Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) Simply Love People
Did you know SLP stands for more than Speech-Language Pathologist?
We stand for so much more. The other meaning for SLP is “Simply Love People.”
As we walk into a new year, 2012 has many promises ahead for those who simply love people. The year will march along in its own way, day-by-day. Some of those days will be filled with rewards and some may not. Many of those days that lie ahead will see sparkles of stardust through a child’s eyes sprinkled with fashion and care from their SLP.
Those days will fill themselves with words that the SLP carves out of knowledge, hard work, dedication and love for their profession. Why? Because we simply love people and the SLP’s goal in life is to help people (both children and adults) achieve their goals.
2012 will not come cheap or easy for those who simply love people because we care, but never too much. We spend our own finances. We learn at a pace beyond compare. We dream of our clients at night and do more than our share during the day. But the smiles from across the table, or over the phone, or five-in-the-hand tell us that our hearts know the answers as to why we are SLPs and work with children on the autism spectrum and all disabilities with speech and language needs.
2012 will give us legs to walk the walk and eyes to see all that we can be to a child with speech/language disorders and his/her family. The SLP is most often the first line of communication to the young family. As that child grows, the importance of the SLP is relied on more and more by the family in order to make good choices for its child’s education, home and community. That’s the SLP. It’s a daunting responsibility at times, but we do it because as SLPs, we simply love people.
2012 will be a year of learning more about autism/ASD in the life of the SLP and in the world community. There is research being conducted around the globe, but most important is what the SLPs are doing with an individual child. As SLPs and parents, don’t let one methodology drive your therapy. Don’t let yourselves be intimidated. The SLP should set a goal of obtaining all of your CEUs in some facet of ASD this coming year so that you can walk that walk. Perhaps most important of all is to listen to the parents’ wants, needs and concerns.
2012 will end all too quickly. There is one thing I know for certain: people who simply love people will live for years to come through the legacy they so generously bestow. That’s the SLP in all of us who have made this profession a lifetime of commitment, reward, and joy.
May your New Year be filled with good things for your family and for all of our children with ASD and all speech/language needs and their families.
Tags: articulation, ASD, Autism, disability, Education, Parenting, speech pathologists, speech/langauge therapy, teachers
