Speak Up for Change: The Need for Bilingual SLPs

My name is Erica Fernandez, and I am a senior at the University of South Florida majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Applied Behavior Analysis. My topic focuses on the shortage of Speech-Language Pathologists certified to provide bilingual services. As a Hispanic individual born and raised in Tampa, I have seen firsthand the limited access non-English speakers, especially within the Hispanic population, have to speech and language services. I chose this topic because I believe everyone, regardless of ethnicity or language background, deserves access to high-quality care. The Tampa Bay area has a growing and diverse Hispanic population, yet there is a significant lack of bilingual SLPs available to meet their needs. This shortage often prevents individuals from receiving effective, culturally responsive care. By bringing attention to this issue and advocating for greater bilingual representation in this field, I hope to help close the cultural and linguistic gap and ensure that all individuals receive the care they deserve.