Washington Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Washington Speech-Language-Hearing Association (WSLHA) is an organization that promotes professional excellence in speech-language pathology and audiology.

Mission: Empowering and connecting current and future professionals through advocacy, education, and leadership development, to foster equitable, inclusive, and culturally respectful collaboration with our communities.
Vision: An engaged and thriving community empowered to enrich communication and quality of life for all.

WSLHA is an American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recognized state association.

Volunteer Opportunities Available – Are You?

Are you looking for a way to grow and take advantage of an opportunity to help yourself, your colleagues and your patients, clients, or students. WSLHA, as a volunteer-based organization, has many such opportunities.

Several of our committees need your ideas, your creativity and some of your time. Consider joining one of them. Contact the WSLHA website and complete a volunteer application or email the office to express your interest. WSLHA’s Volunteer Coordinator, Judith Bernier, will contact you to explore the possibilities. Briefly most committees meet once a month for an hour with some work on projects between meetings as needed. Time involvement is estimated at 1-3 hours a month.

The following committees are looking for your assistance – Communications, Membership, School Affairs, and Continuing Education. It’s a great way to meet new colleagues, to strengthen your skill set, to develop your leadership and to grow as a professional. Come join our community of Washington SLPs/Audiologists and Assistants.

Capitol News

WSLHA Priorities:

HB 1589, our fair contracting bill, has been referred to the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee. We’re working with Senator Cleveland, the chair of that committee, to get the bill scheduled for a hearing.

HB 1686, the bill creating a health care entity registry, passed the House on a vote of 86-7 and is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee. The bill was amended considerably on the House floor. It’s now a study bill, requiring the Department of Health (DOH) to develop a plan and recommendations regarding the creation of a complete and interactive registry.

Bills that did not survive the House of Origin cutoff deadline include:

HB 1392, the bill that creates the Medicaid Access Program to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates
SB 5387, the corporate practice of health care bill

General News:

House of Origin cutoff… Wednesday, March 12th, marked the critical deadline for bills to advance out of their chambers of origin. With this milestone passed, legislative focus now shifts to the next phase: bills making their way across the rotunda to be considered by policy and fiscal committees in the opposite chamber.

Each floor cutoff day brings anticipation with one recurring question—what will be the “5 p.m. bill?” According to legislative rules, if the bill’s process begins before the 5 p.m. deadline, discussions can continue well into the evening. This final bill of the day often carries symbolic weight. Sometimes, it's a contentious measure that sparks extended debate, stretching late into the night. Other times, it's a broadly supported, feel-good proposal—perhaps a resolution honoring a local hero, commemorating an historic event, or recognizing a cause that garners bipartisan backing. This year, we witnessed both types of bills.

This cutoff, the House 5pm bill was HB 1296 (Stonier, D-49), a hot-button student rights bill. The legislation proposes modifications to existing policies concerning student rights, parental rights, and employee protections within public schools and requires school districts to adopt or amend policies by January 31, 2026, to incorporate guidelines from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). These guidelines aim to eliminate discrimination based on gender expression and identity, address challenges faced by transgender students, and apply anti-bullying policies to these students.

The bill has elicited partisan responses. Republican legislators have expressed concerns that HB 1296 could undermine the "parents' bill of rights" initiative (Initiative 2081) passed in 2024. The bill was brought up shortly before the 5pm deadline and then not debated on until the middle of the night, with debate wrapping up at 2:15am. The bill passed on a party-line vote, with the adoption of 6 of 128 proposed amendments.

And in the Senate, the majority chose SB 5263 (Pedersen, D-43) as their 5pm bill. The bipartisan legislation, which passed 48-0, proposes several significant changes to special education funding to enhance support for students with disabilities. Debate was sometimes emotional, with several members on each side of the aisle speaking.

Budget considerations… All eyes will be on the state’s revenue forecast release on Tuesday. Budget writers use this forecast to make final adjustments to their budgets. However, the uncertainty of the federal budget looms large, particularly potential cuts to Medicaid. This may make the March forecast a difficult predictor of the state’s economy, with some already thinking that the June revenue forecast will show a more accurate picture of the state’s budget challenges.

The Senate Democrats will release their budget on March 24th, with a hearing on March 25th. This budget will include a combination of billions of dollars in cuts, new revenue, and savings. The House is expected to release their budget around the same time, but it’s unclear whether their revenue package will be included in their budget or announced later in session.

This week, Senate Republicans proposed an alternative budget aimed at tackling the state's multi-billion-dollar deficit without introducing new taxes. Their plan includes a $75.6 billion budget for the next two years, marking a 5% increase from the current cycle. Key strategies involve using surplus funds, pausing planned expansions for state-subsidized childcare, and forgoing approximately $4 billion in previously negotiated pay raises for state workers. Instead of these raises, they propose a one-time $5,000 bonus for employees. Senator Chris Gildon, the Republican budget lead, emphasized that this approach seeks a middle ground between cuts and tax increases. Democratic budget leaders have criticized the Republican proposal as "unsustainable." The state's projected budget deficit estimates vary, with figures ranging from $12 billion to over $18 billion.

To C or Not to C: Making Decisions about Your SLP Licensure and Accreditations in Washington State

Disclosure: WSLHA receives grants and advocacy support from ASHA

Recently, WSLHA has received questions from our SLP community about maintaining ASHA CCCs. As the cost of living is on the rise, many SLPs are looking for ways to cut expenses. ASHA membership or certification is not required to be a member of WSLHA, and we neither endorse nor oppose ASHA membership or certification. While the decision about maintaining your ASHA Cs is yours and yours alone, there are several things to consider:

Clinical and ESIT settings. Most clinical settings and ESIT agencies in Washington require SLPs to hold state licensure from the Department of Health. ASHA Cs are not required for state licensure, but licensure requirements mirror the requirements for Cs. Some insurance companies and healthcare organizations still require ASHA Cs in addition to proof of license. If you are considering dropping your ASHA Cs, talk with your employer or insurers first.

School settings. While ESA certification is required by OSPI for SLPs working in Washington State public schools, ASHA certification is not. However, some school districts prefer or require their SLPs to hold licensure and/or ASHA Cs. If you already have your ASHA Cs, ESA renewal is easy. Just upload a copy of your ASHA certificate when you log into the e-certification system. If you do not have ASHA Cs, you will need to provide proof of 100 clock hours earned over a 5-year period.

Supervision: If you enjoy supervising and mentoring students and clinical fellows, take note. For students enrolled in ASHA accredited Master’s degree programs, ASHA requires that supervising clinicians hold and maintain their Cs.

Working abroad: Considering working outside of the US? A number of countries have mutual recognition of professional association credentials. For example, ASHA certification is recognized by the national associations of Canada, Ireland, UK, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore, but those countries may not recognize your state licensure. If you plan to work abroad, check your destination country’s requirements first.

Changing professional settings. Many clinicians start their career in one setting and explore others along the way. One of the advantages to being an SLP is the option to work across different settings. While ASHA Cs might not be required in your current setting, they could be required in a future setting.

ASHA Membership vs Certification. Did you know that you don’t have to be an ASHA member to retain your Cs? You can also be an ASHA member without certification. Contact the ASHA Center for more information about these options and the associated costs.

Final thoughts. WSLHA encourages you to carefully consider your options for ASHA certification and membership, keeping your present and future needs in mind. Regardless of your ASHA certification or membership, we encourage you to be involved in WSLHA. Many of the decisions that are made at the state level affect your practice. WSLHA is your voice in Washington State.

Deirdre Curle, PhD, CCC-SLP is Past-President of WSLHA. She lives in Seattle and is a speech-language pathologist at the Washington Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth. She holds ASHA Cs and affiliation with SIG 9, Pediatric Hearing and Hearing Disorders.

Resources