From: Potter, J. (2008, Dec. 16). 2009 public policy agenda reflects member input. The ASHA Leader, 13(17), 28.

ASHA Highest Priority Objectives for 2009

* Higher education and research funding. Promote state/federal financial aid policies and research funding opportunities, while collaborating with state agencies/communication sciences and disorders programs to support recruitment and retention of master's and doctoral students and clinicians in education and health care settings.
* Autonomy for audiologists. Promote audiologists' autonomy through direct patient access and comprehensive coverage of audiology services under Medicare.
* IDEA funding. Support increased funding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the following goals: establishment of effective service delivery and manageable workloads to maximize student outcomes; participation in early intervening activities using the Response-to-Intervention model (Part B) and increased access to appropriate early intervention services (Part C); increased professional development through dissemination of information about research-based practices in speech-language pathology and audiology.

For full article/summary go to:
http://www.asha.org/about/publications/leader-online/archives/2008/08121...