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COVID-19 Update: Telepractice

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Interest in telepractice has increased in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. SAC supports the use of telepractice as a means of facilitating access to speech-language pathology and audiology services. SAC’s Position Paper on the Use of Telepractice by SAC Speech-language Pathologists and Audiologists provides guidance to members and associates about this service delivery model. 

SAC members who provide telepractice services in provinces where the professions are regulated must adhere to the regulatory body’s standards of practice, including their specific professional requirements for the protection of patient/client privacy and confidentiality of personal health information, as well as processes for obtaining informed consent.  

SAC members who provide telepractice services in a province or territory where the professions are not regulated must comply with applicable privacy and health care consent legislation.

SAC Telepractice Webinar Series

Speech-Language Pathology-Focused Resources

Audiology-Focused Resources

A number of telepractice platforms are available in Canada. S-LPs, audiologists and communication health assistants are responsible for selecting a telepractice platform that complies with relevant privacy legislation, as well as any other professional regulatory requirements as applicable. It is important that S-LPs, audiologists and communication health assistants research the security features of any online communication platform that they use, and are aware of advisories about security issues and vulnerabilities associated with specific platforms. We also recommended that SAC members and associates check to see if the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner in your province/territory has updated or issued additional guidance related to security and privacy protection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As with other methods of service delivery, SAC members and associates providing services by telepractice should use research evidence to guide their practice.

CINAHL – SAC members and associates can use the search terms “telepractice” or “telehealth” to access free full-text articles about this topic in journals such as: ASHA Leader, International Journal of Audiology, International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research, Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups…and many more.

ASHAWire – ASHA Journals has made a selection of relevant articles about telepractice free to all readers.

ASHA Evidence Map on Telepractice – a searchable online tool designed to help clinicians make evidence-based decisions.

The International Journal of Telerehabilitation – An open-access journal addressing telepractice in allied health professions.

Other useful information:

Closure of The Ear Foundation

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The Ear Foundation celebrated its 30th birthday in 2019 providing a wonderful opportunity to reflect on this fantastic organisation and all that it has achieved since 1989. During this time the opportunities for people with hearing loss have been transformed by technology, research, family-centred care and education; The Ear Foundation is proud to have been a driving force in many of these changes. 
 
However, rising costs and overheads, increased competition for charitable grants and cuts to training budgets in health and education have had a substantial impact on our charity finances. Staff and trustees have worked hard to address these issues, making changes to staffing, services, increasing grant applications and selling the residential building, Marjorie Sherman House. Unfortunately, this has not resolved our financial challenges and we have had to take the difficult decision to sell the remaining Ear Foundation property and cease trading in a positive, solvent and ethical manner, enabling the charity to leave a financial legacy.
 
We are therefore very sad to tell you that The Ear Foundation will close on 6th March 2020. We understand that this will come as a shock to many people and particularly those who have worked so hard and contributed to its success. 
 
Much has changed since The Ear Foundation opened its doors. Yet even with the latest technology and all that it offers to children and adults with hearing loss, there continues to be a need for person-centred, family-friendly and practical support and training. It is for this reason that a number of current staff are setting up a new charity to provide services which will continue to make a difference to the everyday lives of deaf children, adults and their families. We hope to bring you further news about this later in March and very much hope that you will continue to be involved with our work. 
 
Finally, a huge thank you to you for supporting The Ear Foundation and being a part of making it such a special organisation. We hope you will stay in touch.

With our best wishes,
The Ear Foundation team

The current website will remain live throughout March with information and updates www.earfoundation.org.uk 

Keep an eye out on our social media platforms for more information and updates:

Facebook – The Ear Foundation
Instagram – @theearfoundation
Twitter – @EarFoundation

If you have any queries, please contact info@earfoundation.org.uk
 
 

2020-2021 Scholarship Recipients

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SAC is proud to award 26 scholarships to the following student associates as part of the 2020-2021 SAC Scholarship Program:

Beach Family Graduate Scholarships

  • Nida Latif – McGill University
    • Nida Latif just finished her first year in the MScA Speech-Language Pathology program at McGill University. After finishing the program, she hopes to work with children with language difficulties related to autism and adults with aphasia. Her goal is to work towards providing more appropriate services in the uniquely multilingual environment of Montréal.
  • Isabella Speranza – University of Toronto
    • Isabella is currently a speech-language pathology student at the University of Toronto. She is extremely excited to pursue a career working in rural, underserved communities with the geriatric population after graduation. Regardless of location, every person has the right to communication and she is excited to be able to advocate for this.
  • Megan Van Kannel – McGill University
    • Isabella is currently a speech-language pathology student at the University of Toronto. She is extremely excited to pursue a career working in rural, underserved communities with the geriatric population after graduation. Regardless of location, every person has the right to communication and she is excited to be able to advocate for this.

Beach Family Placement Support Scholarships

  • Kendra Smith – Western University
    • Kendra Smith is a graduating Speech-Language Pathology student in the M.Cl.Sc. program in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western University. She has a special interest in augmentative and alternative communication and plans to transition to work in a clinic or hospital setting in the coming months.

Communication Health Assistant Scholarship

  • Hollie Dorrington – St. Lawrence College
    • Hollie Dorrington is currently a Communicative Disorders Assistant Student at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario. After finishing school she hopes to work with children of all ages in all kinds of clinical settings.

Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children Deborah Kully Scholarship

  • Levy Stewart-Bernard – University of Toronto

Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children Susan Lane Scholarship

  • Jessica Kirby – McGill University
    • Jessica Kirby and is a 2nd year student in the Speech-Language Pathology program at McGill University. In a few short months, she will be starting her career as a speech-language pathologist. Jessica is open to working with a variety of clientele, however, the areas of aural rehabilitation and early intervention are of special interest to her.

Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children Gordon Leslie Memorial Scholarships

  • Anika Talukder – McGill University
    • Anika Talukder is in her final year at McGill University with a plan to work with pre-school and school aged children using play-based intervention. She hopes to expand her clinical knowledge by attending a number of workshops and webinars.
  • Scotia McKinley – University of Toronto
    • Scotia is currently in the process of finishing her last placement as part of the University of Toronto’s Speech-Language Pathology program working with spine, orthopedics and cardiology patients at Toronto Western Hospital. She hopes to draw on the wonderful experience she has gained through this placement to continue treating adult patients in the acute and rehabilitation sectors in the future.
  • Konstantina Charamis – University of Ottawa
    • Konstantina Charamis is a MHSc candidate currently completing her studies at the University of Ottawa. Her professional focus is in adult populations with neurogenic communication disorders and her research interests include Shared Decision Making for persons with aphasia, with a commitment to socioculturally inclusive and responsive patient care. She aspires to practice in the clinical setting and to contribute to developments within the field of speech-language pathology with the goal of providing patients with optimal care and outcomes.
  • Christine Muscat – University of Toronto
    • Christine Muscat is a second year Speech-Language Pathology graduate student at the University of Toronto. She will be beginning a MSc/PhD in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Toronto in the fall of 2021. Her research will focus on investigating subacute paediatric stroke speech and language outcomes, on the path to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist.
  • Molly Clarke – McGill University
    • Molly is currently completing her final internship, marking the end of her Masters in Speech-Language Pathology at McGill University. She is very grateful to have received financial support from SAC in both her first and second years of study. Molly is a second-generation S-LP, following in her mom’s (Judy Lawlor) footsteps and hopes that one day they will be able to work together at home in Newfoundland. Molly’s clinical experience has mainly been in rehabilitation centres and she loves working in a rehab setting, both with children and adults.
  • Bianca Cava – University of Wisconsin-River Falls
  • Kaylee Miller – University of Toronto
  • Gagandeep Cheema – University of British Columbia
  • Regina Wenk – University of British Columbia
  • Mikayla Blumenthal – University of Toronto

SAC Scholarships

  • Charlotte Tai – University of British Columbia
    • Charlotte Tai is a second-year audiology student at the UBC School of Audiology and Speech Sciences. Upon completion of her Master of Science degree by summer 2021, she will be starting work as a pediatric audiologist and hopes to continue to raise awareness about hearing health for musicians.

Isabel Richard Scholarships

  • Emily White – University of Alberta
    • Emily is completing the second year of her Speech-Language Pathology degree at the University of Alberta. Her passion lies in supporting individuals in reaching their communication and swallowing goals post stroke or TBI.
  • Barbara Coelho – Laurentian University
  • Veronick Sorenson – University of Ottawa

Grace Margaret Harris Scholarship

  • Gabrielle Rouleau – McGill University

For more information about SAC’s scholarship program, please visit our website.
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