Advocacy
Speech and Hearing BC understands the importance of advocacy to ensure all British Columbians are meeting their communication health needs. Our association advocates on our patients’ behalf, and for those who are finding gaps in treatment on a wide range of issues. Speech and Hearing BC is engaged on a number of relevant issues in order to ensure that we improve health outcomes and address the ongoing challenges around communication health.
From year to year, we seek to increase our advocacy efforts within by:
• Addressing issues in the media concerning speech-language pathology and audiology
• Advocating for services for individuals with communication and swallowing disorders
• Promoting the speech and hearing health professions to the public and other healthcare professionals
• Working with other healthcare professionals on issues of common concern
• Engaging with government and the health sector on key issues affecting our members and their professions.
Advocacy at Large
Through the Pan-Canadian Alliance of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Associations, our members have a greater voice with even more impact. Each participating province has a vote and directly influences strategic priorities for all Canadian speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
What Can I Do?
As a member of Speech and Hearing BC, you can make a difference to your profession and community by promoting speech-language pathology and audiology. Here’s how you can help:
• Display our “Did You Know?” posters in your place of work or a nearby coffee shop or visible location. Each poster provides basic facts about speech, language, or hearing and encourages the public to take action on their own behalf or for someone they know.
• Take part in the activities of May is Speech and Hearing Month [hyperlink: Speech & Hearing Month].
• Share our brochure about what Speech and Hearing BC and our members do with families and other healthcare professionals.
• Participate in social media to learn about current topics, and participate in discussions about issues important to our professions.
• Encourage community members, especially parents and families, to make their needs and concerns known to the people who represent them in the provincial government.
• Share a story about your practice in our "Vibrations" quarterly e-newsletter: why do you love your profession? How have you made a difference in the lives of others?
Interested in helping further? Join our advocacy committee, or contact us to find out more about how you can participate.
Advocacy Material
You can download our advocacy material down below and share on your social accounts.
Find all materials here.
Advocacy Toolkit
Member Advocacy
We understand how vital our professions are for all British Columbians to receive the professional services provided by speech‐language pathologists and audiologists. It's now up to us to ensure that the provincial decision makers understand also. Our goal is to ensure that our voices are heard and understood by delivering our messages to elected decision makers. We need members bring the issues of speech-language pathologists and audiologists to the forefront, and increase awareness of our profession. Speech and Hearing BC is pleased to share its Advocacy Toolkit to assist in these efforts.
Member Presentation Slide
As a member of Speech and Hearing BC you have the privilege of representing the Association when you are out and about in a professional capacity. One way you can do that is to include some information on the Association in any public presentations that you do that are related to speech-language pathology and audiology. We have included a slide and some notes for you to add to presentations to the public, to colleagues, to other professions, wherever you see fit. We hope you will take this opportunity to improve and increase our visibility around the province. Please be in touch with any questions.
Schools SLP Advocacy
Government Advocacy
Read the Budget Consultation Report Volume I released on August 21, 2020. (Specific reference to Speech and Hearing BC was made on page 60 and 63.)
View Speech and Hearing BC's submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services in June 2020.
Read Speech and Hearing BC's submission to the Ministry of Health on the Modernization of the Health Regulatory Framework (January 2020).
Learn More
Speech and Hearing BC’s Key Messages
View Speech and Hearing BC's Key Messages document.
Facts about Preschool Speech and Language Services in BC