History of the Specialty Board on Fluency Disorders
In keeping with the "Guidelines for Specialty Commissions" (ASHA, 1997), the Specialty Board on Fluency Disorders shall:
- Create, maintain, and revise as needed a Specialty Board on Fluency Disorders Manual. The Manual details the specific procedures and activities through which the responsibilities of the Board will be discharged. The Manual is reviewed annually and revised as necessary by the Board. Revisions to the manual are forwarded to the Council on Clinical Specialty Recognition for its review and approval.
- Adopt and implement Fluency Specialist Standards. The Specialty Board on recognition on a continuing basis.
- Conduct meetings as necessary to fulfill its charge.
- Develop and make available application materials that assist in assessing compliance with each of the Standards for Recognition as a Specialist.
- Develop procedures for processing individual applications for fluency specialty recognition in a timely fashion.
- Apply the Standards for Recognition as a Specialist consistently to each application for recognition.
- Develop a mechanism for assessing the fluency specialists' knowledge, skills, and experience.
- Maintain and publish an up-to-date roster of Board-approved fluency specialists.
- Collect and publish other information deemed useful to those wishing to obtain fluency specialty recognition such as a roster of Board-approved fluency specialist mentors and indications of typical costs associated with mentoring and obtaining recognition as a fluency specialist.
- Revise the specifics of the Standards for Recognition as a Fluency Specialist as necessary.
- Develop and revise as needed a "Fluency Specialist Mentoring Agreement" to be used in establishing contractual agreements between fluency specialist applicants and fluency specialist mentors.
- Evaluate, refine, maintain, and revise, as necessary, the mechanism for fluency specialty recognition renewal and fluency specialist mentor recognition.
- Develop and administer procedures for appeals and grievances.
- Apply specialist standards consistently.
- Establish an efficient and timely process for accepting and reviewing individual applications for specialist recognition and establishing an appropriate specialist database.
- Determine and identify procedures for collecting fees charged to those applying for Specialty Recognition in Fluency Disorders and for maintaining such recognition on a continuing basis.
- Establish and maintain procedures for providing public acknowledgment of individuals recognized as fluency specialists.
- Develop criteria and procedures for reinstatement of mentors and specialists whose specialty recognition has lapsed.
- Maintain the Board's financial viability.
- Establish and maintain the Board as an independent corporate entity with appropriate liability protection.
- File an annual report to the Council on Clinical Specialty Recognition detailing the Board's activities and presenting evidence that it is fulfilling its charge and responsibilities.
- Establish procedures for routinely evaluating the satisfaction of those persons participating in the specialty recognition program.
