In the increasingly diverse world, it is now important more than ever to acknowledge and appreciate this diversity. Did you know that there are over 195 countries around the globe? There are 54 countries in Africa, 48 in Asia, 44 in Europe, 33 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 14 in Oceania (e.g. Australia, New Zealand), and 2 in North America. There are numerous families that reside in the United States from various countries. The U.S. has the third largest population in the world after China and India.

In 2020, the projected U.S. Census data gathered from households throughout the nation indicated that more than 50% of the population represent various ethnic or “minority” groups. Diversity is relevant to the field of speech/language pathology and our daily lives. For speech/language pathologists, considerations related to cultural and linguistic diversity should play an integral role in our clinical practice as we provide comprehensive assessments and evidence based therapy services. It is imperative that the services we provide are equitable so that children can acquire functional communication, language, and literacy skills.

I believe that it is important for speech/language pathologists to hear various perspectives on the topic of Diversity and therefore I am featuring speech/language pathologists and allied professionals. My website will primarily highlight those who have practiced in the field for several years and have a passion for a particular area that is relevant to the meaningful work that we do as speech/language pathologists. I believe that diversity appreciation is significant and even more so it is critical that children, adolescents, and families have educational equity. This requires that they have access to the resources and opportunities they need regardless of their race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, etc. Each individual’s access to quality education directly relates to his or her future success and ability to build a meaningful life. We must recognize the disparities and inequities in the fields of education and speech/language pathology while working towards eradicating these differences. Additionally, we must work towards closing the achievement gap between children with special needs/BIPOC children and their peers.

I recently interviewed Bianca Langford, a nationally ASHA certified speech/language pathologist, with over 18 years of clinical experience with pediatric and adult populations. She attended the University of Montevallo for her undergraduate studies in speech language pathology and Nova Southeastern University for her Master’s degree in the field. She has provided speech services to clients in skilled nursing facilities, home health, school based, and early intervention settings. She has served as a rehabilitation manager and improved the communication abilities of hundreds of clients. Ms. Langford is the owner of Cahaba Therapy, LLC, a private speech/language therapy practice in Birmingham, Alabama. She specializes in cognitive-communication and language disorders across the life span.

Ms. Langford recognizes the importance of emotional intelligence, a significant skill that is needed for children and adolescents with special needs. It is also essential for adults with communication, language, and cognitive disorders. During the interview, we also discussed the importance of emotional intelligence for team building and effective interpersonal relationships in the workplace. Emotional intelligence involves self awareness, empathy, motivation, social skills, and self-regulation. As clinicians, we should ensure that we have effective communication and build meaningful connections. After all, emotional intelligence or EQ is essential to building successful lives.

You can listen to the interview here to learn more. Then, I welcome you to leave comments below to continue the dialogue on this important topic. Have a wonderful day.

Tamara Anderson, M.S., Ed.S., CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist

Education Specialist/Consultant

Diversity & Equity Advocate