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Date of Graduation

5-2026

Description

Communication is a human right. As such, ASHA’s official Code of Ethics (2023) states that all speech-language pathologists working under the organization’s credentials have a responsibility to provide equitable and accessible care, regardless of socioeconomic status, citizenship status, or place of origin; however, there can be many barriers to the provision of this service, one of the most prominent being policy. Beginning in 2025, federal policy reforms enacted under H.R.1, colloquially known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” have impacted health care access, immigration policy, and educational funding, leading to eventual effects on the services of paraprofessionals in publicly-funded school systems. Speech-language pathologists are among the professionals affected, and the role that they play providing care to American families means that they work with diverse populations, many of whom have migrant backgrounds or rely on Medicaid/ACA to receive necessary therapy services. These populations are directly affected by the reforms introduced in H.R.1., and while statements have been released from expert professional organizations such as ASHA regarding the changes, there is limited empirical research on how these policy changes are experienced by frontline school- based providers. This study seeks to employ an interpretative phenomenological approach to explore the lived experience of school-based SLPs following the implementation of H.R.1. An initial survey is used to gather demographic and background information, support purposeful sampling, and obtain a strong foundation of data collection, then followed by virtual focus group-style interviews for a more interpretative, in-depth exploration of the lived experiences of care providers working under this bill. These discussions will primarily investigate perceived changes in access to services, continuity of care, and cultural responsiveness. Transcripts are then analyzed using qualitative analysis to identify patterns shared among care providers working with the populations discussed. Preliminary results are expected to highlight the disruptions in access to Medicaid-basedservices, altered family engagement and culturally responsive practice, and ethical tensions surrounding principles of equity. This investigation aims to contribute expert insights into the effects of policy change on the provision of necessary care services to certain disadvantaged populations and further understand future goals of equitable service delivery in school-based speech-language pathology. The results are anticipated to inform future research, advocacy efforts, and policy discussions. This project is currently in the process of IRB review (#2511634888).

Publication Date

2026

Document Type

Book

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy

Advisor/Mentor

Garcia-Salas, Miguel

Disciplines

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Keywords

Health

Exploring the Lived Experiences of School-based Speech-Language Pathologists Following Implementation of H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act)

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