Serving a diverse population: the role of speech-language pathology professional preparation programs

A national survey of 228 program directors was conducted to determine how master's level professional preparation programs are meeting the challenge of preparing speech-language pathologists to provide quality services to an increasingly diverse population. A total of 91 respondents provided information regarding their programs' efforts to address diversity by increasing the diversity of speech-language pathology professionals, preparing students in research for diverse populations, and providing students with the didactic knowledge and clinical experience required to serve diverse populations. Results indicated that professional preparation programs continue to lag in their enrollment of minority students, but there are efforts actively to recruit and retain students from diverse groups. Much variation in preparation in research was found across programs. Graduate students are being presented with information concerning diversity issues, but clinical experiences vary greatly according to the geographic location of the preparation program and individual practicum placements. Implications of these findings for speech-language pathology preparation programs and other allied health programs are discussed.