UW’s NSSLHA Co-Hosts ‘Legislative Lunch and Learn’ at State Capitol

The University of Wyoming’s chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) collaborated with the Wyoming Speech-Language-Hearing Association (WyoSHA) to host a “Legislative Lunch and Learn” at the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne during January.

NSSLHA students, WyoSHA members and community participants gathered over lunch to share information about the lifelong impact of developmental language disorders (DLD) with state legislators.

Amy Peterson, WyoSHA president and assistant professor with the UW Division of Communication Disorders, was awarded a State Association for Student Advocacy grant from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). This grant is available to state associations interested in developing/increasing student participation in State Advocacy Day activities. States are highly encouraged to work with NSSLHA chapters to increase interest and participation in advocacy efforts for communication disorders specialists -- speech-language pathologists and audiologists -- and the wide variety of clients they serve.

“The Legislative Lunch and Learn event was well attended by undergraduate and graduate students, WyoSHA members, retired speech-language pathologists and community members,” Peterson says. “NSSLHA helped organize the event by created infographics about the impacts of DLD in different phases of life; helped design T-shirts and swag to promote the organizations; informally shared information with legislators over lunch about communication disorders; and gave two well-organized presentations during the three-hour event at the Capitol. It was great to see our students in action.”

The focus of this year’s advocacy activity was to raise awareness about DLD and the lifelong impact of language disorders on social, academic, professional and occupational performance. DLD affects about 7.5 percent of the population and is present in all languages, socioeconomic groups and cultures. This percentage is equivalent to roughly one to two students in every classroom.

People with DLD may have difficulty formulating sentences, using complex sentence structures and using specific vocabulary in their expressive language. They also may have receptive language difficulties in responding to questions, following multistep directions and understanding nuanced language, such as jokes, idioms and figurative language.

The impact of a language disorder changes throughout a lifetime, but speech-language pathologists can help with educational and occupational goals by supporting language skills through direct instruction and teaching strategies for using and understanding complex language.

“I am proud of the University of Wyoming’s chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association for partnering with the Wyoming Speech-Language-Hearing Association to host the ‘Legislative Lunch and Learn’ at the Wyoming State Capitol in January,” says Patrick Hardigan, UW College of Health Sciences dean. “It was an inspiring opportunity for NSSLHA students, WyoSHA members and community participants to come together and share valuable information with state legislators about the lifelong impact of developmental language disorders. This event demonstrated our collective commitment to advocacy and raising awareness on this critical issue.”

About the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association

The NSSLHA is the only national student organization for pre-professionals studying communication sciences and disorders (CSD) recognized by the ASHA. Established in 1972, NSSLHA supports nearly 11,000 members and 350-plus chapters at colleges and universities nationwide. The association inspires, empowers and supports students in the field of CSD by giving them the tools to navigate their academic careers while preparing them for their professional careers. Whether providing unparalleled leadership opportunities, access to peer-reviewed academic journals or giving financial support to help start professional careers, NSSLHA is the preferred home for students in CSD.

About the Wyoming Speech-Language-Hearing Association

The WyoSHA mission is to connect speech-language pathologists and audiologists across Wyoming through advocacy, public awareness and professional development while promoting integrity and leadership. WyoSHA aims to provide a direct link for Wyoming professionals to the national organization (ASHA) and to act as a voice for change by interacting with state representatives, senators and legislators. WyoSHA also supports the development of future speech-language pathologists, audiologists, speech-language pathology assistants and audiology technicians through scholarships and reduced membership costs for first-year practitioners.

About the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences

UW’s College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.

With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations.