Free Publications

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) offers free publications under the following subject areas:

• Hearing
• Balance
• Smell and Taste
• Voice, Speech, and Language
• Publicaciones en español
• General Information
• Research Reports

For more information and/or to order, please visit: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/order/ or click on one of the above links.

Presenting NSSLHA 2007

And the winners are...

President Toniann Francisco
Vice President Jacqueline Gudis
Treasurer Brenda De La Rosa
Secretary Jacqueline Gudis
Newsletter Editor Anne Preddy
Undergraduate Representative Emily Garcia

Congratulations to NSSLHA's new cabinet for 2007! We are so proud of all of the candidates for stepping up to the plate and seeing the value in becoming an officer. We were also impressed with the number of post-baccalaureates who inquired about a possible position. Our organization truly benefits and appreciates the enthusiasm and support received from everyone.

NSSLHA 2006 wishes the 2007 cabinet the best of luck!
For all NSSLHA members, be prepared for another fabulous year!

NSSLHA proudly participates in Holidays from the Heart!

Since 1993, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) has sponsored “Holidays from the Heart,” a program that provides their “most financially challenged families with basic tools to enjoy a fuller and happier holiday season.” This program provides an opportunity for individuals and organizations to purchase gifts for families who have children who are chronically ill or injured, and who are financially unable to provide for themselves and their children during the holiday season. According to CHLA, “The program is unique because it identifies and acknowledges patients as well as all family members who live in the same home and thus are impacted by caring for a child who is ill.”

For the first time, NSSLHA at CSULA has adopted a family to support, thanks to Rebekah, our talented and brilliant colleague who also works at CHLA – and who also designed our NSSLHA logo.

The family we are fortunate to help consists of a mother, father, and two-month old boy named Jairo. Items on Jairo’s family’s wish list include baby blankets, a portable play pen, musical toys, a bathtub, clothes, gas and grocery gift cards, bed sheets, and bath towels. In addition to making their holiday wishes come true, we would like to purchase some educational toys and story books for Jairo and a gift card to a restaurant for his parents to get a break. Gifts are not limited to their wish list, and all gifts will be most appreciated. The only request is that the gifts be new and unused for health and safety reasons. Please see below for a complete (but not inclusive) wish list.

NSSLHA extends our deepest appreciation to those of you who have already donated to Jairo’s family. We are extremely excited to participate and we know that you are, too, as you have already helped raise $150 in just two days!! Rest assured, we will spend your monetary gifts wisely to purchase items his family needs…and a few “fun” things that they may want (more than need). ;) Our adopted family will be overwhelmed this holiday season, thanks to you.

We will continue to collect donations and gifts from the wish list until November 30^th. Donations will continue to be collected in class. Please contact a NSSLHA officer regarding donating a gift; upon receipt, all new gifts will be wrapped free-of-charge by the NSSLHA officers. ;) All gifts will be inventoried, photographed, and published on this website so you can see how much you have impacted Jairo’s family. We will keep you updated on this so continue to check back!

For many families, this will be the only holiday that they receive gifts, and for some of CHLA’s patients, this will be their last holiday season. NSSLHA wants to ensure that Jairo and his family share a wonderful first holiday together amidst their troubles, so NSSLHA is matching each dollar donated up to $200.00! We are just $50 shy! Together, we can do it!

If you have questions please contact any NSSLHA officer. Thank you, again, for your generosity and for helping NSSLHA help Jairo! Have a wonderful holiday season.

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Wish List

Mom is 19 years-old. Her preferred color is pastel blue. She wears size 2 pants, medium-sized tops, and size 5 shoes. Mom needs:

• Sweat suit
• Winter jackets
• House slippers
• Bath robe
• Bath towels (the more the better! Less trips to the laundromat...)
• Queen-size sheets
• Nightgown

Dad is 20 years-old. His preferred color is black. He wears 40x30 pants, XXX in shirt-size, and size 10 shoes. Dad needs:

• Pants
• Flannel button down shirts
• Gas gift cards
• Pin-striped dress shirts

Jairo is 2 months-old. His preferred colors are yellow, brown, and orange. His clothing size is 6-9 months (but keep in mind that babies grow fast within their first year or two so buying 12 months+ is okay, too!). Jairo needs:

• Bath tub
• Portable play pen
• Musical toys
• Baby blankets
• Baby clothes (e.g., booties, mitts, knit caps, onsies, twosies, etc.)
• Other baby necessities (e.g., diapers, baby wipes, baby powder, baby oil, bottles, bottle liners)

Lastly, please continue to check the comments under this post to see which gift items have been purchased. Keep in mind -- just because a gift has been purchased does not mean that you cannot purchase the same item! The more the better!

It's Time to Vote (Again)!

It is time to cast your ballot for the 2007 NSSLHA Board!

We are pleased to announce that we have candidates running for each position and four candidates running for the Undergraduate Representative. Each candidate can bring a unique and important perspective to your NSSLHA chapter. Please carefully read each candidate’s profile (available in the sidebar on our website and in the COMD hallway outside of the Clinician Prep Room) and vote the week of November 27th.

How will voting work? It's easy!

1. You may vote for one person for each position. Even if the candidate is running unopposed, vote for her anyways!
2. All students in the COMD department are encouraged to vote for all positions.
3. We will pass ballots out in COMD 170, COMD 462 and COMD 554 on Monday, Nov. 27th, and Tuesday, Nov. 28th.
4. If you are not in class those days you may stop by the Clinician Prep Room to pick up a ballot and place it in Locker 23.
5. Please vote only once – the honor system is in effect.
6. Voting will close Thursday, November 30th at 5:30 P.M.
7. Selected candidates will be posted online on Friday, December 1st and posted in the COMD hallway December 4th.

Thank you for participating in the selection of your 2007 representatives! May the best candidates win!

EPIC's 32nd Annual Toy and Food Drive

NSSLHA at CSULA is proud to be a participant in CSULA's Educational Participation in Communities (EPIC) Program's 32nd annual Toy and Food Drive!

From their website~

The Toy and Food Drive is a campus-wide event that has taken place for the past 32 years. E.P.I.C. has coordinated this event centered on three main objectives:

• To provide food and toys to low-income families during the holiday season
• To give students, clubs, organizations, and all members of the campus community the opportunity to make a positive contribution in their community
• To place students in an environment that allows them to integrate classroom theory with real life experiences

These goals are achieved through a collaboration of students, staff, and faculty, who come together to collect toys and food. After the collection is completed, the donations are distributed to families who are selected from the caseloads of agencies that E.P.I.C. works with throughout the year. These agencies serve the Asian, African American, Latino, and Native American communities. The expected outcome of the event is to provide a much needed service to the community, as well as instill a sense of the importance of community service.

NSSLHA has actively participated in donations over the past few years. We hope that you will join us in continuing the spirit of giving as the holidays approach. The donations received will greatly benefit low-income families in the Greater Los Angeles areas.

We are currently accepting new and used toys in good condition, non-perishable canned goods, and monetary donations. Located directly across from the NSSLHA Student Store in the Clinican Prep Room is the very local drop-off box (you can't miss it! It's a huge box completely gift wrapped on the outside!). Donated goods must be received by December 8, 2006. Alternatively, the main drop off location is at the EPIC office located in the lower level of the Career Center. For more information and a complete list of drop-off sites, please contact the EPC office at (323) 343-3380.

Lastly, NSSLHA officers will visit at least one of your classes next week to collect any donations. We appreciate your support and generosity. We are, after all, in a giving profession! ;)

Thank you to all who have already made contributions!

Your Department Needs You

Nomination forms for NSSLHA officers are due this Monday, November 13^th at 6pm. Being a NSSLHA officer is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference for our department, for your colleagues and for our field.

If you are interested in running for President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Newsletter Editor, or Undergraduate Representative please take a few minutes to complete the nomination application and send it today!

Thank you for your commitment to NSSLHA at CSULA!

October Word Search Key

Did you solve the word search from the October Newsletter? Did you find all the words? We found an extra one!

click image to enlarge

The words were: cochlea, decidouos, fricative, goals, heschls, hyperkinetic, masking, neuron, nodule, palatal, participation, presbycusis, reinforcer, reliability, repetition, rollover, stapes, validity. And the extra word was “gag.”

We hope you enjoyed this little break from studying!

NSSLHA thanks Suzzane and Sandy for the solution.

Want Ad: NSSLHA Officers for 2007!

It’s time for NSSLHA elections!

During the week of November 27 through December 1, NSSLHA is holding elections for the 2007 cabinet. Please be sure to vote! Candidates will be featured on the website as well as the COMD bulletin board.

Application forms are available in the Clinician Prep Room or in MS Word or PDF from the side-bar menu. If you are interested and meet the eligibility requirements, please complete an application form give it to any NSSLHA officer or drop it off in Locker #23. Application forms must be received by Monday, November 13.

A few incentives for becoming an officer include recognition both on campus and off-campus (i.e., resume!). In addition, special scholarship opportunities arise from time to time that favor NSSLHA officers. For instance, the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA) will ask CSULA professors to select a NSSLHA officer for nominations.

The following positions are available:

NSSLHA OFFICER DUTIES

President (Jan – Feb*)

• Graduate student
• *Carries over to new cabinet year to assist in planning of various functions
• Schedules cabinet and monthly meetings (e.g., reserves room, coordinates snacks)
• Greets and makes announcements at meetings
• Coordinates all club functions (e.g., fundraisers, first year “meet and greet,” mentor/mentee program)
• Schedules guest speakers
• Delegates/oversees all other responsibilities
• Carries over to new cabinet year to assist in planning various functions
• Various other duties (e.g., assist Dr. Manasse with NSSLHA-related tasks)

Vice President (Jan – Dec)

• Graduate student
• Interfaces with COMD department faculty
• Plans assistance for department functions
• Interfaces with ASI
• Oversees monthly calendar of events
• Organizes refreshments for NSSLHA events

Treasurer (Jan – Dec)

• Graduate student
• Accepts/records quarterly dues
• Restocks and maintains Student Store merchandise (helps if one cabinet member has a Costco card)
• Collects and records proceeds from Student Store
• Balances checking account
• Organizes reimbursement
• Makes deposit at bank

Secretary (Jan – Dec)

• Graduate student
• Maintains chapter membership roster (and records quarterly dues)
• Sends meeting and event notices via E-mail
• Interfaces with national NSSLHA
• Record meeting minutes and publish on website
• Publish announcements, meeting minutes, events, etc. on NSSLHA website
• Oversees department bulletin boards

Newsletter Editor (Jan – Feb*

• Graduate student
  
• *Carries over to the new cabinet year to assist with development, layout, editing, etc.
• Gathers content (e.g., information about the department, field, etc.), enters type, edits copy
• Prints newsletter at least once a quarter
• Creates forms, applications, bulletins, and flyers
• Assists Secretary with website

Undergraduate Representative (Jan – Dec)

• Undergraduate student
• The voice for bachelor’s students in both Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
• Gather undergraduate/post-baccalaureate E-mail addresses to assist Secretary
• Make meeting announcements in undergraduate classes
• Assist all other positions as requested (e.g., suggesting speakers)

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Thanks to NSSLHA members, the Robert L. Douglass clinic now has a First Aid kit! Funds collected from members are allocated in many ways such as purchasing “Thank You” gifts for our guest presenters, donating to national advocacy organizations, and purchasing items for the clinic.

NSSLHA Elections

Are you interested in being a leader in the Communication Disorder Department? Are you interested in bringing speakers and news to your classmates? Are you interested in making a difference? Are you interested in beefing up your resume?

If you answered yes to one or all of the above, then you should run for a position on the NSSLHA Board at Cal State, LA. There are six positions available (five for graduate and one for undergraduate students) for 2007.

These positions can be as big or as small as your board decides! Get involved! Make a difference! Be a leader!

Download the application form and submit it by Monday, November 13^th at 6pm. (Available under Local Forms in the right sidebar)

Questions? Ask one of your current officers (links to the right) or leave us a comment!

And don’t forget to vote in the state and local elections today, November 7^th!

NSSLHA presents Ms. Anne Davis from PCDA

On Monday, November 6, NSSLHA hosted a special guest, Ms. Anne Davis from the Pasadena Child Development Associates, Inc. (PCDA). We were pleased to have Ms. Davis share about her background and current experiences as well as information on PCDA. Ms. Davis has over 20 years of experience working with children and adults. Shortly after receiving her Masters degree, she worked in a special needs school for children with neuromusculur and physical challenges. Following, she worked at a school with children with autism and emotional impairments. Ms. Davis also provided services in a hospital setting (rehabilitation and acute care) and offered private services before arriving at PCDA. She is currently the lead speech and language pathologist at PCDA and is a Hanen certified instructor for parents.

PCDA is a private clinic serving children from birth to 12 years of age. This private child development group provides evaluation, consultation, and intervention services through a multi-disciplinary team that includes a developmental pediatrician, child development/parenting clinical nurse specialists, marriage and family therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, child development specialists, behavior specialists, dietitians, developmental interventionists, and music therapists.

Although PCDA is a private group, they differ from a private therapist in many ways. First and foremost, their philosophy drives them to “include the families in all aspects of care, work across disciplines and in a collaborative way to gain a more complete understanding of the child, and the most effective intervention possible; and use a play-based, relationship approach to promote social-emotional development.” Based on their core beliefs, the organization provides services that are strongly influenced by Dr.

Stanley Greenspan’s DIR Approach, which includes “Floor Time” (a method of incorporating the socioemotional development of a child into the therapy provided).

Their clientele includes children from a variety of disabilities, and therapy is provided in either individual or group sessions. Primary caregivers are required to attend every session to receive coaching in helping their child in daily routines.

A unique opportunity for professionals employed at PCDA is attending their weekly meetings. In general, the professionals from all different disciplines get together for discussions. Once a month, a speaker will present on a topic of interest. On other occasions, a clinician will bring a videotape of one of their 50-minute sessions, and the professionals present will discuss what they see. This time of clinical reflection enhances growth and knowledge, as professionals from different disciplines share their perspective on the child’s socioemotional development and collaborate for therapy to provide the best services available. PCDA is one of the few work settings that practice this method of clinical reflection.

Ms. Davis encourages future SLPs to contact her to tour the facility or observe a session. If you are interested, please contact her at (626) 793-7350 or e-mail her at anne@pasadenachilddvelopment.org.

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Thank you Ms. Davis!

NSSLHA meeting on November 6, 2006 in KH B-111 from 6:15 - 7:00 P.M.

Hello!

Please join us this Monday for our monthly NSSLHA meeting! Sadly, this will be our last NSSLHA meeting for the year (unless there is an overwhelming demand from you to have another one tenth week… ;). To end with a big hoopla, we will once more host a special guest.

We proudly present Ms. Anne Davis from the Pasadena Child Development Associates, Inc.

From their website~

Anne Davis, MS, CCC/SLP is currently the lead speech and language pathologist at PCDA and has over 20 years experience working with children and adults with communication challenges in a variety of settings. She works collaboratively with parents and other professionals to encourage communication throughout the child’s daily life. She is a Hanen certified instructor of parents and has a special interest and expertise in Augmentative Communication, dysphasia, and medically complex children.

We are extremely excited to have Ms. Davis share about child intervention and specific techniques. As the number of diagnoses for disorders and disabilities continue to increase in children, it is important for speech-language pathologists to be well-equiped with various types of intervention (or at least have some knowledge of them). With Ms. Davis' background and experience, we anticipate a great exchange of information.

In addition, we will provide more information on the upcoming NSSLHA elections and what you can expect next year from NSSLHA. We already have many more special guest presenters on the calendar!

We invite you to join us this Monday for an informative get-together. Our meeting will be in King Hall B-111 at 6:15 P.M. As always, X-hour snacks will be served.

See you there!

Happy Halloween!

NSSLHA wishes you all a safe and happy Halloween!

P.S. If you haven't heard, the NSSLHA Newsletter is hot off the press! Pick one up by the COMD Front Desk ASAP!

~Stay tuned for our next NSSLHA meeting, on November 6~

Announcements

Just a few announcements and reminders~

1. Don't forget that you can begin paying for Winter 2007 tuition! Late fees for continuing students begin November 13! The Fee Analysis form is available here, or forms are available next to the drop box by the Cashier's Office.
2. Beginning Fall 2006, CSULA increased health fees $15 (but forgot to add it in the Fee Analysis). Don't forget to pay ASAP to avoid being dropped from your classes!
3. Visit the NSSLHA Snack Closet! A variety of snacks, candies, and drinks are available for a student discount price. Check back often as there are always new additions. Just drop your cash in Locker #23...and it's ok to tell NSSLHA to "keep the change!" :)
4. We are still open for Fall 2006 membership enrollment (or the entire academic year). Please see any of the NSSLHA officers and/or attend the next monthly meeting in November!
5. Need a blue book, scantron, or $150 textbook voucher (if you qualify)? Visit ASI in the King Hall D-Wing! You must be a CSULA student with a current school ID to obtain any of the following services.

• · $150 for Textbooks (Applications are avaliable NOW)
• · Free Scantrons and Blue Books
• · Discounted Movie Tickets

Q&A Wednesday: Getting A's

What do you need to do to get all A's?

For those of you who are in the undergraduate classes, you may notice that enrollment has increased as much as 30%! Unfortunately, that translates to fiercer competition. There really are no new tricks; just reminders to not procrastinate when studying for exams and completing projects and to immediately seek clarification of topics. If you are not comfortable asking a question in class or during office hours, remember that most of your professors are easily accessible via e-mail. Take advantage of the assistance that is offered, such as the Phonetics discussion conducted by one of our top grad students!

As for graduate students, time management is incredibly important…especially when you should study, study, study! In addition, try new study techniques:

· Audio-record lectures. It can be challenging capturing all pertinent notes the first time around. Recording lectures is a surefire way of capturing all the notes missed in lecture when you listen to them again! It is obviously time-consuming but for some classes, it can be well worth the time.

· Flashcards and other visual guides. You may be surprised at how much of a visual learner you actually are. Use colored pens and highlighters when you create flashcards and visual study guides (e.g., flowcharts, diagrams, tables).

· Join a study group. Sometimes hearing a fellow classmate re-explain a concept makes it more understandable and more impressionable (hence, making recall a bit easier during the exam).

· Create mnemonics. Mnemonics Neatly Eliminate Man's Only Nemesis - Insufficient Cerebral Storage. ;) Need we say more?

· Ask questions in class. It really is true that if you are wondering about something at least three others are too. Be the brave one who actually asks!

Having said all that, do not lose sight of your education – it is not all about getting A’s anymore. A solid “B” is just as valuable if you have worked hard, understood the material, and did your best. In the long run, the most important thing is that you learn. (We know, it sounds cheesy, but it's just the truth!)

Aim for the “A,” but give yourself some leeway if you don’t always get the “A.”

Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate your achievements during and at the end of the quarter! Sometimes rewarding yourself even with something small and simple is just what you need to keep you going!

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Keep your eyes open for our monthly newsletter next week!

First NSSLHA Meeting of Fall 2006

Hello!

Thank you to all of those who made it to our first meeting of the year! We were extremely excited to see many new faces in addition to our faithful members. We hope to see even more people in our next meeting!

Many thanks to Dr. Ivory from our Audiology Department for updating students on the present situation with Audiology programs in the U.S. As many of you are aware, the last Master’s degree students will have graduated from accredited universities prior to December 2006. The transition from Master’s level practice to a clinical doctorate honors the new standards for professional education and requirements set forth by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), American Academy of Audiology (AAA), and ASHA. Therefore, all graduates must have doctoral degrees to qualify for national certification beginning January 1.

Because of this transition, many Audiology programs will no longer be accredited, including the majority of programs in California. According to Dr. Ivory, there are currently 72 “viable” Doctoral Programs (accredited institutions that are admitting and graduating students). At present, 18 states have only one program (including California), and there are 13 states that do not have any programs.

In California, the one currently available program is the joint University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and San Diego State University (SDSU) program. However, there are two prospective programs in development.

• 1) University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) – San Francisco State University (SFSU) joint program
• Contact Marcia Raggio, Ph.D. at (415) 338-7653
• 
  
• 2) University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – California State University, Northridge (CSUN)
• Contact Steve Sinclair, Ph.D. at (818) 677-2852

Please be advised that these two programs are currently in discussion; there is no prospective date yet for when the programs will be accredited to grant doctoral degrees.

What should a student interested in Audiology do?

Either program at UCSF/SFSU or UCLA/CSUN may accept applicants for Fall 2007. Prospective students should contact the program directors to ask when they will begin accepting applications. Be aware that the date anticipated may change so frequently check back with the school.

Alternatively, you may consider looking into other programs located out of state. Competition is fierce in (overpopulated) California. For those who wait for the two California joint programs to begin accepting applicants may face the largest applicant pool in these schools’ history. Regarding programs outside of California, keep in mind that prospective students of ethnic minorities may be at an advantage. Many programs are currently promoting diversity amongst their cohorts.

Although programs in rural areas may not be as appealing as sunny Southern California, Dr. Ivory advises finding a program that can/will send you wherever a student desires for the fourth year of clinical off-campus externship. This option will allow students to travel back home for their fourth year in the program. Simply stated by Dr. Ivory, “Get in a program. Make progress. Get out.”

For more information on Audiology programs, please visit the ASHA website at http://www.asha.org and contact the programs directly.

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Following was an open forum where second year graduate students in the SLP program answered questions informally presented. Thank you to our panel of contributors! To give students different perspectives on the graduate program at CSULA, NSSLHA invited several second year graduate students with varying backgrounds:

• Vanessa – part-time student; received Bachelor’s degree from CSULA; part-time SLP; full-time mother!
• Nancy – full-time student; post-baccalaureate studies completed at CSULB
• Kristin – full-time student; post-baccalaureate studies completed at State University of New York at Fredonia; relocated her and hubby all the way to California; NSSLHA Newsletter Editor
• Kim – full-time student; post-baccalaureate studies completed at CSULA on the one-year track; NSSLHA President
• Cheryl – post-baccalaureate studies completed at CSULA on the one-year track; full-time student; NSSLHA Secretary

Our graduate students come from all walks of life. With their knowledge and experience, they responded to the following questions presented~

This is my first quarter here as a post-baccalaureate student. I am also on the one-year track (finishing all pre-requisites to apply for the graduate program in one year). Am I supposed to apply now, even though I’ve been here less than a quarter?

If you are planning to begin a graduate program in Fall 2007, then now is the time to begin the application process. Although your application will only list one quarter of grades received in post-baccalaureate courses completed, the schools also consider your undergraduate coursework and GPA. Keep in mind that they will continue to examine prospective students’ grades after receiving applications. For CSULA, the deciding committee (a.k.a. your professors) have easy access to your grades. For other schools, they will require official transcripts at the time applications are submitted and when the programs begin next Fall.

If you haven’t spoken to your advisor yet, make an appointment as soon as possible to ensure that you will complete all of the coursework required prior to the graduate program.

What is the average GRE score? What is a “safe” score?

Although the minimum score is 900, we recommend a score of at least 1000. In the past, Dr. Klein has provided a chart delineating average GPAs and GRE scores from past cohorts in a graduate school applicant meeting in December or January. Plan to attend that meeting for more information on applying.

If you have already received a GRE score, it is okay to ask your advisor if they think your score is competitive enough. Keep in mind that every year consists of a different applicant pool so averages will differ from year to year. Just because the minimum is 900 doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t apply if you received a lower score.

Would you recommend requesting letters of recommendations from the professors here or from my undergraduate program?

This is really a judgment call on your own part. If you have a reference that can speak highly about your academic work, character, and strengths then requesting a letter from this person will likely be a better referent than one who doesn’t really know you and simply vouches that you received a good grade in the class. Do your best to get letters from people who really know you and can emphasize your personable traits as well.

On the other hand, asking the professors here can be beneficial since they are the deciding committee. If you have impressed them, the odds are that they will write a good letter for you.

All professors are extremely busy and will be asked to complete many letters of recommendations. Therefore, requesting a letter earlier on in the process is a good idea. Don’t forget to follow-up. Remember that they are doing you a favor so be respectful and considerate of their time.

Lastly, it is a good idea to prepare a packet for each professor. Suggestions for enclosures include:

• Application essay (even if it is a rough draft)
• Resume/Vitae
• Letter of Recommendation form and due date
• Self-addressed stamped envelope

Is there a difference between a Masters of Science and Masters of Art Degree?

The difference is that an MS degree requires more science classes. In the long run, employers do not seem to prefer one or the other, as long as you graduate from an accredited institution and have a state license.

Will I have to quit my job?

Your advisor will highly recommend that you not work during the graduate program, but for some, it is necessary. Keep in mind that you can apply for financial aid and scholarships. CSULA offers a variety of scholarships and the Communication Disorders Department also offers its own, apart from the CSULA Financial Aid Department.

What is the graduation rate?

The graduation rate is very high, as is the percentage of students who pass the Praxis exam on the first attempt. In fact, the Praxis passing rate is higher than the national average – which is a testament to our professors’ intelligence and skill in relaying their knowledge to us!

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Good luck to prospective applicants!

NSSLHA Meeting on October 9, 2006 in KH B-111 @ 6:20 P.M.

Hello!

NSSLHA at CSULA invites you to our first meeting of the school year!

Please join us on Monday, October 9, in King Hall B-111 during the X-hour (6:20 - 7:15 P.M.). As always, we will have X-hour snacks beginning at 6:06 P.M.

For the first time in NSSLHA history, we will have an exclusive question and answer night. Guest answerers include our second year graduate students who are eager to dispel any myths and calm all nerves. Guest questioners include you! Come find out the *real deal* behind getting into graduate school! Come ask about ANY undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate class (or professor). Or just come shoot the breeze with us!

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and hope you enjoy our exclusive forum held by and for you!

Q&A Wednesday: Contacting Advisors

What is the best way to contact my advisor?

The best method of communication varies among professors so don't be afraid to ask your advisor what the preferred method is. For some (i.e., Dr. Flint, Dr. Manasse, Dr. Peterson), E-mail is usually the quickest way to receive a response. For others (i.e., Dr. Klein), speaking in person is preferred. Our e-mailing professors generally respond within 24 hours.

If you are sending an especially important/time-sensitive E-mail, don'’t hesitate to add a "read receipt" or ask for confirmation via E-mail! There have been times when E-mails sent to our professors are not received (no fault of theirs; strictly a faulty CSULA network server) so make sure you follow up for important issues! If at all possible, avoid following up at the last second.

Alternatively, the COMD front desk has an appointment book where you can reserve a meeting time with your advisor, sans Dr. Klein. Please set up a time with Dr. Klein in person.

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Do you have a question that you would like answered? Leave us a “comment” with your question, and we will answer it! This is truly a genuine scenario of “there are no stupid questions” so ask away! Your questions can be “anonymous” (just don’t put in your real name where it asks for your name).

Save Money on Clinic Materials

If you are thinking about purchasing some of your own clinic materials then you will want to check out Lakeshore Learning Outlet Store’s big sale this weekend only!

Keep reading to see this week's Wednesday Q & A!

Q&A Wednesday: Keeping Track of Deadlines

Will my advisor help me keep on track with all requirements, deadlines, etc. without me having to ask?

Unfortunately, your advisor will not be the main person keeping you on track with graduate requirements. You are responsible for meeting deadlines, setting up necessary appointments with your advisor, and completing applications and paperwork. At the graduate school orientation on September 19, 2006, the advisors handed out a document that described the deadlines for requirements during your graduate studies. Think of it as a two-year syllabus, and keep that schedule handy because those deadlines will creep up on you!

That is not to say that your advisor will not help or remind you, but he/she will not be able to remind you of all upcoming deadlines. An easy solution is to use organizers or calendars. A great method is to enter deadlines into MS Outlook Calendar with reminders that give you enough time to meet the deadlines (e.g., two weeks). Another great resource is your classmates! You all have the same deadlines so keeping each other accountable is another great way to ensure all requirements are met.

One thing that your advisors will remind you is to keep all your paperwork (and/or copies) in case any questions arise!

First Fall NSSLHA Meeting on October 9, 2006 in KH B-111 @ 6:20 P.M.

Welcome back to school!

NSSLHA invites all COMD students (SLPs & Auds) to join us for our first meeting of the academic school year! We have an exciting year planned and we want you to be part of it!

Stay tuned for more news on what specialties we will feature at the next meeting, on Monday, October 9, 2006!

Please join us on Monday in King Hall Basement-111 during the X-hour (6:20 - 7:10 P.M.) for special guest speakers and X-hour snacks!

Q& A Wednesday: Tough Classes and Tips

What are the tough classes to watch out for? Any tips?

To be completely honest, it is difficult to pinpoint which classes are tough. There is no one class that everyone will agree is the toughest (or easiest). Every class is challenging in its own respect because each has different requirements and expectations. Some classes require more writing while others require presentations. What is most important is realizing where your strengths are. One way of looking at the classes is to think that they are all equally challenging; all classes require some amount of rote memorization along with synthesis/analysis and application of that information. All of our professors are extremely adept at teaching you; however, your way of receiving the information may not jive with their teaching methods.

Remember, "challenging" does not mean impossible!

There are many ways to make your educational career easier. Start off by honing your time management and organizational skills. As crazy as it sounds, a great suggestion is studying ahead of time. A simple way is to review your notes just once either the same night of lecture or immediately before class. Many students audio-record lectures and listen to them, whether it be in their cars or even at the gym (what better way to combat lecture-induced lethargy than by exercising?). Also try different study techniques; if you have never studied with flashcards before, it's not too late to try them. Again, it may also depend on the class material. For instance, creating charts and flashcards for neuro classes can be quite helpful. Discussing educational theories in detail with your classmates can help you memorize them more efficiently.

Above all, remember that your classmates are your best allies. If study groups are beneficial, meet with your classmates. You all will have the same/similar schedules so finding a time to meet on campus should be relatively easy. Remember, a study group doesn't mean there has to be ongoing discussion. You can all sit around a table and ask a question when one comes up. Quizzing each other is often helpful. Please do not be afraid to ask your professor a question! If you are not comfortable asking in class, ask them via e-mail or during his/her office hours.

Although this often happens, try your best to avoid forgetting all information immediately after you complete an exam. You will quickly realize that class material can overlap in graduate school. The more you remember, the less you have to study the next time around. One of the best ways to retain learned information is to learn it “as you go.” If you cram it all in the weekend before the test you will forget it. However, if you learn it over between when it is taught and when it is tested you are much more likely to remember it.

Our professors are a closely-knit team who work proficiently and efficiently to provide us with knowledge. They are well-aware of what material each of them has taught us so they confidently assume you have mastered that "old" material. It is in your best interest and knowledge to not spend class time asking the professor to review material that should have been learned already from a previous quarter. There is only so much time before you will begin clinic and externships. The more new information you gain, the more confidence you will have when you become a student clinician.

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Check back next week for another Q & A!

First Day of School Eve

Hello hello!

Thank you to all graduate students who showed up to tonight's (mandatory) meeting. As Dr. Peterson noted, we have an incredibly diverse crowd of graduate SLP and Audiology students from New Zealand to the Philippines and New York to California!

Tonight, the second year and part-time grad students hosted a casual Welcome Soiree for the first year grads. To the left are our five lucky raffle winners of Starbucks or Target gift cards (left to right: Nancy, Vanessa, Diane, Ira, and Janet). Congratulations!

At tonight's Welcome Party for the new first year graduate SLP students, a few students anonymously submitted questions they were afraid to ask aloud. Over the next few weeks, we will post one question and answer a week. These questions are not necessarily specific to first year graduate students at CSULA. Therefore, we encourage you to read the posts, too! If you have questions, you are always welcome to slip them into Locker #23 anytime or in the NSSLHA suggestion box during our meetings (or in the Clinician Prep Room).

Please mark you calendars for our first NSSLHA meeting of the year! Although our meetings are generally the first Mondays of each month, we are observing Yom Kippur; therefore, our meeting will be on October 9th during the X-hour (6:10 - 7:00 P.M.). Stay tuned for further updates!

Have a great first day of school!

Making a Wish for Cole's Creation

From ColdStoneCreamery.com:

Celebrate the 5th Annual World's Largest Ice Cream Social and Support the Make-A-Wish Foundation® with Cold Stone Creamery

To support the Make-A-Wish Foundation® during the month of September, Cold Stone Creamery will be selling Make-A-Wish wall stars to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Visit your local Cold Stone Creamery and try a very special “Make-A-Wish Creation™” inspired by Cole, a 10 year old Wish Child from Colorado. Cole’s Creation combines chocolate ice cream with fluffy yellow cake, chocolate chips and rainbow sprinkles.

To cap off this special month, please join us for the 5th Annual World’s Largest Ice Cream Social at participating Cold Stone Creamery locations nationwide, a special night to join together and share the simple pleasures of life with a FREE ice cream, family activities and good-natured fun.

Search our site for a location near you. On September 28th from 5:00 - 8:00pm, guests will be treated to a serving of Cole’s Creation*. In exchange for the free Creation, customers are encouraged to make donations to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

*Free Creation refers to a 3 ounce portion of Cole’s Creation served in a cup.

Graduate Students Meeting

Hello all!

First things first ~ congratulations to our incoming class of first year graduate students! We welcome you with much excitement and anticipation! Getting into the program is just the beginning of your new career, and we want you to know that we are here for you. Who better to share in your awesome achievements, report/project-induced agony, and (embarrassing) learning experiences than students who have been there already? So don't forget to join us after the mandatory meeting on September 19th for a little soiree in the COMD Department! We will even give you the dime tour of the King Hall Basement wing!

Part-Timers and Second Year Graduate Students ~ congratulations on making it part-way/halfway through the program! Think of how much you have learned and experienced just within the past year. It may get harder, but it is only going to get better. You are that much closer to your degree. ;)

To new and returning undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students, we warmly welcome you back to a new school year! You are always more than welcome to approach any of us for questions, concerns, and periodic reality checks. ;)

To all COMD students ~ We are looking forward to a new school year with you! Come and get involved with NSSLHA! Time flies fast (when you're having fun) so we encourage you to make the most of every learning opportunity. Remember that (great love) and great achievements involve great risks. Just ask any of us "veteran" graduate students ~ we have shared in more great risks in the classroom and clinic than we care to blog about!

Stay tuned for our first Fall NSSLHA meeting!

ASHA Mentor Program

Hello!
Just a reminder that September 30 is the last day to apply for the ASHA Mentor/Mentee program!

For more information, please see our August 16th entry. Join today!

Saving & Shopping for a Cause

From www.NSSLHA.org :

First Book is a national nonprofit organization that gives children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books. In neighborhoods across the country, First Book Advisory Boards unite leaders from all sectors of the community to identify the most effective community-based literacy programs reaching children living at or below the poverty line and provide them with First Book grants of free books and educational materials. First Book has distributed more than 43 million new books to children in need in hundreds of communities nationwide.

Just $25 spent on back-to-school shopping, a couple of great beach reads, or the latest CD or DVD release will help get one economically disadvantaged child their very own, and perhaps very first, new book. So bring your shopping lists - and this coupon (PDF format) - to your local Borders store August 26-27. Borders will donate 10% of the proceeds from your purchases to First Book, who will use those funds to provide new books for children nationwide. You will benefit not only from the 10% taken off your purchase, but from the knowledge that you personally are giving children from low-income families the opportunity to read and own their first new books.

To learn more about First Book, please visit www.FirstBook.org.

ASHA Mentors

As a member of ASHA/National NSSLHA, you are invited to join the mentoring program! Directly from ASHA correspondence:

Take a S.T.E.P. Forward
Learn something new!

Summer's almost over, and the fall semester is right around the corner. You're thinking about ways to stay ahead of the game. You know what you need to do, and you're putting your plan into action.

Your 'Checklist for Success':

√ Research programs that I want to attend for graduate school

√ Identify employment options for my Clinical Fellowship

√ Think about my thesis topic

√ Look for a mentor

For your mentor search, we have a simple solution: Join the ASHA S.T.E.P. (Student to Empowered Professional) 1:1 mentoring program for students who are from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds and enrolled in CSD programs. It's free, it's easy! Go to The ASHA Gathering Place to complete your profile online, and ASHA will match you with a mentor.

You've got questions — We've got answers.
Get a mentor...Enroll today!

Fall Quarter

Hello returning students!

Yes, it's already that time again! Time to pay tuition!

As if fees weren't already high, Late Fee for continuing students begins August 14 (and September 21 for new/readmitted students). Don't be late! :)

Fall 2006 fee analysis form available HERE.

Stay tuned for our first Fall meeting! See you in September!

NSSLHA Gifts to You

Happy (almost) middle of summer quarter!

As a special treat NSSLHA presents a list of wordless picture books to you! This list of books will be useful for picture description activities, language sampling, story telling, story starters, increasing vocabulary and more!

Click on the above link or in the Newsletter column to the right under "Extra-Extra" to print your copy today!

Thank you for supporting NSSLHA at CSULA!

Happy 4th of July

NSSLHA wishes you and your families a happy and safe holiday! Enjoy your day off!

Welcome Back!

After a quick, yet hopefully refreshing break NSSLHA shouts, “Welcome back COMD Students!” We hope you had a relaxing, fun and stress-free vacation and are ready to jump back into ear canals, laryngeal areas and neurotransmitters!

Have a great summer quarter and best of luck!

Congratulations Graduates!

To all of our graduates,

NSSLHA congratulates you on your achievements and wish you the best in your future endeavors!

We share (again) with you, a special poem that one of our honored guests presented at the graduates' banquet on June 2, 2006~

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel unsure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

by Marianne Williamson
A Return to Love

Good Luck on Finals!

NSSLHA wishes everyone in the COMD department the best of luck on finals! Believe in yourself and know you always know more than you think you do. Trust in yourself, your knowledge, your abilities and your studying! You can do it, you will do it and before you know it Friday will be here and it will be time to play!

May Meeting is a Success!

On Monday, May 22, NSSLHA held its last meeting for the quarter/school year. Congratulations to those who are graduating! We wish you the best in your endeavors!

For the last meeting of the quarter, NSSLHA invited Ms. Melea Balwan from Casa Colina in Pomona, to present her experiences about working in an acute rehabilitation center.

Ms. Balwan has been an SLP in the medical setting for approximately five years now. Upon graduation, she began working at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey. Last year, she began working at Casa Colina. Casa Colina is well known for its continuum of care, from hospital care to outpatient services to residential programs.

Casa Colina’s inpatient services (hospital) include acute rehabilitation, ventilator weaning, and a senior evaluation program. Ms. Balwan works in acute rehabilitation, where “everyday is different and every patient is different; every time you see a patient it’s a different experience. It makes it exciting, challenging and tough.”

In Casa Colina’s acute rehabilitation hospital, patients come from a variety of injuries, but all are “medically stable.” Because of the setting, the length of stay depends on the diagnosis upon admittance and severity level of the injury. Most patients stay between two and four weeks. Unfortunately, the short stay causes quite a challenge for the teams.

A typical day for SLPs consists of seeing 6 to 7 patients in a very diverse setting. Depending on the patient, SLPs will see patients either individually or in a group setting. SLPs work with patients who have suffered from a wide array of deficits: cognition, speech, language, dysphagia, trachea decanulation, spinal cord injury, ventilator weaning, voice, etc. Because of the variety of patients, SLPs collaborate with teams of professionals on a daily basis. The teams typically consist of medical doctors, occupational therapists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, nurses, and other specialized clinicians. Although Casa Colina’s inpatient rehabilitation hospital consists of 68 beds, the SLPs are not on all of the cases. SLPs provide services as needed; typically, they carry approximately 75% of the cases. Currently, Casa Colina employs 4 inpatient and 3 outpatient SLPs.

At Casa Colina, dysphagia is a condition that the clinicians place extreme importance on. Each new patient receives a dysphagia evaluation, whether it is a doctor’s order or not. In addition, much treatment centers on dysphagia. For example, there is a daily treatment session at lunch time for patients with a certain severity level of dysphagia (e.g., thin liquid diet). Because most patients have concomitant disorders, one of the challenges for an SLP is deciding how to spend the one hour of treatment. Treatment goals closely relate to the priorities and goals of others involved such as the family, occupational therapist, and physical therapist.

Ms. Balwan concluded that the medical setting is extremely lacking SLPs. If interested in working in a medical setting, Ms. Balwan recommends observing and finding information on cognition and other neuro-trauma topics that are not typically covered in a course

For more information or questions, please contact Ms. Melea Balwan at mbalwan@casacolina.org

Pizza & Presentation

As we wrap up the Spring quarter, we invite you to join us on tonight, Monday, May 22, 2006 from 6:15 - 7:00 P.M. for the last meeting of the quarter! We have invited a very special guest from Casa Colina, Ms. Melea Balwan. Casa Colina is well recognized as a hospital, outpatient center, transitional living center, and children's service center. Ms. Balwan will share her personal experience and insight on the acute rehabilitation center.

From Casa Colina's website:

"Inpatient services are provided in a new state-of-the-art hospital for a wide range of medical conditions that include brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, stroke, orthopedic conditions, respiratory disorders, multiple trauma, neurological diseases, wounds and burns."

We are quite honored to have Ms. Balwan. We hope you will join us tonight in KH B-111 from 6:15 - 7 P.M. to hear this special presentation .... and have the dinner of champions -- PIZZA!

See you there!

Big Sunday '06...is this Sunday, May 7!

From BigSunday.org:

On May 7, 2006 up to 25,000 volunteers (!) of all ages will join Mayor Villaraigosa and volunteer at more than 200 different non-profit sites. It’s all part of BIG SUNDAY ’06, L.A.’s Annual Day of Service.

BIG SUNDAY volunteers come from neighborhoods all over Los Angeles – and volunteer in neighborhoods all over Los Angeles. There are volunteer opportunities for every passion, every talent, and every age. Projects are scheduled throughout the day to work with any schedule. Projects can last anywhere from one hour to all day.

Everything about BIG SUNDAY is completely non-denominational, non-political and free. All anyone is asked for is their time and their talent. The day is totally underwritten by private, corporate, and foundation grants and donations.

BIG SUNDAY projects are designed to be completed in one day; however, for many, BIG SUNDAY is just the beginning of an involvement that continues throughout the year.

BIG SUNDAY is not just a community service day. It is a community building day, too. You see, the idea behind BIG SUNDAY is that no matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter what you do, everyone has some way they can help someone else.

YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW

BIG SUNDAY started in 1999 as Temple Israel of Hollywood’s Mitzvah Day. By last year, BIG SUNDAY had evolved into an annual, city-wide volunteer day involving more than 8000 volunteers from more than 100 different synagogues, churches, schools, offices and clubs at nearly 150 different non-profits!

At the same time, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has – first as city councilman, then as mayor – sponsored nearly one dozen very successful and popular local community days of service. Last fall, at his first Citywide Day of Service, more than 7500 volunteers worked together to do dozens of projects at six public high schools across Los Angeles!

Now, it is with enormous anticipation and excitement that Mayor Villaraigosa’s office and Big Sunday have joined forces for BIG SUNDAY ’06, L.A.’s Annual Day of Service. Our goal is to become the largest citywide volunteer day in America, not in response to a man-made or natural disaster, but simply because that is the kind of people we are, and this is kind of city we live in.

Please join us. After all, whoever you are, whatever you do, we can use your help.

Everyone helps, everyone wins.

For more information on the over 230 volunteer opportunities in and around LA for Big Sunday '06, please visit here.

Next NSSLHA meeting on May 22, 2006 in KH B-111 @ 6:20 P.M.

Hello!

Please note that rather than meeting on the first Monday of the month (as usual), we are holding a special End-of-the-Spring-Quarter meeting!

Stay tuned for more news on what specialties we will feature at the next meeting, on May 22, 2006!

Good luck with midterms and congrats to the future first-year graduate students on their decisions for this Fall!

Team NSSLHA @ the MS Walk

After months of preparation, fundraising, and anticipation, Team NSSLHA at Cal State LA represented at the National Multiple Sclerosis Walk! This fantastic team raised $2,222.00!

Although the MS Walk was set to begin at 9 AM, walkers actually officially began at 8:45 AM. At 8:47 AM, half of Team NSSLHA was already separated from the other half.* Oops! That wasn't because they were racing to the Finish Line to be first in line for Louise's Trattoria...that was because the walk was supposed to start at 9 and some of us really wanted our free chocolate protein bar, bottled water, and fruit!
*The unlost half is represented in this picture. The gentleman in back is NSSLHA Vice-President's significant other, not a random picture-crasher.

See NSSLHA Treasurer in the blue? She is looking out for her lost team members. What a sport! She helped reunite the team. Phew!






Hundreds of volunteers and corporate sponsors supported the thousands of walkers. With so many people walking, there was no way we could have sprinted if we wanted to! Instead, we leisurely strolled past the LA Memorial Coliseum, tyco drummers, Exposition Park, many babies in strollers, the Natural History Museum, groups of volunteers with cookies, water, and fruit, and the California Science Center. Team NSSLHA is proud to say that even though we strolled around and through USC, we did not cut corners! We walked every bit of the 5K route. :)

Some of us (i.e., our awesome Team NSSLHA Co-Captain who doubles as our NSSLHA Newsletter editor)* were so excited to see the Finish Line (not because it was such a long walk, but because we felt a great sense of accomplishment) that we started taking pictures when we saw the Finish Line. The other Co-Captain commented, "Um, shouldn't we actually cross the Finish Line?"

*She was not the only one. She just happened to be singled out because we love her so much. :)




So we did and kiddo volunteers awarded each walker with medals! We are truly winners!*

*Sans NSSLHA President and a loyal NSSLHA member, this is a picture of the lost-for-a-few minutes half.





What a success Team NSSLHA was!

Next year, we hope you will join us when we are even more prepared with matching bunny ears or shirts, balloons, NSSLHA signs along the route, and an airplane banner message to cheer us on.

Okay, we're slightly kidding about the latter, but definitely serious about the former.

Thanks again to all participants and donors for truly helping the National Multiple Sclerosis Society fight and find a cure.

NSSLHA presents Marilyn Van Dyke, SLP & Mother of Child with Asperger's

In honor of April being Autism Awareness Month, NSSLHA invited Marilyn Van Dyke to speak at yesterday’s meeting. Van Dyke is a speech-language pathologist, CSULA Special Education professor, and mother of a 15 year-old teenager with Asperger’s Syndrome. As if that weren’t enough to keep her busy, she is also currently pursuing her Doctorate’s Degree in Special Education through a joint UCLA and CSULA program.

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Both autism and Asperger’s are classified under Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). Oftentimes, Asperger’s is considered a mild form of autism or Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). A key characteristic of Asperger’s is that the individual generally communicates different to the accepted norm. People with Asperger’s generally lack understanding of social customs and will “freely speak their mind.”

For the Van Dykes, parenting a child with Asperger’s was almost like reliving their youth. Both parents began informal treatment early on with getting their son extremely involved with peers on a regular basis. They knew that peer interaction was key to helping him improve his social skills (pragmatics!). When their son was younger, the Van Dykes would fearlessly bring him to regular outings and birthday parties to engage him in any activity that would facilitate social interactions and friendships. As kid Son grew older, Mom and Dad got “hip” with the times and learned (and played) Pokemon cards and video games with their Son to help him “fit in with the crowd.” As kid Son matured into a young teenager, Mom and Dad found themselves learning about text messaging and even going to rap concerts for their Son’s sake. Pursuing these interests gave their Son a way to engage in successful social interactions with peers.

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Future Dr. Van Dyke also gave a brief breakdown of autism. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), the three diagnostic criteria for autism are:

1. Impairments in social interactions. In particular, eye-gaze, reciprocity, and joint attention are key characteristics to note. At as early as a few months old, researchers have noted how “different” babies with autism interact. “Even as a baby, holding and feeding is not the same at as young as 6 months,” commented Van Dyke. “It is the impairment in this particular area that distinguishes [autism] from other disorders.”
2. Impairments in communication. “This is the true back and forth, or pragmatics. It is the social use of language.” Van Dyke noted that those who are high-functioning will still have impairments in communication, such as understanding emotions.
3. Restricted or repetitive range of interests. People with autism can have an extremely narrow range of interests. For Van Dyke’s son, numbers were his main interest. Anything with numbers would captivate him (e.g., basketball scores).

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We thank Marilyn Van Dyke for sharing her expertise as well as personal experience with regards to autism.

More free coffee! @ Peet's

On April 3, Peet's coffee is kicking off their 40th Anniversary Celebration! Enjoy a complimentary drink at any location.

See here for more info (and the "coupon" for a free coffee drink). G0 here to locate the closest location to you. :)

Cheers!

Next NSSLHA meeting on April 3, 2006 in KH B-111 @ 6:15 P.M.

Welcome back from Spring Break! We hope you all had a wonderful time off!

As we spring into the new quarter, we hope you will join us for our next NSSLHA meeting!

In honor of April being National Autism Awareness Month, we have arranged a special guest speaker for you! Graduating from CSU Fullerton, Ms. Marilyn Van Dyke is an SLP in a school district, and she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Special Education through a joint doctoral program between CSULA and UCLA (Hooray! A Ph.D. candidate! ASHA must be thrilled! Double hooray! A CSULA "student" just like us! :). Future Dr. Van Dyke is also the mother of a child with autism. Come hear her speak about her firsthand experience both as a clinician and as the special mother of a special child with autism.

The next NSSLHA meeting is on Monday, April 3, from 6:15 to 7:00 P.M. in King Hall B-111. As always, X-hour snacks will be served.

See you there!

P.S. We will be selling the remaining SLP clipboards! First come, first served!

Juan Last Chantz

One last chance to purchase the speech and language (dysphagia) clipboard! If you haven't purchased yours yet, reserve your copy for $17 by March 28!

Please contact either Kristin, your fabulous Newsletter Editor, or Cheryl, NSSLHA Secretary, at the e-mail links on the side bar.

For more information, please visit February 28th's posting here.

Textbook sellbacks

Shh...don't tell the CSULA bookstore...

...But selling back your textbooks online may get you more gas and textbook money than selling back to the bookstore!

Actually, if you do sellback, you will get more money back. ;)

All sites are very user-friendly, such as Amazon and half.com.

Scholarships

Just a reminder that now may be the perfect time to apply for scholarships! (Simply because it's
Spring break. and we actually have some time. Sort of.).

A number of scholarships are available through ASHA. Please visit their website or click here.

CSULA also offers a number of scholarships. For more information, visit here.

Super Duper Inc. sale!

St. Patrick's Day Special!
Save 25% on your web order of Super Duper Phonological Awareness products today and Friday only, March 16-17, 2006.
Just select the products that you wish to purchase!

ASHA's Award Programs for Students and New Faculty

From ASHA:

To foster leadership and promote careers in academia and research, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has created several award programs(http://www.asha.org/students/). These programs are available to undergraduate, master's, AuD, and PhD students enrolled in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) programs; postdoctoral fellows; and new faculty.

The Minority Student Leadership Program is open to racial/ethnic minority students at the levels listed above, who wish to enhance their leadership skills, interact with leaders in the professions, and learn how their association works. Now in its 8th year, this program has given over 200 students' insight into their leadership abilities and a better understanding of how leaders affect change in their professional association and has empowered these students to take risks and meet their own challenges.

The Students Preparing for Academic & Research Careers — SPARC Award, the Advancing Academic-Research Careers — AARC Award, the Student Research Travel Award, and the Minority Student Travel Award were all instituted to increase and retain CSD scientists and faculty. The SPARC and AARC Awards were developed as part of ASHA's Focused Initiative on the PhD Shortage in Higher Education. SPARC's primary focuses are to promote PhD career development for CSD undergraduate and graduate students and to increase the number of PhD teacher–scholars and students who choose higher education as a career option. The AARC Award addresses the shortage of PhD-level faculty by encouraging those at the beginning of their academic research careers to remain in higher education.

ASHA developed the Student Research Travel Award to encourage budding scientists to pursue careers in science and research. This award is available to undergraduate, master's and doctoral students who are the first authors on a technical paper. The Minority Student Travel Award is open to underrepresented racial/ethnic minority students interested in pursuing research. These new scientists will attend the 16th Annual Research Symposium, "Issues of Development and Plasticity of the Auditory System," at the 2006 ASHA Convention in Miami, FL.

Visit 2006 ASHA Award Programs(http://www.asha.org/students/) for application, deadline, and submission information.