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An International Perspective on the Care and Treatment of People with Disabilities: The ASHA-PAHO Collaboration

INTRODUCTION Lily Schuermann, ASHA Director, International Programs November 21, 2014

Disclosure – Lily Schuermann

• Financial

 ASHA employee

• Non-financial

 Ex officio to SIG 17 (Global Issues in Communication

Sciences and Related Disorders)

 Consultant to ASHA International Issues Board  Ex officio to Ad Hoc Committees on the ASHA-

PAHO/WHO Collaboration

 Former Employee/Consultant of PAHO/WHO

Background:

• WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the

United Nations’ system.

• WHO is headquartered in Geneva and has six regional offices:

 WHO African Region  WHO Region for the Americas/Pan American Health Organization  WHO South-East Asia Region  WHO European Region  WHO Mediterranean Region  WHO Western Pacific Region

Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office For the Americas of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)

Strategic Objective 13: Strengthen Strategic Relationships

 Identifying opportunities for collaboration

with the World Health Organization (WHO) is one of the priorities.

ASHA’s Strategic Pathway to Excellence

ASHA-PAHO Collaboration

• General Objective: To strengthen the knowledge and capacity building of

professionals and/or organizations that address communication disorders in the areas of speech, language, swallowing, and hearing.

• Specific Objectives:

To develop joint activities involving technical cooperation, including use of “content experts” who will conduct training and educational programs in the chosen countries selected by ASHA and PAHO. To assist selected countries in reviewing their national strategic plans related to early detection and intervention of communication disorders, phonoaudiology, and making recommendations to ensure the mechanisms to address the communication needs of their citizens.

ASHA-PAHO Implementation

• Two-year joint work plan of activities (2013-2014) for three

countries.

• The ASHA-PAHO Project focuses on three countries for the

initial collaboration: El Salvador, Honduras and Guyana.

• ASHA formed Ad hoc committees to ensure implementation
• f action plans and activities in each of the countries.
• Focal point persons for ASHA-PAHO project:

 Dr. Armando Vasquez, PAHO Regional Advisor on

Disability and Rehabilitation

 Ms. Lily Schuermann, ASHA Director, International

Programs

ASHA received NGO status from PAHO

• On June 18, 2014 the PAHO Executive Committee

approved ASHA’s application to become a Non- Governmental Organization (NGO) in official relations with PAHO.

• ASHA participated as an “observer” in the 53rd PAHO

Directing Council meeting (September 29 – October 3, 2014) at its headquarters in Washington, DC.

www.asha.org