Interviews with professionals

INTERVIEWS WITH PROFESSIONALS TYLOR BROWN TO:- Peggi Helfinger at Northwest Ohio Speech, Language and Rehabilitation Services, Ltd. helfinger@accesstoledo.com -Michele Wilson at Toledo Hearing and Speech Center wilson717@sbcglobal.net FROM: Tylor Brown at the University of Toledo, Speech Language Pathology Major DATE: March 8th 2011 SUBJECT: Interview with professionals; Speech Language Pathology To have a better understanding of each individual, I separated the interviews in this memo. The final category will be the combination of interviews, my interpretations, and my reflections. I. Professionals’ Background 1. Education, licensing, title, experience Education requirements for a Speech/Language Pathologist are a Master's Degree in Speech Pathology in the Arts/ Sciences or Education Department from an approved University. After completing your Master's program, you apply for a Clinical Fellowship Year (only 9 months really) where you are supervised by an ASHA approved SLP. During your CFY you practice your skills as a therapist in evaluation, therapy, counseling, education and research. Following your CFY year, you are then recommended for your Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech/Language/Hearing Association (ASHA). At this time, if you pass your supervised experience, you may apply for your SLP license in your state, and apply for Membership from ASHA. You are then a certified, licensed Speech/Language Pathologist, and may practice independently at this time in the setting of your choice/experience. 2. Work place/Practice Setting There are many settings that require the services of an SLP. Some of them include the following: hospitals (inpatient and outpatient), schools (preschool through high school), nursing homes, home health agency, group homes, MRDD facilities, voice clinics/ENT, virtual schools/therapy, private practice, University/teaching or supervising. 3. Responsibilities Responsibilities of an SLP are vast. Some of them include evaluation/and or intervention of speech, language, hearing, voice, fluency, pragmatic, phonology, accent reduction, and swallowing disorders: at any age or sex. 4. Perceptions of Work My perception of being an SLP would be someone who has very strong verbal and writing skills, who can identify and treat many disorders with current therapies, programs, and interventions, and who has a caring and empathetic attitude toward others. It requires knowledge, compassion and patience every minute of every hour. You must be able to perceive and gather as much information as you can to make a determination of how you can help someone, how long it will take, and what they can expect as an outcome. It is very rewarding when you are successful at helping someone conquer a communication deficit. II. Agency Background Our agency is called Northwest Ohio Speech, Language and Rehabilitation Services, Ltd. Our mission is to provide excellent rehabilitation services for those who require speech or occupational therapy. We have been in existence since 1994, in Toledo, Ohio. We are located in the Westgate Building on Central Avenue. Our practice employs 23 speech pathologists in 16 different settings across Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan. We serve infants through adults, and we are considered a private practice (privately owned and operated). Our funding comes from insurance companies, private patrons, federal and state monies, and from consulting companies. II. Professionals’ Background ,[object Object],Bachelors of Education in Speech Language Pathology; Master of Science in Communication Disorders, Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language Hearing Association, Ohio License in Speech Language Pathology, Ohio Department of Education License in Speech Language Pathology, Title-Speech Language Pathologist; Administrative Speech Department Manager, have worked as SLP for nearly 10 years. 2. Work Place/Practice Setting *Toledo Hearing and Speech Center-non-profit speech and hearing center *Also contracted through THSC as an SLP at Anthony Wayne Local Schools 3. Responsibilities *Assessment and treatment of children with communication disorders *Maintaining clinical data, development of treatment plans, progress reports, evaluation reports 4. Perceptions of Work I enjoy working with children and making a difference in their lives by improving communication skills. II. Agency Background 5. Mission, purpose *Mission Statement: Toledo Hearing and Speech Center exists to provide rehabilitative services for individuals living with communication disorders. Our goal, through treatment, education, and collaboration is to empower them to achieve independence and lifelong success. 6. Origin/history, location *Founded in 1920 in Toledo. 7. Population served *Primarily children toddler through young adult. We do occasionally treat adults with communication disorders *The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Center do provide services to adults 8. Structure (profit/nonprofit, private, public) *Non-profit 9. Services provided *Speech/language evaluation and treatment *Occupational therapy evaluation and treatment *Hearing evaluations for children *Autism program for children *Services for persons who are deaf and hard of hearing 10. Funding Sources (grants, donations, fees, government, etc) *Grants *Donations *Insurance payments (private insurance/Medicaid) *Private pay clients III. Comparison & Summary Impressions 11. Identify similarities and differences between practice settings The speech language pathologists that I did interview had two very different settings as to where they work at. Peggi works for more of a private practice owned company, while Michele works for a center and also with schools. A private practice setting is more of what I would want to get into. A private practice company allows each one of the workers to be under the company name, but still work individually on their own tasks. Working for a hearing and speech centers is a more day to day basis job, with set dates, appointments, salary, and people. The non-profit organization is more devoted to enhancement rather than having private ownerships and shareholders. Both environments would be great to work in; it just depends on what someone was interested in. The diversity of where a speech language pathologist can work though makes the decision harder for someone like me to pick a setting. 12. Include observations, impressions and reflections The memo itself was hard to put together. The time it took for looking up companies, contacting people, setting up a certain form of interview, and putting it together was harder than I thought it was going to be. By looking at the amount of detail in responses, it shows that the information is in great contrast. Both interviewees listed quality information, but the first just had a little bit more to say than the other. On the phone when I first contacted the girls, I could tell that both people were really passionate about their jobs. It was hard to capture how they felt exactly over an email, but when I listened to the style of their voice, I could tell that they had no regrets about the field that they were in. 13. Summarize learning experience from interviews This project was definitely a learning experience. When calling around to different places it almost made me realize that I am entering a professional field, and I have to talk proper like this all the time! I had the chance to meet two wonderful women who happen to love their jobs, and learn from them. If anything this project has made me more eager to continue my education and finally start doing something that makes me happy, that I like to talk about, and can see myself doing for the rest of my life.

Interviews with professionals

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