3.5% — Early Access

That's the percentage of Black members in the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (2018), the professional organization for speech language pathologists (SLP) and audiologists. I'm not even from a small area. I'm from one of the largest cities in the country. However, the demographics during my studies did not reflect that. I was one of a handful of Black students who graduated in my undergraduate class (the overall number of racial and ethnically diverse students were pretty low). I was not only the only Black person, but the only person of color who graduated in my graduate program. I was the only Black employee at my first career job for the three years I worked there. However, when I first moved to the nation’s capital, I was shocked to meet such a racial variety among related service providers. When you work as an SLP in the nation's capital, it can be easy to forget this statistical fact. So many SLPs of different races and ethnicities are sprinkled throughout the DMV region. It’s refreshing, as it reflects the population. Unfortunately, this is not a reality in so many parts of the country.

So, what was the impetus for this blog post? As we have all experienced this Twilight Zone Black Mirror year that is 2020, there is a currently a reckoning of racialized anti-Black violence perpetuated by the State and across a myriad of institutions. Also, the global pandemic coupled with the frustrating responses to contain it has infuriated the American public. Black communities have experienced demonstrably worse conditions during these times. People across the country, no longer distracted by work and entertainment, are viewing the disproportional impact of overt anti-Black violence realized in police brutality, health and education inequities, and economic devastation that plagues this country. The saying commonly goes, “when America gets a cold, Black America gets the flu.” We are all witnessing a swift militarization of law enforcement shortly after watching medical professionals, including communication disorder specialists, beg for minimal supplies to treat a barrage of COVID-19 patients. We have seen increases in police department budgets, while families go hungry because children aren’t receiving meals as school buildings are closed. Overall, we bear witness to the ongoing inequities that continue to disempower and harm another generation of Black Americans. Enough is enough.

I want to highlight the importance of equitable opportunities not only for my fellow Black communication disorder specialists, but for the vast Black students, clients and patients with whom SLPs and audiologists interact. I think of many of my Black students I re-assessed, only to learn no one controlled for their dialect, therefore reducing their overall score. I am happy I was able to really get to the heart of their communication impairments and plan with their teachers and parents what to target to improve their school performance. I think of executive meetings I have participated in which I advocated on behalf of my Black families who many not have had access to all the resources or knowledge, but wanted to do what was right for their child. I think of the extra planning my team and I did for our UN presentations as we were one of only a handful of Black experts presenting to a global audience about disability-inclusive issues. I think of when I am coaching local special education leaders on problem solving equitable access and service provisions for all young children and families of color. And most importantly, I think of giving my Black students the space to be kids, encouraging them to play and be free to express their thoughts and feelings without the need to follow arbitrary rules. In a world that may not always see the value in Black men, women and children, I want to continue to create the space and support those who see that Black Lives do in fact Matter.