NJSHA’s Standing Committees
All committees are open to all NJSHA members, with the exception of those stating specific criteria.
NJSHA is always looking for committee volunteers to provide of their expertise for as much time you are willing to offer. Your involvement is two-fold, giving back to your organization as well as learning new skills and increasing your knowledge about professional issues.
For more information, please contact info@njsha.org.
Committee News – February 2024
AAC
The AAC Committee welcomes all members who are passionate about AAC. We meet monthly on zoom from 8:00-9:00
PM.
Convention
Plan on attending Convention 2024 at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, NJ – Keynote Speaker Kia Johnson will be joining us!!
Continuing Education
We always welcome new members!
Membership
Two More Student Connect Meetings will be held on March 21st and May 9th at Convention. The Student Connect on March 21st will be a panel discussion from different work settings-what to expect in each setting plus a speed dating (break out room event to ask questions about the different work settings for careers. The Student Connect at Convention will focus on Resume writing and interviewing.
• The Community Caring and Connect (CCC) project this year will be to create care packages for Veterans including oral-care kits, socks, gloves and crossword puzzles. NJSHA members can donate these items or give a monetary donation. There will be CCC Project flyer sent out in email and social media with donation site for item donations and a QR code for monetary donations. Collections will be taken until 3 weeks after convention. There will be an opportunity to create cards at convention, to thank veterans for their service. for your service have students at convention make the thank you cards.
• NJSHA will be sending a survey to recruit more Faculty Members at NJ Universities. The survey will highlight all NJSHA member benefits, ask faculty to rank them by importance and provide input on other potential offerings they would find beneficial. Further planning will be guided by the data outcomes.
• The membership committee will be developing a new student brochure.
• Will be developing a student mentorship program-Member to Member Peer Buddy-Member to Student and
Student to Student Mentorship.
Multicultural
The Multicultural Committee is continuing to offer student symposia pertaining to multicultural and diversity matters this spring term.
Public Relations
• Continually posting on Social Media (various outlets) posts which is currently the most effective way to stay up-to- date and be visible.
• Follow us (NJSHA) for the most up-to-date information.
School Affairs
SAC update to be held at NJSHA Convention
STARs/STAMP
Update for State Advocate for Reimbursement (STARs) and State Advocates for Medicare for 2/2024
-ASHA is aware of SLP’s frustration with 10% increase in dues after 15 years. They are indicating that this is to help them
to advocate for the fields of speech pathology and audiology. They encourage ASHA members to call the hotline with any concerns. YOUR questions will be addressed by the correct party based on your inquiry.
Did you know that ASHA lobbies on the federal level, addresses issues on the state level, eg. currently focused on gender affirming issues, and works to introduce new ICD 10 Codes to help reimburse SLP and Audiology services? They meet with Medicaid agencies, monitor evolving payment models and policies that could impact the way ASHA members get paid, meet with the state insurance commissioners to raise concerns about denials and coverage policies, and continually engage allies in Congress to improve access to ASHA member’s services and prevent inappropriate Medicare payment reductions.
– ASHA is currently working on Medicare Payment Fix to address the cuts to 37 clinical specialists including physicians, speech pathologists, and audiologists. They will be addressing the Telehealth Bill after the Medicare Payment Fix is addressed this March.
-Presentations will be given to skilled nursing facilities, private practice members, electronic health record venders regarding the NEW Care Giver Training Codes and Guidelines as well as webinars for SLPs.
-ASHA is monitoring how the new rules for inpatient care is moving forward.
-Also, be aware that there is New Pre Pay Review Process being put into place instead of Prior Authorization for some Medicare Advantage Plans: SLPs are told to deliver a service so there is no delay in service and then to submit the claim. They then review the claim and decide on if it will be covered which is a huge issue.
-Also be advised, some Medicare Advantage Plans are denying claims based on how the order of the ICD10 Codes are submitted. Some Medicare Plans require the Diagnostic Therapy ICD 10 Code first and then the Medical Diagnosis ICD 10
Code second or third (depending on how many diagnostic therapy codes there are) as opposed to many Private Insurance
Plans that require the Medical Diagnostic ICD 10 Code first and the Diagnostic Therapy ICD 10 Code second.
Looking for previous Committee News? Visit our Committee News Archives page.
Marykate Vaughn
Audiology Chair
Marykate Vaughn, AuD, CCC-A
The chair of the Audiology committee shall be appointed by the President for a two-year term, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. A vice-chair shall be appointed by the chair of the committee. The Audiology Committee works to serve as a source of information for NJSHA members and the individuals we serve. The committee advocates for the association members by monitoring, discussing, and engaging legislators to address key public policy issues at the state level that affect audiologists and the consumers we serve. The committee members also work collaboratively with the New Jersey Academy of Audiology (NJAA) to ensure that the annual NJSHA convention provides opportunities to learn from national leaders in the field of Audiology. The committee suggests continuing education topics, serves as a resource for the audiology program for NJSHA’s annual convention, and presents the Audiology update at the NJSHA Convention.
Barbra Seltzer
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Chair
Barbra Seltzer, MS, CCC-SLP, ATP
The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the President for an initial term of two years, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. A vice-chair shall be appointed by the chair of the committee. The Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Committee works collaboratively to promote evidence-based practices in AAC assessment and intervention. The committee provides resources and support for members of NJSHA through regularly scheduled online meetings and goal centered projects. A variety of AAC topics are addressed regarding those with complex communication needs along the age continuum and across clinical as well as educational environments. The committee is open to all NJSHA members desiring to grow their AAC knowledge base.
Robyn Sacks-Cohen
Continuing Education Chair
Robyn Sacks-Cohen
The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the President for a two-year term, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. A vice-chair shall be appointed by the chair of the committee. The committee will work cooperatively with NJSHA’s management company and continuing education consultant to plan, promote and deliver NJSHA sponsored and co-sponsored continuing education events within the parameters of the annual budget. The committee will provide continuing education programs to meet the needs of NJSHA members through regular professional development offerings and generate revenue to allow NJSHA to provide continuing education as an on-going service.
Mary Faella
Catherine Curtis
Marykate Vaughn
Convention Committee Co-Chairs
Mary Faella, MA, CCC-SLP, Catherine Curtis, MA, CCC-SLP, and Marykate Vaughn, AuD, CCC-A
The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the President and shall hold this position for a two-year term, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. The vice-chair also shall be appointed by the President in conjunction with the committee chair and will be expected to take over the role of chair after a two-year term as vice-chair. The committee will plan the program for the following year’s convention and will submit a quarterly article to VOICES regarding convention updates.
Linda Tucker-Simpson
Ethics Committee Chair
Linda Tucker-Simpson, MS, CCC-SLP
The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the President for a two-year term, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. A vice-chair shall be appointed by the chair of the committee. The Ethics Committee is charged with researching, deliberating on, and responding to questions of an ethical nature from the membership. The role of the committee is to provide information to the membership, as well as the public.
Lori DeLuca
Finance Committee Committee Chair
Lori DeLuca, MA, CCC-SLP
The chair of the committee is the Treasurer. The members are the President, President Elect, Secretary, Immediate Past President, and two NJSHA members at large. The Finance committee is responsible for developing a balanced budget to present to the Board of Directors for approval, reviewing proposed expenditures that are not in the budget and making funding recommendations to the Board, reviewing and presenting to the Board the financial implications of suggested new projects. The Finance Committee follows the procedures and policies as delineated in the Financial Policies document.
Barbara Schwerin Bohus
Healthcare and Early Intervention Committee Chair
Barbara Schwerin Bohus, MS, CCC-SLP
The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the President for a two-year term, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. A vice-chair shall be appointed by the chair of the committee. The committee shall serve as a source of information on healthcare and early intervention issues for members. The committee will discuss current healthcare issues affecting individuals across the lifespan. The committee monitors issues related to healthcare funding, including early intervention, Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance; and provides information and advocacy to members and consumers. The committee suggests continuing education topics to the Continuing Education committee and presents the Healthcare update at the NJSHA Convention. The committee will collaborate with the ASHA State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs) and the State Advocate for Medicare Policy Network (StAMP) representing New Jersey.
Kristen Victorino
Higher Education Committee Chair
Kristen Victorino, PhD, CCC-SLP
The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the President for a two-year term, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. A vice-chair shall be appointed by the chair of the committee. The committee will make recommendations to the Board regarding student and academic issues and will promote developments in higher education including, increasing and promoting the student advocacy initiative and supporting student research projects. The committee will actively collaborate with the Student Involvement committee. The committee will remind each college or university to select its program’s recipient of the Marni Reisberg Student Award and the Outstanding Doctor of Audiology Student Award.
Donna Spillman-Kennedy
Honors and Awards Committee Chair
Donna Spillman-Kennedy, MS, CCC-SLP
The chair of the committee shall be the President Elect. The President will appoint committee members to include one audiologist and two current NJSHA members who were previous award recipients. The committee will review the categories and criteria for honors and awards, review all nominations submitted, and recommend award recipients to the Board.
Kathleen Palatucci
Legislative Committee Chair
Kathleen Palatucci, MA, CCC-SLP
The chair of the committee will be the Immediate Past President or his/her appointee. The President shall serve as vice-chair. Members of the committee shall consist of the chairs of the following committees: Alternative/Augmentative Communication (AAC), Audiology, Healthcare and Early Intervention, Higher Education, Multicultural, Private Practice, Public Relations, and School Affairs. The committee shall address legislative, regulatory, or other related issues for the Association, and work directly with the legislative agent. The committee members will present the chair with concerns regarding issues that might require legislative action. The primary point of contact for the legislative agent is the Legislative Chair. The chair need not submit a committee report, but rather will relate details of the legislative agent’s report to the Board if the legislative agent is not present during the meeting.
Ursula Glackin
Media Committee Chair
Ursula Glackin, MA, CCC-SLP
The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the President for a two-year term, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. A vice-chair shall be appointed by the chair of the committee. The committee will coordinate the distribution of information to members and the larger community through social media outlets and electronic communications, including the website. The chair and vice-chair will coordinate all information updates on the website. Members of the committee will collaborate with chairs of all NJSHA committees to support distribution of information to all NJSHA print and electronic outlets. The committee will oversee compliance with the NJSHA Social Media Disclaimer.
Natalie Neubauer
Membership Committee Chair
Natalie Neubauer, EdD, CCC-SLP
The Membership Committee shall be chaired by the President Elect. The committee will engage in activities to attract new members to the organization and retain current members.
Betty Kollia
Multicultural Issues Chair
Betty Kollia, PhD, CCC-SLP
The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the President for a two-year term, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. A vice-chair shall be appointed by the chair of the committee. The committee’s goal is to raise awareness of multicultural issues related to the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology. The committee works to increase knowledge of appropriate assessment and treatment procedures for culturally and linguistically diverse populations (CLD); promotes multicultural topics through VOICES articles and other communications to the membership; and suggests continuing education topics to the Continuing Education committee.
Kathleen Palatucci
Nominations and Elections Committee Chair
Kathleen Palatucci, MA, CCC-SLP
The chair of the committee shall be the Immediate Past President. The chair appoints five members, consisting of one representative from audiology and no more than one from each of the following professional settings: healthcare, schools, higher education, and private practice. This committee identifies prospective candidates to run for positions on the Board of Directors.
Christina Luna
Private Practice Chair
Christina Luna, SLPD, CCC-SLP
The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the President for a two-year term, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. A vice-chair shall be appointed by the chair of the committee. The committee shall serve as a source of information on private practice issues concerning audiologists, speech-language pathologists and consumers. The committee will provide resources and references that address private practice issues, concerns, and ethics. The committee will propose continuing education topics to the Continuing Education Committee and collaborate with the ASHA State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARs) for audiology and speech-language pathology to address scope of practice issues.
Marla Sperling-Reich
Public Relations Committee Chair
Maria Nordelo
School Affairs Committee Chair
Maria Nordelo, SLPD, CCC-SLP
The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the President for an initial term of two years, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. A vice-chair shall be appointed by the chair of the committee. The committee will address the needs of school-based members who are speech-language specialists (SLSs) and audiologists employed in New Jersey schools. The committee will work with the legislative agent to advocate for SLSs, audiologists, and the students they serve, as well as function as an information resource on school-based issues. To accomplish these tasks, the committee will engage in a variety of activities related to monitoring and responding to changes in the New Jersey Special Education Code, other codes relative to education, and legislative bills; addressing individual members’ concerns; presenting the SAC update at the NJSHA Convention; meeting annually with the NJDOE, along with the legislative agent, to discuss concerns; and educating consumers about the roles SLSs and audiologists play in the schools. The committee will collaborate with the ASHA State Education Advocacy Leader (SEAL).
Maggie Davis
Student Involvement Committee Chair
Maggie Davis, Monmouth University
The chair of the committee shall be the student member appointed to the Board of Directors by the President for a non-voting, one-year renewable term, not to exceed two years. The mentor to the chair shall be a representative on the Higher Education Committee from the program in which the student is enrolled. The liaison to the Board is the liaison to the Higher Education committee. The committee chair shall select six additional student liaison members to represent each of the New Jersey university training programs. The committee’s charge is to establish, maintain, and enhance an active, current network among students from all New Jersey audiology, speech-language pathology, and communication sciences and disorders training programs to help increase student membership and awareness of the benefits and activities available to NJSHA members. The committee will collaborate with the Membership Committees; contribute material to VOICES and the website; work with the Higher Education Committee to plan and execute the student advocacy initiative; and share information with other NJSHA committees that address topics relevant to students. The committee will establish and maintain contact with ASHA’s National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) to help merge national and state associations’ efforts.
Robbie Lazarus
VOICES Editorial Board Chair
Robbie Lazarus, MA, CCC-SLP
The chair of the Editorial Board shall be appointed by the President and will serve as editor of VOICES. The chair will serve for an initial term of two years, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. The Editorial Board consists of six members: the editor, the President, and four additional members appointed by the editor. There will be one representative from each of the following work settings: Audiology, Healthcare, Higher Education, Schools and a member-at-large. Each member of the Editorial Board will be appointed for an initial term of two years, renewable for a maximum of two additional terms. One of these members shall serve as vice chair. The Editorial Board will oversee all content in VOICES.