State Education Advocacy Leaders (SEALs) are appointed by ASHA recognized state speech-language hearing associations to advocate on education issues. These issues may include caseload/workload, salary supplements, and maintenance of personnel standards in school settings. SEALs can be speech-language pathologists or audiologists. SEALs can be audiologists or speech-language pathologists (SLPs). The mission of the SEALs network is to enhance and perpetuate the advocacy, leadership, and clinical management skills of school-based ASHA members at the state and local levels to influence administrative and public policy decisions that affect the delivery of speech-language pathology and audiology services in school settings.

About Amber:  As the academic program officer for the communication sciences and disorders program, Amber Handon assists prospective undergraduate and graduate students through the admission process, facilitates orientation of new students to the program, and supports students and their supervisors throughout their external placements. Handon is a licensed speech-language pathologist with clinical experience in interprofessional practice and delivery of services within the public school setting, having served Charlottesville City Schools for 17 years. Handon served on the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia (SHAV) board of directors for seven years and was awarded SHAV Fellow in 2023. She is committed to supporting those who are the future of the profession.

Do you have an education issue in Virginia that needs to be addressed? Email our SEAL your concerns. You can reach Amber at amber.handon@gmail.com.

The mission of the State Advocates for Medicare Policy (StAMP) Network is to enhance and perpetuate the advocacy, leadership, and communication of ASHA members at the state level to influence administrative and public policy decisions that impact Medicare coverage and reimbursement of audiology and speech-language pathology services.

StAMP Network participants are appointed by ASHA recognized state speech-language-hearing associations. They advocate for Medicare coverage and reimbursement of audiology and speech-language pathology services in the states.

The StAMP representative is responsible for establishing or enhancing effective links to medical directors, consultants, and key personnel with

• Medicare administrative contractors (MACs),

• Medicare regional office officials,

• state health agencies (certify Medicare facilities)

• consumer groups,

• and other related professionals.

StAMP representatives serve as a resource to fellow audiologists and speech-language pathologists regarding compliance with local and national Medicare coverage and payment policies.  Do you have a Medicare issue in Virginia that needs to be addressed? Email our StAMP your concerns. You can reach Janet at janet.bunnell@live.longwood.edu.

About Janet: Janet began her career in healthcare fifteen years ago after earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Longwood University. As the parent of a son with Autism she initially focused her interest on the school setting but went a different direction when she fell in love with the senior population during one her clinical rotations, where she has  since remained, serving our aging population in varied roles. Janet credits her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the skilled, long-term care, and outpatient settings as the foundation for her to grow into her current role as a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. She is a hands-on leader who is strategic, caring, and collaborative and she strongly believes in creating a community culture based on the C’s (Connected, Capable, and Contributing).

Janet is a member of The National Association of Long-Term Care Administrators, the American College of Healthcare Executives, the American Speech Hearing Association, and The Speech-Hearing Association of Virginia. She is a founding member of the Harris Memorial Armory Group in Blackstone, Virginia which has worked with The Town of Blackstone to renovate the historic building into an educational center for Southside Virgini through advocacy, grant funding, and shaping a vision into reality. 

In her spare time Janet enjoys her family, her cats, and serving her community as a member of the Blackstone Woman’s Club, The Rotary Club of Farmville, and as the incoming President of the Farmville Lions Club. She also currently serves as the Lions Zone Chair for her district.  

The State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs) are ASHA-member audiologists and speech-language pathologists who advocate in their states for improved healthcare coverage and reasonable reimbursement. Their targets are key decision-makers in private corporations, public agencies, and the local legislature. Examples are health care insurance executives, benefits administrators, state insurance department officials, and state congress members. STARs create advocacy strategies and share skills with the state speech-language-hearing associations that appoint them.

STARs form a true network. They link states together and to ASHA through monthly conference calls, a STARs-only e-mail discussion group, and periodic meetings. 

STARs are individuals who:

• are proactive

• will eagerly assist colleagues and others with advice and information

• can help seek solutions when members face challenges to their economic viability

• must count on their colleagues (you) to help them effectuate positive changes in private health insurance and Medicaid

Do you have a Medicaid issue in Virginia that needs to be addressed? Email our STAR your concerns. You can reach Amie at amie@sotstherapy.com.