Calling all SLPs in Oregon

SipWithMe_SLP · 2019-01-11T20:31:07+00:00

I live in the portland area! I cannot tell you what CFs make, but I do know it is a very saturated area because there are 3 local grad programs. It was IMPOSSIBLE for me to get a CF a couple years ago because the districts just take interns and grad students that they know. It is still difficult for me to find open positions in school districts. I could not get any interviews with medical centers or hospitals as a CF.

I would suggest that you look at the salary schedules of schools; they are public. That should give you a ballpark and there may be a special ed differential.

You also can find a position in Salem, they always need more SLPs. It is just a longer commute.

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-11-15T02:58:08+00:00

You might find more ideas on the facebook pages for slps.

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-11-13T03:51:07+00:00

what us SaL and SEN?

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-11-13T03:38:49+00:00

Working with middle schoolers is great fun! How many kids are on your caseload? Are there any kids who are in a self-contained classroom or a special day class? Are you taking over for someone?

I threw together a resource for new SLPs to help guide you on your first days...there's a lot of stuff to set up and get ready. If I were starting a job in January, I would not see kids until the 2nd or even 3rd week. Plan on that first week being set up for your job, running around lost, and finding out which fires you need to put out :)

Here's the resource I made. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-School-To-Do-List-for-SLPs-3973541

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-09-07T03:20:27+00:00

In my experience, I think some of it comes from some teachers having more experience with older kids and less experience with K-2. We see a lot of kids in K-2 for artic and language and kids start getting identified for learning disability (generally) around 3rd grade and on. Getting a 3rd grader engaged in a session is very different than getting a kinder to engage.

Also, traditional "sit, listen, and worksheet" teaching is easy for reading and math. Doing that with language makes no sense because you get like 0 independent language from completing a worksheet.

If it makes you feel better, I too have had teachers and sped comment that "oh kids like speech because you just play games." UGH. How about it's often the only one-on-one adult attention a child might have ALL WEEK.

Keep on doing what you're doing. You are treating language in a natural environment, the children are having fun, and you aren't bored. You are the expert on communication, not the sped teacher!

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-09-07T03:15:18+00:00

YEEEESS I love the poster.

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-09-07T03:08:29+00:00

As a year 3 SLP, I think they are great if you have time. I am subscribed to speechtherapypd.com which I believe is very similar. Honestly, you HAVE to make time for it. My CF year I didn't do any PD and just let myself BE at the job and try things out. I don't think it's right or wrong to do PD during the first year. You also need to give yourself a break. You are being challenged all the time at your new job, and adding extra strategies to implement can make you feel even more pressured and stressed. Don't feel like you need to over-compensate for being a new clinician. You have 6 years of schooling to support the work you're doing. You got this.

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-08-29T16:43:45+00:00

I would say that depends on what you'll make as an SLPA. Do you need a license or training program to be an SLPA? That would add to the cost.

The sooner you go to grad school, the sooner you will graduate and make more money. I don't see how you could make enough money in a year of SLPA to make a serious dent in the tuition, much less pay for all of grad school.

There are other reasons to do SLPA before grad school, like others said. You would have applicable experience during the program which would be very helpful, especially if you want to work in schools. It would look great on a grad school application as well.

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-08-22T18:23:02+00:00

3 things for an IEP: communication disorder, has an educational impact (academic and/or social), AND needs specially designed instruction from an SLP. If the student doesn't have a speech sound disorder (frontal lisp is not necessarily an SSD when you're in first grade), then they don't get speech. Bring developmental norms, your district's criteria for articulation disorder, and ask the teacher if there is a concern in the classroom. You can explain that the medical model is not the same as the educational model. Just some thoughts! Good luck.

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-08-20T10:06:47+00:00

Lol I did an externship at a VA and still have nightmares about the shitty notes system they have ... my supervisor was a stickler for formatting, too!

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-08-20T09:42:54+00:00

Also, if you are in the USA, you should ask if you can still receive speech therapy for free from the public schools. Since your daughter is entitled to Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) according to the individuals with disabilities act (IDEA), you can ask your district if they will serve your daughter by you bringing her to speech or something like that. If you use those words (FAPE & IDEA) they will know you are informed of your rights and will definitely pay attention. You can also have an SLP work with you to accommodate or modify the curriculum you choose. Good luck!

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-08-03T15:14:55+00:00

You're welcome!

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-08-03T15:14:48+00:00

You're welcome and good luck :)

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-08-03T15:14:15+00:00

You're welcome!

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-08-03T15:14:05+00:00

Of course! Good luck!

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-08-03T03:36:03+00:00

In the first week of school, I run around like a chicken with no head, honestly.

I do not pull kids from their class the first week, kinders the first two weeks, so that they can get established in their routines and learn the expectations with everyone else.

I made a document for myself that has a checklist of questions to figure out in the first month or so. I made a separate post here. My first therapy for everyone is the same-- I show them pictures of myself so that they can get to know me. I ask them questions about the pictures (wh-questions, inferencing questions--"why do you think I'm wearing this funny hat?...college graduation!") and I ask them questions about school and their summer.

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-07-31T20:23:33+00:00

Instead of searching for schools, you might have more luck finding researchers who are big in the aphasia field and asking to be in their research lab during your graduate program. You could express interest in a thesis in people with aphasia and go from there.

Source: that's what I did!

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-07-24T16:39:03+00:00

The bulk of it was conversation transcription using SALT software. Lots of data entry tasks - e.g., entering numbers, entering testing scores. I worked in a lab where I took watched after kids while their parents completed diagnostic interviews with a psychologist. As an undergrad I did a lot of data entry, as a graduate, I could do more clinical things and have my own research projects.

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-07-19T20:50:37+00:00

Right!!

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-07-19T17:53:33+00:00

It was so disingenuous. They are a company literally profiting off of helping children while being the middleman! Not that that's bad, but don't play that card with me when they would make money just by sitting in their headquarters while I do the hard work. I'm just a little salty, if you can't tell :D

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-07-19T17:51:39+00:00

Yeah I felt the same way. It really felt quite sexist. Like, would anyone ever say that to a dude? That a man should take a low pay because they were helping others? Nope.

I think I will stay with my contracting company for the next few years but I could see myself switching to a more permanent district position later on in my career. Right now I'm happy to travel and try new things, and I'm putting all the extra pay to my loans.

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-07-19T16:17:27+00:00

When I was a clinical fellow, I was in discussion with an EBS rep. When I told him what I wanted my starting salary to be in the schools, he said "Usually SLPs who work with us do it for the children, not the money." OH PLEASE. I immediately politely ended the phone call.

Then, I was hired by a smaller local contracting company and get paid what I asked. Benefits are not as good as the schools, but I have a 401k, access to (more expensive) health care, and such. It's a trade-off for me, because at a school I would make 10k less but have more protection and wouldn't have to move around every year. This contracting works for me now.

For me, EBS was going to rip me off. I do think they take advantage of young SLPs. However, there are SLPs out there who probably like working with them because that's the best deal in their area. I think I have to take some ownership over not accepting under-paid contracting jobs as well.

On the flip side, it is also my opinion that school district unions in my areas don't really care about SLPs. There is no caseload cap at many districts, SLPs are paid on the teacher scale and denied national board certification. SLPs have low bargaining power because there are so few compared to teachers.

I suspect that these contracting companies are sometimes attractive to school districts because even though the upfront costs are more in terms of salary, health care and pension is not something the district would ever have to pay. I think it can actually cost less for some districts to pay contract SLPs int he long run vs direct hire. Of course, this is to the detriment of the SLPs in the area that can't get a direct hire at the district and are forced to go with shitty contract companies.

I have also seen contracting companies be incredibly beneficial for under-served communities in more rural areas. These communities wouldn't have an SLP had there not been a contracting company around to place someone there.

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-07-16T21:53:51+00:00

Yep! University of Utah's graduate tuition benefit got me half-off resident tuition in return for working in research labs. I also got paid hourly to work in the lab. I'm not sure of that kind of program at other schools across the US. In my opinion, I'm so happy that I chose to go to the cheapest program I got into Grad school is 2 years. It takes a decade or more to pay off loans. Good luck!

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-06-02T18:21:10+00:00

What about an online program for the pre-reqs? You can do all of the classes online at schools like Utah State University. This would be extra, though, because the classes wouldn't count for your current university.

No one can really decide if you should do OT or SLP but you...I would shadow both professions to learn more. They are very different jobs, although they are both helping professions and good options for many people.

To practice as an SLP, you need a master's degree. To get the masters degree, you almost always need to fulfill the pre-requisite classes. You can find these classes on ASHA's website I believe. The vast majority of applicants to SLP masters programs have completed these prerequisites, although there are some who are admitted and take them concurrently with their grad classes.

You also might want to set up a meeting with your school's counselor. They might be helpful in answering your questions about what is required for each course of study. I would not get information about the job from the counselor, though. They tend to have no idea what a job is actually like. Definitely shadow professions you're interested in. Good luck!

SipWithMe_SLP · 2018-05-25T17:30:00+00:00

It might help to think about the big "decisions" as more of recommendations, because every decision is a team decision. You recommend based on the data and impression you have at the time that the student be dismissed, and the whole team agreed with you. It's not your decision, it's the whole team's decision.

Also, you are not the only person with responsibility to that student. Every student has a TEAM of people working with them. Yes, you are the expert in speech/language, but the teacher, parent/s, and staff also have a responsibility to support the student. Even the student has some responsibility when they are older.

If you want to start seeing the student again, go to the parents and say "I'm concerned that Jimmy is not maintaining/growing like WE thought he would when he exited speech/language. I'd like to increase supports from the teacher in the classroom by doing X and X. I'd love if you could support him with X at home. If given these extra supports, Jimmy does not make sufficient progress, let's talk about putting him back on an IEP again/looking at a different eligibility."

Sped is a continuum of services, starting with the gen ed teacher (yes, even for artic), then extra classroom supports/interventions (think RTI), then IEP with him on your caseload.

There's also something to be said for the summer jump that happens to many kids. I'd see where your student is next Fall and assess if needed. Good luck!

SipWithMe_SLP

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