Area Contact Leadership Quarterly Meeting Follow Up
August 13, 2022
Greetings!

Greetings! If you missed the most recent ACL meeting, there is a recording for you to watch. During the call we covered:

International Focus
  • There are 74 countries currently participating in Dysphonia International. There are 10 countries across the world that have ACLs. There are 33 states in the U.S. and 1 Canadian province that have ACLs.
  • The goal is to increase these numbers, first focusing on finding an ACL for every U.S. state and Canadian province, then branching out beyond.

Walk for Talk
  • Dates are October 20-23, 2022
  • Goal is to raise $80,000 and all donations will be matched!
  • There is still time to form your own Walk for Talk team or raise money as an individual fundraiser, if interested please contact Mary at pbifaro@carolina.rr.com

Guest Speaker Program for SLP Students
  • An overview of the program was shared and walkthrough of the training website demonstrated.
  • As this program is close too being launched, there is a need for site testing. If interested in this opportunity, contact outreach@dysphonia.org.
  • Additionally, if you are interested in becoming a presenter, find more information here or sign up here.

ACL Spotlight | Stephie Mendel
  • Stephie Mendel shared her experience speaking with individuals new to the organization and conveyed the importance of supporting individuals through their voice journey.
  • Some of the strategies and tools Stephie uses include: have a quiet and private environment to talk, shows the Dysphonia International website, encourages engagement with local contacts and support groups, talks about healthcare professionals and research trials, and discusses emotions such as shame, frustration, anxiety and embarrassment.
  • Ultimately, Stephie wants people to realize that in our community, 'no one is alone.'
  • If you'd like to contact Stephie directly, reach her at srm.mendel@gmail.com.
  • You can also read the transcript of what Stephie shared here.

Please join us for the next ACL Quarterly Meeting on Wednesday November 9th at 7 pm Eastern. Register here.
Best regards,
Dennis
Dennis Kaszeta | Area Contact Director
DYSPHONIA INTERNATIONAL
Dedicated to improving the lives of people with spasmodic dysphonia and related voice conditions through research, education, awareness, and support