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Interim Advisory Council Update
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Congressman Zach Wamp, of Tennessee is going to propose a resolution of National Dysphagia Awarness Month, for June 2008.  Please consider taking the time to write your congressman to support this.  There is an attached congressional form letter to this email you can use/adapt-and following is the link to your Congressmen's contact information. Please read the following letter from Bonnie Martin-Harris, President of the Dysphagia Research Society, and consider encouraging your congressman to support this important resolution to raise awareness.

 
See letter from: Bonnie Martin Harris 
 
Congressional letter 
Best regards,
Lisa Abbott Moore, MS CCC/SLP, ASHA Speech Language Pathology Advisory Council, mool@phin.org.
 
Advisory Council Updates
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May 5, 2008

Dear Vermont ASHA Members:

The annual meeting for the Speech Language Advisory Council (previously called Legislative Council) was held at the end of March in Washing ton D.C. I made capitol hill visits with the legislative aids who work for Senator Leahy, Senator Sanders, and Representative Welch. The agenda was as follows: direct access to audiologists, early hearing detection and intervention, IDEA funding, SLP medicare outpatient supplier status, and hearing aid tax credit. In my follow up coorespondance both Senator Sanders and Representative Welch, both have agreed to co-sponser all of these bills.  I am still waiting to hear back from Senator Leahy on his support with these issues.

This interim year is a time of transition as some mourn the loss of the legislative council.  The exact responsiblities of the new advisory council are still being decided. It seems that the Board of Directors wants to take the responsiblity of informing new members of important changes such as dues, etc. rather than having the advisory council member inform members at the state level.  They also want members to feel impowered to contact the Board of Directors at the national level with issues rather than having the advisory council member perform as that laision.  Finally, I am also cautioned on discussing in detail what happens at our annual meeting.  This interim year will be a time that the roles and responsiblites are solidifed and as more information comes, I will certainly share what I have.  It is my understanding that we will continue to advocate with legislators each year at our annual meeting on the issues related to communication disorders.

Please contact me if you have any further questions regarding the advisory council.  There is an advisory council representative for audiologists for the state of Vermont as well and her name is Sandra Farnum.  I am sure she would be willing to share her point of view on these issues as well.  You can contact her at gmshsl@sover.net.

Best regards,

Lisa Abbott Moore, MS CCC/SLP


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