ASHA Committee of Ambassadors

The ASHA Committee of Ambassadors is charged with identifying and discussing issues of concern to ASHA members. They provide information on these issues to the Board of Directors (BOD) and recommendations for the BOD's consideration in determining possible future programs and services to be developed and/or supported by the Association's resources.

Mary Bahr-Schwenke,
M.S., CCC-SLP

Melanie Buhr-Lawler, Au.D., CCC-A

ASHA State Education Advocacy Leaders (SEALs)

State Education Advocacy Leaders (SEALs) are appointed by ASHA recognized state speech-language hearing associations to advocate on education issues. These issues may include caseload/workload, salary supplements, and maintenance of personnel standards in school settings. SEALs can be speech-language pathologists or audiologists. The State Education Advocacy Leaders were established in 1999 under ASHA's Priorities. The mission of the SEALs network is to enhance and perpetuate the advocacy, leadership, and clinical management skills of school-based ASHA members at the state and local levels to influence administrative and public policy decisions that affect the delivery of speech-language pathology and audiology services in school settings. Monthly Updates are available here.

Dawn Merth-Johnson,
M.A., CCC-SLP

State Advocates for Medicare Policy (StAMP)

The mission of the State Advocates for Medicare Policy (StAMP) Network is to enhance and perpetuate the advocacy, leadership, and communication of ASHA members at the state level to influence administrative and public policy decisions that impact Medicare coverage and reimbursement of audiology and speech-language pathology services. StAMP representatives serve as a resource to fellow audiologists and speech-language pathologists regarding compliance with local and national Medicare coverage and payment policies.

Rachel Redmond, M.S., Ed., CCC-SLP

State Advocates for Reimbursement (STAR)

The State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs) are ASHA-member audiologists and speech-language pathologists who advocate in their states for improved health care coverage and reasonable reimbursement. Their targets are key decision-makers in private corporations, public agencies, and the local legislature. Examples are health care insurance executives, benefits administrators, state insurance department officials, and state congress members. STARs create advocacy strategies and share skills with the state speech-language-hearing associations that appoint them.