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| Welcome back to IALP Connect — your regular roundup of news, events, and updates from across the global association.
*Note to affiliated societies: Please share this newsletter with your members so they can stay connected with the wider IALP community. A subscription link is available at the top of this issue |
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Prof. Tamer Abou-Elsaad shares how IALP is growing as a connected, internationally engaged community – from new committee webinars and the launch of the IALP Aphasia Mentoring Program, supported by the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia, to IALP’s growing presence at WHOregional meetings. He also announces plans for a new IALP Occupational Voice Task Force and reminds members to start planning for the 34th IALP World Congress in Prague, August 2028. Read the full message → HERE. |
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| IALP PRESIDENT ELECT UPDATE
IALP’s work with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Rehabilitation Alliance (WRA)
Kamini Gadhok, IALP President Elect, shares the latest on IALP’s work with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Rehabilitation Alliance (WRA), and how you can get involved (read the full update → HERE):
- WRA Champions Programme: People with lived experience are invited to share their stories through a WRA nomination form. When submitting, remember to name IALP as the WRA member organisation.
- Global Rehabilitation Survey: WHO will send out a survey towards the end of the year. Members are encouraged to start thinking now about how they can prompt relevant government departments in their country to report workforce numbers, as this data will shape the Global Status Report on Rehabilitation in 2028.
- World Rehabilitation Day, 24 February 2027: IALP will support the WRA campaign, with details on how members can take part coming soon from Dora Knežević, VP for Communication.
- WHO Regional Committee meetings: Kamini is coordinating WRA statements on rehabilitation, already delivered in Africa (Addis Ababa) and South-East Asia (Timor-Leste). IALP representatives will also attend meetings in the Americas (Washington DC, 28 Sept–2 Oct), the Eastern Mediterranean (Cairo, 13–15 Oct) and Europe (Copenhagen, 27–29 Oct), with WRA statements also planned for the Western Pacific (Manila, 19–23 Oct). Follow IALP on LinkedIn for updates.
- Member resources: WRA materials, videos and newsletters are freely available through the WRA website, LinkedIn, YouTube and Bluesky.
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| HAVE YOUR SAY:
The Future of Women’s and Children’s Health After 2030 |
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WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and PMNCH are conducting an evidence review to determine what will be required to safeguard and advance the health and well-being of women, newborns, children and adolescents after 2030, and invite you to contribute to answering that question. The process is expected to result in several thematic series of articles and other analytical outputs that will provide a foundation for further technical and political discussions. The work will draw primarily on existing evidence, data and experience. Read more → HERE.
Deadline: 18 October 2026. |
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| CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:
IALP Membership Support Fund |
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| IALP is pleased to announce a new call for applications for the Membership Sponsorship Fund (MSF). Running from 15 September to 15 October 2026, this initiative aims to remove financial barriers and expand access to global networking, resources, and professional development.
Who Can Apply?
- Individual Professionals: Clinicians and researchers in low- and middle-resourced countries seeking financial support for IALP membership.
- Professional Associations: National organizations (established or in the process of setting up) in low- and middle-resourced settings with up to 600 registered members.
How to Request Support?
- Complete the online Google Form to apply directly.
- Alternatively, contact IALP CEO Ms. Vanessa Ebejer at ialp_ceo@ialpglobal.org to request an application form or clarify eligibility criteria.
To explore full member benefits, visit ialpglobal.org. Please pass this announcement along to colleagues or partner organizations who could benefit from this fund! |
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| CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:
IALP Occupational Voice Taskforce |
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IALP is establishing a new Occupational Voice Taskforce, following recent discussions with the International Labour Organization (ILO), to advance occupational voice as a significant workplace health and prevention issue. The Taskforce will bring together up to 30 IALP members from around the world to strengthen the international evidence base, map policy and legislation, advance workplace prevention, and push for occupational voice to be included in occupational health, safety and disease frameworks. Deadline: 15 October 2026.Full details on eligibility and how to apply are in the attached document HERE. |
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| AWARENESS MONTH:
Strengthening Global Awareness of AAC |
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| October is International AAC Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is AAC in Everyday Life: Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond. The IALP AAC Committee is supporting several initiatives to raise awareness of and access to Augmentative and Alternative Communication worldwide. In Brazil, a national campaign led by SBFa and the Ministry of Health will launch a National AAC Guide for Health Services, alongside training and a Communicative Accessibility Project. In South Africa, Singapore and India, a collaborative webinar series throughout October will focus on AAC in hospital settings.
The Committee is also developing an AAC Awareness Advocacy Toolkit to help professionals champion equitable access to AAC in their own countries.
Read the full update HERE. |
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| CELEBRATING AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE:
IALP Aphasia Mentoring Programme 2026 – 2027 |
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| For the third consecutive year, the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia (TTA) is funding and supporting the IALP Aphasia Mentoring Programme. The initiative, which is coordinated by the IALP Aphasia Committee, pairs early-career speech and language therapists (within their first 5–7 years of practice) in low- and middle-income countries with experienced professionals in high-resource settings.
Originally planned for 10 mentor-mentee pairings, an overwhelming response to our call for applications allowed us to expand the cohort to 18 pairs. Generous funding from the TTA sponsors individual memberships for all 18 mentees from Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, India and The Gambia.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia for their continued partnership and flexibility, enabling us to broaden our reach and empower more emerging clinicians supporting people with aphasia worldwide. |
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| Upcoming Webinar | Global Perspectives on Mild Cognitive Impairment: Comparing SLP Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in the U.S. and India |
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| The IALP Aphasia Committee invites you to a free international webinar comparing how speech-language pathologists in the U.S. and India understand and manage mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Presented by Olivia Dallas (University of Delaware, USA) and Aarushi Soni (Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India), the session will explore similarities and differences in clinical practice across both countries and discuss what this means for developing international guidelines.
Registration is free but required. For all the details and registration, read HERE.
Wednesday, 7 October 2026 | 10:00 PM EST / 4:00 AM CEST |
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| Now on YouTube | PROMs Webinar |
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| The IALP Motor Speech Disorders Committee recently hosted a successful webinar with Prof. Carolyn Baylor on using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for goal setting and outcome measurement with adults with motor speech disorders. The session covered how to select appropriate PROMs, use tools such as the Communicative Participation Item Bank (CPIB) in assessment and goal setting, and develop measurable, patient-centred goals that reflect real-world communication needs. You can watch the full recording here.
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| New Newsletters | Audiology and Neurodiversity Committee |
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| In case you missed them, two IALP committees have recently published their newsletters, full of news, insights and inspiring work from around the world.
The Audiology Committee – Hear It! Vol. 7, No. 2 This issue features an update from President Elect Kamini Gadhok on IALP’s collaboration with WHO, Brazil’s new guide for newborn hearing screening, the inspiring humanitarian cochlear implant missions of the Saudi Hearing Program, and highlights from World Hearing Day and the World Congress of Audiology in Seoul. Read it HERE.
The Neurodiversity Committee – Issue No. 1 Our newest committee has launched its very first newsletter! Meet the 11-member international team, read a welcome letter from Chair Dr Grace Hao, and discover the committee’s mission to promote understanding, inclusion and communication rights for neurodivergent individuals across the lifespan. Read it HERE. |
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| The International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP) invites all Category A Affiliated Societies to submit a bid to host the 2031 IALP World Congress. Bringing this flagship event to your city offers a unique opportunity to showcase local clinical and scientific excellence while welcoming the global communication sciences community.
Eligible Applicants: Affiliated Societies in Category A.
Bidding Opens: 1 October 2026
Bidding Closes: 28 February 2027
Interested societies can access guidelines and submission requirements directly in the IALP World Congress Bidding Document (HERE). We are excited to receiving your proposals to shape the future of international collaboration! |
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| ADVERTISEMENT | Pró-Fono: Become a Distributor in Your Country |
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CORPORATE PARTNERS
IALP is grateful for the support of our corporate partners, whose contributions help advance our global mission in communication sciences and disorders.
Partner with Us
Join us in growing the global voice of communication sciences. A range of partnership opportunities is available to suit your organisation’s goals and visibility needs. For further information and to explore available partnership options, please contact: ialp_partners@ialpglobal.org |
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WEVOSYS develops diagnostic and therapeutic tools for voice, speech, and laryngeal disorders. Their flagship software, lingWAVES, offers a modular design that clinicians in ENT, phoniatrics, and speech therapy can tailor to their specific needs. A key feature is real-time visual representation of vocal activity, providing immediate feedback that supports both assessment and treatment. WEVOSYS has also advanced the field of laryngeal imaging with their High-Speed Video Endoscopy — capturing vocal fold movements with greater detail and precision than traditional stroboscopy.
Visit https://wevosys.com for more info. |
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