Bilingual SLPA

I think that there is a very big necessity for bilingual SLPAs, especially here in Oklahoma city. I have lived in south side OKC my whole life. Here in southwest OKC there is a very large population of hispanic people. Having more bilingual SLPAs could help families receive SLP services that they would have never had the opportunity to get because of the language barrier.

It seems as though there are not that many resources for bilingual SLPAs. I believe that one of the main reasons for this is that the SLPA field is still relatively new, but I believe that with time, the SLPA field will grow, and perhaps in the future, I hope that there will be more resources for bilingual SLPAs.

I believe that any organizations can benefit from having a bilingual SLPA on the team.

I think that there should be an ASHA certification for bilingual SLPAs that will help to verify that the SLPA has been trained to work with bilingual clients and that they are proficient enough in a foreign language that they will be able to provide services for clients who speak a language other than English

"Individuals shall not discriminate in the delivery of professional services or in the conduct of research and scholarly activities on the basis of age; citizenship; disability; ethnicity; gender; gender expression; gender identity; genetic information; national origin, including culture, language, dialect, and accent; race; religion; sex; sexual orientation; or veteran status." (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2023, code of ethics [Ethics]. Available from www.asha.org/policy/.)

"Individuals who hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence shall engage in only those aspects of the professions that are within the scope of their professional practice and competence, considering their certification status, education, training, and experience." (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2023, code of ethics [Ethics]. Available from www.asha.org/policy/.)

The Code of Ethics are an important guide to follow. It's important for SLPAs and SLPs to know how to be ethical in their practice. I feel that it is a bilingual SLPA's responsibility to be certain that know another language well enough to provide the best service to not only the client but also the clients family.

"Completion of an SLPA program from a regionally accredited
institution (e.g.,, an associate degree, a technical training program, a certificate program)." (Ostergren & Vento-Wilson, 2022 pp. 20)

"Receipt of a bachelor''s degree in communication sciences and disorders from a regionally accredited institution AND completion of ASHA education modules." (Ostergren & Vento-Wilson, 2022. pp.20)

"Receipt of a bachelor's degree in a field other than communication sciences and disorders AND completion of ASHA education modules AND successful completion of coursework from a regionally or nationally accredited institution in all of the following areas:


introductory or overview courses in communication disorders
phonetics
speech sound disorders
language development
language disorders
anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing mechanisms" (Ostergren & Vento-Wilson, 2022, pp20)

Subtopic

Taking a foreign language course is required for all majors, but, I think that there should be a pathway for SLPA students to take more Spanish courses to reach a certain level of fluency so that they can work with Spanish speaking clients. I chose Spanish for my example because it is the second most spoken language in the United States according to the most recent census. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/12/languages-we-speak-in-united-states.html

I think it is very important for all SLPAs to receive some kind of training in working with bilingual clients. I think if an SLPA college curriculum included classes for working with bilingual clients, that would be beneficial for both the clients and the SLPA.

"Bilingualism is the ability to communicate in more than one language and can thought of as a continuum of language skills in which proficiency in any of the language used may fluctuate over time and across social settings, conversational, and topics, among other variables" (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (n.d.). Bilingual Service Delivery (Practice Portal). as cited in Grossjean, 1989; Bialystok, 2001, Retrieved 8/26,2023 www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Professional-Issues/Bilingual-Service-Delivery/.)

"Simultaneous bilingualism - the acquisition of two languages at the same time, typically with both languages introduced prior to the age of 3."( American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (n.d.). Bilingual Service Delivery (Practice Portal). as cited in Paridis, Genesee, Crago, 2011, Retrieved 8/26,2023 www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Professional-Issues/Bilingual-Service-Delivery/.)

"Sequential bilingualism- a second language introduced after age 3, at which time some level of proficiency has been established in the primary language, also referred to as successive bilinguals or second language acquisition." ( American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (n.d.). Bilingual Service Delivery (Practice Portal). as cited in Paridis, Genesee, Crago, 2011, Retrieved 8/26,2023 www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Professional-Issues/Bilingual-Service-Delivery/.)

"Dual language learners-individuals learning two languages simultaneously from infancy or who are learning a second language after the first language." ( American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (n.d.). Bilingual Service Delivery (Practice Portal). as cited in Paridis, Genesee, Crago, 2011, Retrieved 8/26,2023 www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Professional-Issues/Bilingual-Service-Delivery/.)

"English language learners- "language minority students in the United States who are learning English, the majority language, for social integration and education purposes...also referred to as limited English proficient (LEP) students" (p.265)." ( American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (n.d.). Bilingual Service Delivery (Practice Portal). as cited in Paridis, Genesee, Crago, 2011, Retrieved 8/26,2023 www.asha.org/Practice-Portal/Professional-Issues/Bilingual-Service-Delivery/.)

I didn't know that there is a process of language acquisition. when I read about the process, it made me think about how children tend to learn a language naturally over time. I suppose I never considered that a child could learn two languages at the same time.

"Interpret for students, patients, clients, and families who communicate using a language other than English, when the provider has received specialized training with interpreting skills in the student's, patient's, or client's first language." (Ostergen & Vento-Wilson, 2022, pp.48)

"Provide services in another language for individuals who communicate using a language other than English or for those who are developing English language skills. Such services are based on the provider's skills and knowledge of the language spoken by the student, patient, or client." (Ostergen & Vento-Wilson, 2022, pp.48)

"Assist the SLP with interpretation and translation in the student's, patient's, or client's first language during screening and assessment activities exclusive of clinical interpretation results." (Ostergen & Vento-Wilson, 2022, pp.48)

I think these responsibilities are excellent for Bilingual SLPAs. Something that I think is very important when it comes to working with clients who speak a language other than English is to remind the parents or caretakers of the clients that you are not trying to teach a client another language.