and speech-language pathologists.
*	 Advocate for public policies that provide
economic support to audiologists and
speech-language pathologists-particularly
those who are owners of small businesses
or private practices or who operate as
independent contractors.

*	 Advocate for regulations that reflect the
value of audiology and speech-language
*	 Address infringement upon the scopes of
pathology assistants.
practice of audiology and speech-language
pathology by other professions that lack
the necessary academic and clinical
preparation as well as continuing education
to assess, treat, and manage speech,
language, cognitive, hearing, balance,
voice, and feeding/swallowing disorders.
ASHA 2021 Public Policy Agenda | 11
Public Policy Agenda - 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Public Policy Agenda - 2021
