I feel that one of my strengths is in demonstrating collegiality with professionals across the state of Texas (and country) by making available to them any resources I have which can be of service, particularly in their efforts to serve CLD clients and students. I have established that this is an area of service that I value, taking shape in workshops, inservices, and e-mail consultation on an as needed basis.   I have corresponded with a number of speech-language pathologists and other health care providers who have written me with questions on that topic (again, explained in the section on Service).  This is ongoing.

As a member of the CLD Task Force, in particular, I had many opportunities to do this — in collaboration with my professional colleagues.  I offer in this section a “white paper” written by the Task Force in response to questions from the officers of TSHA in 2010, particularly having to do with medicaid/chips insurance questions relating to language of service delivery.  This white paper and others, as well as columns for the Communicologist, were written in the most collegial manner possible, by appointing a lead author or authors and then sending the resulting manuscript out to the 10-12 member group for editing and suggestions.  The chair was responsible for the final compilation of information.  This particular manuscript was sent directly to the then-president of TSHA, Denise Barringer, at her request.

CLD Task Force 2010_response to questions from members_Medicaid_CHiPs

It’s been my experience to some degree that professionals in higher education become “swallowed up” in academia, attending academic conferences,  collaborating with academic colleagues, writing in academic journals.  The blessing of continued professional, collegial contact and collaboration (outside of the world of academia) helps me keep my work meaningful and clinically applicable — which I value very much.

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