Are you interested in advocacy and looking for a way to get involved? Along with the American Academy of Audiology, SAA is looking for more students to become involved in advocacy efforts! As the future of this profession, it’s necessary to take charge of its direction! There are pieces of legislation that greatly impact the hearing healthcare community, including us, as future audiologists. As future experts in this field, it is important to advocate for our profession and the populations we serve so legislators can make informed decisions on matters important to us. Through SAA, there are several ways you can become involved in advocating for the advancement of our profession.
One way you can get involved is by becoming a key contact for your university! A key contact is the “go-to” person for your legislator for issues regarding audiology in your area. This key contact initiative is crucial for increasing awareness of SAA chapters as well as to local legislators, as not all legislators understand the importance of audiology and the impact certain policies could have on the profession. Key contacts are responsible for establishing an open line of communication with their elected officials and/or their staff. As future experts of our profession, discussing current issues with our legislators allows them to make informed decisions on our behalf.
As the key contact for your university, you will have the opportunity to learn about current issues pertaining to audiology. Please visit the Academy’s website for more information about ongoing initiatives. The more informed individuals we have advocating for the advancement of audiology, the more we will see this reflected in legislation. We encourage all students and audiologists to become advocates by contacting their members of congress. You can locate your representatives and send them an editable email by visiting the Academy’s Legislative Action Center. SAA is also urging students to enroll to become the key contact for your university. It’s easy to sign up and will greatly benefit the future of the audiological profession! If you are interested, please contact the SAA Advocacy Committee.
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