Advocate, educate, research, and innovate by nominating the leaders who will shape TSHA’s fate! In 2027, Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) members will elect a Vice President for Advocacy, Vice President for Educational and Scientific Affairs, and Vice President for Research and Development.

We need names to put on these blank awards! We need you! The Honors and Awards of the Association are intended to identify and recognize those members whose contributions to the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) have been significant and outstanding.

It’s time to start looking ahead to the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) 2027 Convention on January 29-30, and we’re excited about what’s in store! With a return to Dallas and expanded opportunities for connection and learning, Convention is designed to bring professionals together in new and meaningful ways.

School districts across the U.S. are facing an unprecedented shortage of speech-language pathologists (SLPs). According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), many districts continue to report unfilled SLP positions while demand for services continues to rise due to increasing student needs and federal special education requirements. 

By fostering culturally responsive therapy practices, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can create learning environments where students feel valued, respected, and understood. When students see their identities, experiences, languages, and traditions reflected in therapy activities, engagement, trust, and communication outcomes often improve dramatically. As we begin a new school year, how can we infuse culturally rich materials into our therapy sessions?

Who do you connect with? Is it your family, your colleagues, friends from your faith community, or friends you share a hobby with? Connection happens across many contexts and many settings. We connect by sharing interests, experiences, and stories. We laugh with our people, cry with them, reminisce with them, and sometimes even argue with them. We do much more than simply communicate with them. We connect with them! 

The Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA) is committed to supporting the next generation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists as they navigate their graduate education and prepare for professional practice. One of the most impactful ways students can get involved is through the Graduate Student Representative (GSR) program.

February 25, 2022—It was the day I joined the Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (TSHA). I remember it because I was a sophomore in college who had just Googled "business casual" for the first time. 

By: Patti L. Solomon-Rice, PhD, CCC-SLP, TSHF Research Awards Committee Chair

The Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (TSHF) is pleased to recognize our 2026 grant recipients and past recipients of the TSHF Research Awards Program. Although the amount of each award is not large, the award can be sufficient to explore the feasibility of a novel idea, support preliminary research needed to apply for a larger nationally funded research project, or perhaps extend the findings of a currently funded research project. Our research program supports the TSHF mission to improve the lives of people with communication disorders by promoting research relevant to communication disorders and supporting Texas-based researchers across a variety of settings.

Congratulations to all the recipients of the 2026 Texas Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (TSHF) Awards! This year, 38 awards and scholarships, totaling $78,000, were awarded to deserving students and professionals. Thank you to everyone who provided support to the Foundation through a one-time donation or recurring monthly donations. 

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.