Posted January 27, 2012

The Need Goes On…….
MSHA continues to work to support the Joplin Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.  There are still needs, but the response to our first call was overwhelming. At the fall conference in Columbia, attendees filled over 4 luggage carts with boxes and bags of donations. 

Picture of carts  Caption:  Gil Phon, MSHA President, Brenda Martien, President-Elect, Jane Webb, VP for Communication

Thanks to several volunteers, these materials and supplies were quickly delivered.  Grateful notes, e-mails and letters were received from Joplin colleagues by MSHA Central Office and the Executive Board for our members overwhelming support.  Over 350 items were donated as well as generous cash donations from individuals and corporations.  Most of the materials and supplies were appropriate for school population.

BUT, We are not done!! 

We are asking for donations/supplies specifically for our SLPs and Audiologists who work in the medical sites of hospitals, rehab centers, clinics, and nursing homes.  We do not want to forget their devastation or needs.  

WHAT CAN WE GIVE?

There are a few suggestions mentioned below…..but think of what you need on a regular basis to provide appropriate services for these populations.  Think of your office needs on a daily basis. 

The audiologists who are in need have indicated that a few hearing companies are sending replacement parts and programming to replenish stock.  Some are offering discounts on equipment/tools for the hearing aid labs.  As a practicing or retired member you can recall some of your most valuable items that were not a professional purchase such as stuffed animals when training young children to respond during hearing testing. 

Those in the medical settings are desperate for materials to use with adults and the older population such as large pictures of objects in a variety of categories to work on object naming.  If you are currently providing services in a medical setting, you already know what works best.   If you are not, then perhaps you know someone who could offer suggestions.

OR

MSHA Central Office is the source to send cash donations or gift certificates.  Make checks payable to MSHA and in memo name Joplin (if you want be more specific, Joplin medical settings, audiologist, etc.)

WHAT TO DO WITH THESE MATERIALS?

The 53rd Annual Missouri-Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention will be the next drop off site.  The convention is April 13-15, 2011 at Tan-Tar-A, Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach, Missouri.  Several of our Joplin colleagues will be in attendance to thank you personally. 

Any additional questions, contact the MSHA Central Office.
On behalf of the Executive Board, to all who have offered support we say a huge:

THANK YOU!

MSHA is HERE for JOPLIN!

At the Executive Board retreat, July 30-31, 2011 your officers formulated an action plan to support our fellow professionals impacted in many ways by the May tornado in Joplin, Missouri.  The board began efforts to coordinate state wide assistance through a call for donations of diagnostic/therapy materials, all types of supplies, including cash donations. 

The Joplin schools begin classes the week of August 15th.  The Early Childhood program is in modulars at McKinley Elementary.  The high school is split between 2 buildings with 11th and 12th grade in a mall.  There are 13 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 2 high schools, an alternative school, a parochial elementary school, and 2 head starts that are serviced by our colleagues.

The Freeman Ozark Center Autism School was completely destroyed.  They are providing services in homes as there is no building at this time.

Information regarding the status of our colleagues in medical facilities, nursing homes, rehab centers, etc.  is still sketchy, so please check back for updates.

Those attending the Fall Workshops, October 21-22, 2011 in Columbia, Missouri had the opportunity to drop off materials and supplies to support our Joplin colleagues.  If you wish to do a cash donation, please send it to MSHA Central Office and mark it “for” Joplin.  If you are unable to attend these October conferences, you can send your donation along with someone attending.    MSHA Central Office also has a contact list of our colleagues around the Joplin area that you might connect with.

We plan to keep the membership updated about the progress of recovery in Joplin including reports through the listserv, the website, “The MSHA Link,” fall conference, and our 53rd annual convention.

If you have any questions about this initiative, please contact the MSHA Executive Board or MSHA central office.

News Articles

from
Julie Brashears, MS CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Ozark Center for Autism

Autism center aims to rebuild after Joplin tornado, postted in the Tulsa World News

Resource: Joplin's autsim center holdng therapy sessions at The Bridge, posted in The Joplin Globe

Photos

from
Julie Brashears, MS CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Ozark Center for Autism