October, 31 2017
Statement of Purpose
Attn: Graduate Selection Committee
The role of a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is a challenging but imperative role to society. When there is pathology present in an individual’s communication, either language-based or speech-based, serious adverse effects can impact the quality and functionality of their lives. This is why I am perusing a career as an SLP. The ever-changing profession as an SLP allures me to the field because the learning never ends. As an academic, I am always prepared to absorb new information, and SLP’s must stay updated on the most current research, to ensure that they are providing the most appropriate services for their clients. Also, because every client is unique with diverse
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I also volunteer, assisting students with various developmental and learning disabilities complete their educational tasks (e.g. homework and test preparations). In the past, I’ve worked as a teacher’s aide in the Buffalo, NY public school system and as an undergraduate assistant in the Buffalo State Speech-language and Hearing Clinic. I plan to become a school-based SLP preferably in the Washington, D.C. area. I have great interest in working in the public-school system because I believe that it will allow me to reach and assist a large array of children with a wide variety of unique needs. I am particularly passionate about assisting children that come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds because I come from one myself. I also believe that children are often misdiagnosed with language or speech impairments because they use a vernacular that is different from mainstream English or because they fail standardized tests that are not culturally appropriate for them. Correspondingly, a child’s language or speech impairment can be overlooked because they use a vernacular that differs from mainstream English. As a school-based SLP, I will strive to ensure that all children receive the appropriate services they require, warranting that they become proficient communicators and will be able to use their skills to enhance their lives and contribute to society. Nothing will give me more gratification than to help children make greater use of their communicative
First and foremost, my dream and career goals have always been centered on being an ally to the Deaf community since I began learning sign language almost a decade ago. My college career has focused on ASL, Deaf culture, the Deaf community and their history. I feel at home and at ease in this space. My goal for this program is to gain new skills as a teacher while continuing to learn from the vibrant Deaf community of America. Even though a majority of my work experience from the last five years is in early childhood education, I only recently (within the year) decided to pursue a teaching credential. I love my job as a D/HH para educator but I want to take on a larger role in these kids lives. It is my opinion that Deaf education is misunderstood
Therefore, I plan on closely examining audiology not only in a clinical setting but also in a research setting after my first year in USF’s program. I plan on closely examining innovative audiological strategies, as a graduate student, inside and outside of the classroom, while immersing myself in the intellectual community within the department. While my future classmates at USF may claim that they were born audiologists, I am proud to proclaim, as I have reflected on my journey thus far, that I have gained an intellect and love for audiology that drives my unrelenting passion for the field.
At Clarke I currently teach in a self contained classroom of four year old children that are deaf and hard of hearing who are learning to listen and speak. I assist under the direction of the classroom teacher in planning, preparing and executing lessons in a listening and spoken language approach. I have the opportunity to record, transcribe and analyze language samples on a daily basis. In addition, I facilitate the child's communication in the classroom and ensure carryover of activities between the classroom and individual speech therapy sessions. Every week I contribute and participate in meetings with the educational team to discuss each child's progress using Cottage Acquisition Scales of Speech, Language and Listening (CASSLLS).
Lee, Hepburn, Mares, Hoffman, Squire, and the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association all dove into the topic of how important speech pathology is, especially in the school systems. Lee and Hepburn brought up the important fact that speech programs have actually been taken out of more schools instead of being spread throughout the systems. Mares, Hoffman, Squire, and the American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association all gave us more insight to the world of speech pathology. Now we must go out and use that insight to spread, not take away from programs that are built to aid those in
This Semester I observed a three-year-old girl named Allie. Allie attends preschool at Land of Learning; she is diagnosed with cerebral palsy. It was my pleasure observing her and getting to know her. She is a very sweet outgoing girl that doesn’t let her disability get to her. I observed and assisted Allie throughout her days at preschool. I assisted her and observed her with recess activities, eating lunch, and daily school projects. My past observation experiences I observed at Westgate elementary school in a class room mixed with students with learning disabilities, ADHD and also ELL students the class was taught by Ms. Lewis. I observed a second grade ELL classroom and also a fourth grade classroom. I observed these students during school
1. Many people have multiple reasons why they want to be able to help others in their everyday jobs. My attraction to being a Speech Language Pathologist is because I want to be able to people overcome their speech problems. As a Speech Language Pathologist I want to be able to help people that have speech problems, overcome this problem and be able to be independent without needing the help of myself or other people that are trying to talk to them. I personally know their feelings and have actually been in their shoes to know how frustrating life can be trying to talk and have someone else talk for you.
Today’s speech pathologists are faced with many challenges. However, the field of speech therapy is unique in that when the speech pathologist overcomes a challenges is more often that not a significant triumph in the patients life. It is of massive importance for speech therapist have the following traits good interpersonal skills, the ability to take another’s perspective and problem solving skills.
Two years ago, I embarked on a journey that would teach me more than I had ever imagined. As a recent college graduate, I was thrilled to finally begin my teaching career in a field I have always held close to my heart. My first two years as a special education teacher presented countless challenges, however, it also brought me great fulfillment and deepened my passion for teaching students with special needs. The experiences I have had both before and after this pivotal point in my life have undoubtedly influenced my desire to further my career in the field of special education.
Jenny has been admitted to hospital with sudden onset of ‘slow, slurred speech and clumsiness in both hands’. The doctor stated that likely ‘bilateral UMN lesions’ are the cause. It was noted that upon drinking, Jenny finds ‘fluid coming out of her nose’. Jenny is to be referred to a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) for further assessment. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) will be considered in regards to Jenny’s social and environmental factors (World Health Organisation [WHO], 2001).
My CDA education and experience, along with my excellent communication skills as a caring, empathetic professional will make me an ideal candidate to take on the challenges offered with this position as a Communicative Disorders Assistant for Audiology. Please feel free to contact me by phone at 905.985.2950(h) or 289.314.2256(c) or by email at colleen.brian.brown@gmail.com to discuss my credentials. Thank you for your time and consideration of my
I would make it very clear that I hear your (daughter of patient) concerns. I strongly feel that healthcare professionals often overlook their client’s opinions, so I value making sure that the people who are concerned feel like they have a voice in the matter. I would first address your question about how therapy will fix his problems. I would tackle this by clarifying that my role is not to “fix” everything, but improve his communication and improve his quality of life. My background as a speech pathologist is one who has knowledge and skill across both the brain and language, which can provide treatment to foster communication. Your father most likely will not be the same person he was pre-stroke, but that doesn’t mean that he won’t
There are many challenges that teachers encounter when teaching children with learning disabilities, learners that are English language learners, or learners who are culturally and linguistically diverse. As a nation we are faced with the challenged that our schools are becoming more diverse. The majority of our schoolteachers are still predominately white females, but our student population is slowly changing. We are seeing more minority groups in our schools that are facing different challenges. The scary part of it all is that our teachers do not have the skills to accommodate those differences. “The nation’s changing school demographics are creating a demand for new teaching skills” (Utley, Obiakor, & Bakken 2011, pg. 5). Our student population
In the last decade, technology has come a very far way, and it is just going to keep advancing. Technology greatly affects the future of speech language pathology. The knowledge and power that speech therapists have now has a lot to do with the devices and technological advances that have been made in the world; in the future, there will be even more. With future technology, therapists may be able to find quicker and more successful ways to treat a patient, have more advanced ways of conducting tests, and may even have more machines and information to be able to conduct even further research than what the field already has. Though technology has minor negative impacts, the list of positive impacts is forever growing. Technology has changed
Audiologists, C. A.-L. (2012, October). Early Identifacation of Speech adn Language Disorders. Retrieved from CASLPA: http://www.caslpa.ca
As I ponder over my personal professional development experiences as an educator the realization of how one has developed over time is personally satisfying. Educating children especially children with special needs is a challenge within its self. As a teacher it is important that this writer makes a positive influence with students. There are going to be certain ideas that one tries to uphold and other discriminations that one will not allow. Everyone has their own beliefs teachers should do what is necessary not to infringe on others, but show children different way to think so that they have all the information needed to make educated choices. Children are open-minded they have not yet had to deal with or understand the injustices that they will encounter. If children are taught from an early age they will have the ability to succeed especially children with special needs as an educator my main goal is teaching the purpose of public schools, and education reform. It is my purpose to influence children and be positive influence.