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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) Committee

The goal of ISHA's DEI Committee is to amplify the voices of the minorities within our profession, while bringing attention to inclusivity. Create safe spaces to discuss issues pertaining to DEI in the workplace, classrooms, and clinics.

2023-2024 Roster

  • Katie Gore, Co-Chair
  • David Frazier, Co-Chair
  • Amina Dreessen
  • Valerie Brosius
  • Annie Govea
  • Sharon Rzyski
  • Sayida Baste
  • Suzanne Williams
  • Kimberly Hines
  • Brenda Gorman
  • Kelly McCormick

2023-2024 Committee Goals

GOALS:

  • Amplify the voices of the minorities within our profession, while bringing attention to inclusivity.
  • Create safe spaces to discuss issues pertaining to DEI in the workplace, classrooms, and clinics.

INDICATORS OF SUCCESS:

  • Continue DEI Office Hours
  • Provide a professional development DEI course, create objectives, and create curriculum for CEU’s [this will be completed by summer 2023 as part of the ISHA Education Series]
  • Partner with other committees, events within ISHA/ASHA/other State Speech and Hearing Associations
  • Provide resources and support to ISHA Executive and other Committees as requested, especially for ongoing programs (eg Ethics Contest) that want to include a DEI component
  • Provide regular content for the ISHA Voice, educating members about DEI issues related to the professions, and maintaining DEI as a front-and-center focus area

Current committee initiatives underway include:

School-To-Professional Pipeline

Developing a systematic outreach, recruitment, retention, and mentoring initiative for students in the communication sciences and disorders professions from underrepresented backgrounds, with particular support for students who are BIPOC (Black, Indiginous, People of Color) and with culturally and linguistically diverse experiences.

Important elements will include:

  • Pre-college career education (middle school and high school)
  • College-level outreach, particular opportunity with community colleges and HBCUs
  • Support and/or mentoring program to assist with college preparation, graduate school education, graduate training, early career navigation
Professional Development and Training
  • Connecting Conversations Series
  • Professional development year-round and at ISHA's Annual Convention 
  • In partnership with the Multicultural Issues Committee, investigate creation of an ISHA certificate of cultural competency.
  • Partner with ISHA Mentorship Program for Minority emphasis if needed/desired
  • Partner with other committees, events within ISHA/ASHA and other State Speech and Hearing Associations
  • Monthly/quarterly videos from DEI Committee highlighting issues/topics within our field 
  • Interview minorities within ISHA and highlight their journey and or contributions to the field
  • Investigate Minority scholarships for students
  • Creation of how to videos:
    • How to better communicate with diverse colleagues
    • How to better communicate with diverse patients/students/clients
    • How to deal with microaggressions
    • How to hold uncomfortable conversations
    • How to address uncomfortable/unwarranted behaviors in the workplace