Effects of Diverse Cultural Experiences on Clinical Practices

Globalization and growing immigrant population require SLPs (speech-language pathologists) to possess a high level of cultural competence to work with clients from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. While the importance and components of cultural competencies are well-discussed across a variety of platforms, limited information is available on personal experiences of the SLPs and its effects on clinical practices. This presentation aims to provide the audience a framework for identifying opportunities and sustaining learning environment that facilitates the use of culturally responsive clinical practices. Specifically, the presenter will provide an overview on the topic of cultural competence as it pertains to SLP practices, discuss properties of culturally responsive clinical services, offer a detailed overview on the role of personal experiences, and extend the discussion into tips for building cultural competence skills.

Presenters

Suma Suswaram
Ph.D
Suma received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology from Bangalore University, India in 2013 and 2015, respectively. She is graduating with her Ph.D. in Speech Language Pathology in May 2022 from the University of Kansas and moving to Boston to continue with research as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Boston University. Her research interests are focused on improving clinical services for children with developmental disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse families. Her research employs the socio-cultural theory of child development to study factors that influence development in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Suma also studies factors that influence cultural competencies in clinical and research context among pre-professionals and professionals in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Learning Objectives

Understand the role of culture and the importance of cultural competencies in delivering clinical services
Identify opportunities that facilitate the development of cultural competence skills
Create a professional environment that sustains the efforts to develop cultural competencies

Agenda

10 minutes	Introduction and Overview on Cultural Competencies
10 minutes	Properties of Culturally Responsive Clinical Services
15 minutes	Relationship between Personal Experiences and Clinical Practices
20 minutes	Tips for Building Skills in Cultural Competence
5 minutes	Summary and Questions

Disclosures

Speakers - Financial	Suma Suswaram received a speaking fee for this presentation.
Speakers - Nonfinancial	Suma Suswaram has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Course - Content	Suma Suswaram has no relevant content information to disclose.
Course - Financial Support & In Kind	This course, and all courses in the Equity Series, are being sponsored by Having Our Say and SLP Toolkit.

ASHA

This course is offered for 0.1 ASHA CEUs, Intermediate Level, Professional Area