(ROCKVILLE, MD-January 2004) Lawrence W. Higdon, MS, CCC-A, adjunct associate professor in the Department of Communicative Disorders and instructor in the writing and speech communication department at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) began his term as president of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) on January 1, 2004. Higdon is an audiologist and a 34-year member of ASHA.
A resident of both Oxford, Mississippi and Austin, Texas, Higdon will address such issues as reimbursement, service delivery in the schools, and the doctoral-level teacher shortage in the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology. He also plans to explore ways to collaborate with organizations and associations that have common interests with ASHA for the benefit of both members and consumers.
"In our current health care and education environment," said Higdon, "it is necessary that we demonstrate unity regarding issues relating to communication disorders and sciences in order to effectively market ourselves. We should be collaborative and openly present ourselves in a unified fashion to those not part of our discipline."
Higdon served ASHA in two additional positions on ASHA's executive board. From 1994 through 1997, Higdon was Vice President for Professional Practices in Audiology and from 2000 through 2002, he served as Vice President for Governmental Relations and Public Policy. In the legislative arena, he sees continued work on many issues critical.
"We must continue to concentrate on permanent removal of the $1500 cap," said Higdon. "We must seek reauthorization of IDEA with language that assures our children are provided services by the 'highest qualified provider' and we need to address other issues such as funding and personnel preparation."
Higdon, who was last year an instructor in the Lott Leadership Institute, is also active in the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association where he is the Director of Governmental Relations.
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 110,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders. For more information, log on to ASHA's Web site at www.asha.org or call Action Center at 1-800-638-8255.
