Speech-Language & Audiology Canada , formerly known as the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, is a national organization supporting and representing speech-language pathologists, audiologists and communication health assistants. The association adopted its new name and logo on February 5, 2014. Speech-Language & Audiology Canada is a member-driven organization that supports, promotes and elevates the professions of its more than 6,000 members and associates. Through this support, SAC champions the needs of people with communication disorders.
Structure
SAC’s office is in Ottawa, Ontario. The SAC Board of Directors has between 10-16 Directors who are elected by SAC’s membership. The Board includes a Chair, 1st Vice-Chair, 2nd Vice-Chair, Director-University, Director-Communication Health Assistant and Director-Student.
Publications
SAC publishes the Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, an online, peer-reviewedacademic journal on speech-language pathology and audiology, and SAC in Action, an advocacy newsletter, both of which are accessible by the public. SAC also has a blog, , and three other publications,'' which are available exclusively to the association’s members and associates.
Resources
SAC offers many resources to both its membership and the general public. Members and associates can log into the of SAC’s website to access exclusive resources. Members of the general public can access the following without logging into the site: * * *
Awareness Campaigns
Speech and Hearing Month
Each May, SAC runs , a nationwide public awareness campaign that raises awareness about communication disorders and the professionals who can help. In recent years, SAC’s Speech and Hearing Month has highlighted the importance of the early detection and intervention of communication disorders by creating resources and partnering with children’s hospitals across Canada.
Noisy Toys Campaign
SAC has worked hard to raise awareness of the dangerous effects of . It has encouraged the government to conduct further studies on noise related to toy safety and revise current legislation. SAC supports legislation that advocates the reduction of allowable noise decibel level in toys from the current 100 db to 75 db.
On December 13, 2012, the Canadian Interorganizational Steering Group for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, a consortium of professional associations, provincial regulatory bodies and university programs released Canadian Guidelines on Auditory Processing Disorder in Children and Adults: Assessment and Intervention. The provide a framework for working with individuals with this disorder. As a member of CISG, SAC is confident that these guidelines will shed light on APD and help ensure that this disorder is managed in a consistent way across Canada.
On March 25, 2014, SAC held a press conference to draw attention to the lack of comprehensive programs across the country. In collaboration with the Canadian Academy of Audiology, Elks and Royal Purple of Canada, the Canadian Paediatric Society and VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children, SAC released a rating the state of EHDI programs throughout Canada. Out of all 13 provinces and territories, only five — British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, PEI and New Brunswick — received a passing score and British Columbia was the only province to earn an "excellent" rating.
Provincial Associations
Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
British Columbia Association of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists
Saskatchewan Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
L'Association québécoise des orthophonistes et des audiologistes
New Brunswick Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
