The ASHA Leader

Misleading headlines and social media conversations can be overwhelming for caregivers of autistic children. CSD professionals can help by pointing caregivers to research and verified information. #WorldAutismMonth on.asha.org/4efpNRx

SLP Offers Sensory-Friendly Haircuts Madeline Johnson turns a part-time job into a full-time small business, providing safe, low-stress haircuts for clients with special needs. on.asha.org/4mnK0qt

ASHA Advocacy Fights for CSD Students and Medicaid Coverage With member input, ASHA’s advocacy priorities for 2026 include securing comprehensive coverage, growing and diversifying the professions, and more. @ASHAAdvocacy on.asha.org/4ec89xZ

Drawing on her own experiences as a neurodivergent student, a clinical faculty member explores how graduate programs can reset expectations away from homogeneity and toward assessing core competencies. on.asha.org/4vmNNs9

ASHA Voices Podcast: Engaging With Teacher Unions and Education Associations in Schools on.asha.org/47VIplI

One of my favorite ways to help the brain “shift gears” and support understanding is to use basic object identification in book reading, showing the child a picture and returning to it later. -SLP Kevin Simmons on.asha.org/4dGfu90

A Third of SLPs Report Autism as an Area of Expertise: Additionally, since 2020, school-based SLPs say autism is their most common area of intervention. on.asha.org/4sCphRm

Finding a Way Forward, Post IEP SLP Lauren Melone sets her sights on guiding 18-to-22-year-olds with disabilities to their educational or vocational paths after high school. on.asha.org/3O7PEAl

Nominate a Colleague for an ASHFoundation Clinical Achievement Award You have until April 15! Shown is the 2025 Frank R. Kleffner Lifetime Clinical Career Award recipient Jeanane M. Ferre. on.asha.org/4mq1um2

ASHA Voices: A Neurodivergent SLP on Creating Affirming Spaces for Clients, Colleagues, and Herself on.asha.org/4cennjp

Introducing New ASHA Early Intervention Resource for Providers on.asha.org/4sufoVM

ASHA’s School Services in Speech-Language Pathology team listened to your concerns and challenges during their town halls last year, and in response have developed several new tools to help. on.asha.org/41qL2by

Texas Audiology Workforce Insufficient to Meet Hearing Loss Needs, Study Finds on.asha.org/4tDIYJd

ASHA Voices Podcast: An SLP’s Path to Leading a Neurodiversity-Affirming Clinic on.asha.org/2T507g3

World Autism Month 2026: A Collection of Articles, Podcasts, News, and Studies on.asha.org/41vrbbc

Founded in 2018, Neurodiversity Celebration Week is global movement bringing together schools, universities, and organizations to recognize the skills and talents of neurodivergent individuals, while creating more inclusive, equitable cultures. on.asha.org/3NpldFq

As National Mentorship Month comes to a close, an SLP shares that he worked wth other faculty to launch a peer mentoring program because he "recognized the types of stress and demands CSD grad students encounter. " - SLP Eric C. Bonilla @BaldwinWallace on.asha.org/3LHvLil

How Social Determinants of Health Shape TBI Recovery in Children: Depending on how SDOH interact with systems, policies, and community resources, they can either support health, or pose barriers to care and create gaps requiring support. leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/202…

As the ASHA Centennial year comes to a close, we revisit member essays on how they see their professional area developing in the next 100 years. Here are some of their replies: Let's Celebrate Heritage Languages and Multilingual Learners in Our Schools on.asha.org/4oWAiLf

What if school-based ‘SLTs’ could practice in a future where communication is the foundation of learning, and technology supports belonging and access? Let’s envision it. on.asha.org/4s3cQ1z