Union Helps Speech Therapists Become Long-Distance Learners

May 18, 2007 3:17 PM

What do you do if the speech therapists you represent in the New York City public schools can’t find a single program to enroll in for graduate credit that takes place after working hours?

If you’re the UFT, you go out and find a program, and bring it to them.

Right now, 35 enterprising speech therapists are enrolled in a three-year Western Kentucky University distance-learning graduate program in speech pathology and are attending classes at UFT headquarters.

Citing the loss of speech therapists to full-time graduate programs, Chapter Leader Mindy Karten-Bornemann described years of frustrated attempts to get programs started at all the local universities.

"What else could we do," she asked,

"but try another way so our members can continue to work while they go to school?

"Students will be able to get some of the 400 clinical hours needed for certifi-cation under supervision at their work site," she added.

Teacher Center Director Aminda Gentile told participants that there’s been an "inordinate amount of time and passion that has gone into creating the program." She also praised the expertise of speech therapists Mona Greenfield and Virginia Hill who have shaped it and will facilitate it.

"We will support you all the way," Gentile told the group.

The long-distance learners were hailed as "pioneers" by UFT Vice President for Special Education Carmen Alvarez.

Carlo Simon of Bushwick HS called the program "extremely important" for his career.