Program Assessment and Program Review
Documents
Department Chair: Monica Porter
MISSION OF THE SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT
PROGRAM
The mission of the Speech-Language
Pathology Assistant Program is in keeping with the mission of Santa Ana College
in that it provides students with a rich, skill based learning environment that
recognizes the diversity each student brings to his or her education. It
encompasses the genuine respect and desire to embrace all cultural diversities
and individual uniqueness. It provides the students with the competencies they
will need to meet the criteria established by the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association through academic course work, clinical
observations, field experiences and workplace behaviors for performing assistant
level job requirements in assisting the speech-language pathologist in providing
quality services to individuals with communication disorders.
The Mission of the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program is:
(1) to provide a strong foundation in the skills and knowledge necessary for
the development of competencies needed to work productively and responsibly as a
speech-language pathology assistant
(2) to provide a program that encourages and values the richness of diversity
in its students and the population it is trained to serve
(3) to provide the necessary skills, resources and learning environment that
encourages lifelong learning
(4) to provide learning experiences that foster a positive environment that
emphasizes respect for the individual and development of the student’s personal
and academic growth in assisting in the provision of quality services to
individuals with communication disorders.
PHILOSOPHY OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT
PROGRAM
The ability to communicate is the essence of all humanity. It is through
speech and language that we express our thoughts, ideas, and our feelings - that
we reach out and touch one another and form interpersonal relationships. Speech
and language form the building blocks of all learning. Problems in
communicating affect success in school, in getting and keeping a job and in
establishing and maintaining relationships with others. The Speech-Language
Pathologist helps give people the words they need to make connections with
family, colleagues and friends and to achieve the communication skills they need
to be successful in life. The speech-language pathology assistant provides the
speech-language pathologist with support and assistance that can make a
difference in peoples’ lives by bringing quality services to help people
overcome communication disorders.
The Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program is
designed to prepare trained speech-language pathology assistants to assist
speech-language pathologists in the speech and language development of
communicatively disordered children and adults. They will be trained to conduct
screenings for speech-language and hearing disorders (without interpretation),
administer treatment assistance as prescribed by the speech-language
pathologist, and provide support assistance to the speech-language pathologist.
They will work with infants, children, young adults and seniors in educational,
clinical and medical settings such as schools, day care centers, hospitals,
nursing homes and clinics.
The Associate of Arts program offers an
intensive course of study in the area of speech and language disorders,
including supervised treatment and field experience in a variety of settings.
Upon completion of the AA degree program, the graduate is eligible for
registration as a Speech Language Pathology Assistant by the California
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Examining Board (
www.slpab.ca.gov)
