Who assigns the educational activities for assistants to participate in?

The supervising SLP (Speech-Language Pathologist) is responsible for assigning educational activities for assistants to participate in. This role is crucial because the supervising SLP has the professional knowledge and clinical expertise necessary to determine the appropriate training and continuing education that aligns with both the assistants' skills and the needs of clients. The supervising SLP ensures that the assigned activities meet the standards of practice and comply with regulatory requirements, providing assistants with meaningful opportunities to enhance their professional development and effectively contribute to patient care.

In contrast, patients typically do not assign educational tasks as they focus on receiving and benefitting from treatment. Federal regulations may set guidelines and requirements but do not dictate specific educational activities for assistants. School administrators may have oversight within educational settings but ultimately, it is the supervising SLP who takes the lead in this aspect of professional development for assistants.