CThree undergraduate students in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Fort Hays State University recently attended Legislative Day at the Capitol building in Topeka.
Madisson Jesse, Burlington senior, Ashley Luna, Victoria junior, and Alexis Schaben, Hays senior, attended. Jacque Jacobs, Herndon Clinic coordinator and professor in the CSD Department, Tara Marshall, clinical educator, and Stephanie Tiernan, clinical educator in the department also attended.
“It’s easy to get consumed with your day-to-day activities and providing services to your clients,” said Marshall. “Legislative day is an opportunity to connect with politicians about issues that affect our profession and, therefore, our clients.”
This was Marshall’s second Legislative Day.
“Advocacy is part of our scope of practice, a part that we need to invest time in as well,” she said. “By involving CSD students in Legislative Day, we’re instilling in them the value of advocacy at an early stage in their careers in hopes that they will continue to get involved when they are practicing clinicians.”
KSHA members have been active at the Capitol since the inception of the organization in 1959. Through activities such as participating in bills, serving on task forces and regulatory boards, and voting in local and state elections, members have made a lasting impact on the professions and those with communication disorders.
“Legislative Day plays an important role in the life of a professional association and in the lives of our members,” said Susie Ternes, executive director of KSHA. “When members of an organization come together at the Capitol, they show policymakers that they are paying attention and that they want to maintain an open line of communication with them.”
“Legislators are expected to be knowledgeable about many different topics and many know very little about the work of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist,” said Ternes. “Bringing awareness to our profession and to the clients we serve is a critical component to our Legislative Day activities.”
Legislative Day provides participants the opportunity to learn about current legislative priorities and learn about ways to become involved in the legislative process. It also provides an opportunity for members to meet with their legislators and begin to form relationships with those who represent the members at the State level.
“We are called to be advocates for our clients, and advocating for change at the state level has a tremendous impact on our mission. Through effective communication, all individuals will realize their potential,” said Ternes.
“Going to Topeka and hearing from legislators was a valuable experience,” said Jesse. “Our group discussed two important topics for the field of speech-language pathology, Medicaid expansion and more funding for education.”
Jesse and Schaben were able to meet with State Rep. Eric Smith, Burlington, to discuss CSD matters and learn more about advocacy.
“Having Madisson and Alexis here and listening to their ideas and observations helped me to take a big breath of relief because I know that there are young people out there who truly care about our country and our state,” said Smith.
“They showed a genuine compassion and interest for the direction our state is going and that kind of attitude is going to be key to future success of Kansas,” he said.
“This experience showed me that it’s important for any young adult to be educated on these and other topics, as they can enter the polls at any given time,” said Jesse
