The SLP in 2012
SLPs, did
you know SLP stands for more than Speech-Language Pathologist?
You 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 that you
have sprinkled with fashion and care.
Those days
will fill themselves with words that you have carved out of knowledge, hard
work, dedication and love for our craft. Why? Because you simply love people and
your goal in life is to help them 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.
2012 will give you legs to walk the
walk and eyes to see all that you can be to a child with ASD and his/her
family. The SLP is most often the first line of communication about ASD 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 YOU. It's a daunting responsibility at times, but
you do it because you simply love people.
2012 will be a year of learning more
about ASD in your life and in the world community. There is research being conducted
around the globe, but most important is what you are doing with an individual
child. Don't let one methodology drive your therapy. Don't let yourself be
intimidated. 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 -- if you are not aware of
what those are, you should be.
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.
May your New
Year be filled with good things for your family and for all of our children with
ASD and their families.
"Speech pathologists make good things happen."