On Friday, 4/10/20, the ability to make consultation calls and do Live Video Visits (teletherapy) for Speech and Language services to families with kids aged 0-3  was stripped from all Speech and Language Pathologist Assistants (SLPA).  In addition to these valuable therapists losing the option to make income, this immediately creates a large backlog of children who will be waiting for Speech and Language Therapy services at a critical time in their development. There are simply not enough EI Credentialed Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP)  to take over for all of the SLPA's who as of this past Friday had full caseloads, and waiting lists already existed. 

The most important concern is that kids with special needs Birth to 3 continue to receive Speech and Language services. Also at this time SLPA's are critically impacted by this decision as there are no other in person opportunities to work outside of telehealth during COVID-19. EI therapists are typically 1099 employees.  At this time, 1099 independent contractors are not yet able to receive unemployment because a system has not yet been created.  When it is available, the entire SLPA profession in Illinois will need to receive assistance, which will be a huge drain on the unemployment system.  This is completely unnecessary, as these licensed professionals are ready, willing, and able to continue supporting the needs of children and families in Early Intervention through telehealth.  We are licensed professionals, and we have also taken the required Live Video Visit training and have completion certificates. 

The Governor already signed an Executive Order mandating a broad use of telehealth. We are asking that our State Representatives and Governor Pritzker please help us and require IDFPR and Provider Connections to let Speech and Language Pathologist Assistants return to work via telehealth so that our Illinois Birth to 3 children who need Speech and Language therapy and their providers may both benefit.

In order to do this, IDFPR needs to issue a variance to the 225 ILCS 110/) Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act.  The practice act was written at a time where it was not conceivable that in person therapy visits would not be possible.  It states that mandatory supervision of SLPA professionals must be "on site" and "in view".   IDFPR has acknowledged this same problem for SLP Master's students who have never practiced therapy at all and granted them a variance for the same situation on April 6, 2020 so they are able to graduate.  Yet as of this time, they have not provided a variance for telehealth supervision for hundreds of SLPAs who currently carry caseloads , leaving Early Intervention Children without speech therapy services and effectively laying off all SLPAs for weeks.

Please help by signing our petition and contacting Jerry Miller at the IDFPR and Governor Pritzker so that this unjust situation can be resolved.