What setting are you working in currently and what do you do?

I am a Spanish bilingual speech-language pathologist working in the Boston Public Schools, with children and young adults, in the ages of 2;9- 22. My duties include performing speech-language assessments, writing IEP plans for students eligible for speech-language services and providing speech-language services for the students in my caseload.

What excites you about your current professional projects?

As a fluency and fluency disorders life-time specialist, I’m excited to help my colleagues in the Boston Public Schools to develop best clinical practices for children who present with stuttering disorders through professional development and consultations.

What advice do you give to the next generation of speech pathologists?

Some of the challenges in the field relate to unwillingness of some school administrators to acknowledge that SLPs need to be provided with a desk and an adequate working space to perform our professional duties. My advice to the next generation of SLPs is to take good care of themselves, including developing a strong professional support group, getting a good financial advisor to help you manage your 403b and/or Smart Plan, develop a specialization in the field that you enjoy the most, and develop leadership skills through organizing professional development activities for your colleagues.

What do you value about MSHA Membership?

I value my MSHA membership as it opens space for me to stay involved in professional development, network with colleagues, and participate in social events with local colleagues.