As we look ahead to an exciting year, I invite our members to join the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) Executive Board to help shape the future of our association. Together, we are connecting individuals across our state, delivering more personalized membership experiences, evolving our excellent educational opportunities, and focusing on sustainability. Guided by our new three-year strategic plan, this is the time to engage, contribute, and help build a stronger, more innovative association for all. 

The Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) Annual Convention has always been the place where Texas speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and students come together to learn, recharge, and connect. This year, TSHA is introducing exciting new networking opportunities designed to help attendees build meaningful professional relationships, no matter where they are in their career journey.

As we gather in Fort Worth for the 70th Annual TSHA Convention, the landscape of our professions is evolving faster than ever. Whether you are navigating the complexities of reimbursement, managing a team in a school district, or battling the very real weight of burnout, this year’s Convention offers a unique sanctuary of knowledge and community. 

Members of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) for 2025 included Hayden Grahm (Public Member), Melinda Corwin, Dalan Gore, Brittany Hall, Donise Pearson, Judy Rich, and Jennifer Watson. Ex-officio members included Lisa Milliken (President), Jessica Carter (President-Elect), and Katie Strang (Executive Director/Advisory).

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention 2025 was held November 20–22 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., bringing together 13,300 registrants from across the communication sciences and disorders professions. This year’s convention was especially significant, as it marked ASHA’s centennial anniversary, celebrating 100 years of advancing the professions of speech-language pathology, audiology, and hearing science.

If you’re a speech-language pathologist (SLP) or audiologist in Texas, you know how important it is to stay connected, informed, and supported in your profession. That’s where the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) comes in. Membership isn’t just about belonging; it’s about unlocking resources, opportunities, and advocacy that elevate your career and impact.

The Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) Webinar Wednesday series is a TSHA continuing education (CE) member benefit. TSHA members receive complimentary access for up to 10 webinars per year. We’re excited to share our lineup of speakers and topics for 2026. We hope these webinars will expand your knowledge on essential topics within the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology!

Graduate Student Representatives (GSR) serve as liaisons between Texas universities and the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA). This volunteer position offers graduate students the unique opportunity to advocate for fellow students within the fields by serving as their voice on the TSHA Executive Board. Each year, the TSHA Executive Board selects a new Graduate Student Representative to serve a two-year term on the Executive Board.

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), federal student loan borrowing for graduate degrees is being overhauled. Grad PLUS loans are being eliminated, and new borrowing caps for graduate and undergraduate loans are being restructured into two tiers of borrowing caps.

As I write this article, the weather is changing, and the year is coming to an end. When this article is published, the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) Convention will be in full swing, celebrating TSHA’s 70^th birthday. It has been my great honor to serve as president of the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (TSHF) for the past two years. 

Working as a monolingual speech-language pathologist (SLP) with a bilingual child can feel like navigating a ship without a compass, especially when a trained interpreter isn't available. However, clinical excellence in these situations isn’t about speaking the child’s language; it’s about cultural humility, strategic assessment, and leveraging the family as partners.

Cafe TSHA is an initiative of the TSHA Publications Board. Levity Lounge is a walk on the lighter side. Tips for Tx offers clever hacks to up your therapy game. Tech Bytes covers new and noteworthy technology finds. Student Swap provides student-focused ideas and inspiration. Wellness Corner emphasizes self-care for service providers. We encourage you to submit your ideas to publications@txsha.org for consideration for publication in future issues.