Shuffling in Orlando Again - (after 12/15/2014) w/ tourist advice from M. Elwer

The Orlando Shuffle: Reflections from ASHA 2014

Here I am again—at the 2014 ASHA Convention in Orlando. And like every year, I asked myself the same questions before stepping into the chaos: Why am I here? What do I hope to gain? After more than three decades in the field of speech-language pathology, what could another convention possibly offer? Turns out, quite a lot.

Convention Logistics: A Florida Adventure Let’s talk logistics. The Orange County Convention Center is massive and rooted firmly in Florida’s car culture. Unless you had the luxury of a hotel connected by footbridge or shuttle, you were commuting through messy morning traffic. Luckily, I wasn’t driving. As the Convention Center rose from the swampy landscape, I reached into my canvas bag for the essentials: 🪪 Badge, 📝 legal pad, 📘 program guide, 🍫 high-energy snacks. The car screeched to a stop, and I launched out like a Navy SEAL, dodging badge-laden attendees and coffee-toting colleagues.

Dodging the Herd: A Sport Unto Itself Every hallway was a stream of SLPs hustling to their next session, like some professional obstacle course. I credit my Chicago Loop speed-walking days for helping me weave through the crowd without collision. “Whoops—sorry!” became my unofficial mantra. But along with the near-misses came friendly faces and spontaneous reunions. The buzz was electric.

Why Still Go? What’s Left to Learn? My first ASHA Convention was back in 1974 in Las Vegas. ASHA hasn’t returned to that city since, but I’ve kept returning to the Convention. Why? Because no matter how long you’ve practiced, the learning never stops. Clinical Highlights: What Caught My Eye ✅ Life Participation for Aphasia Clients with aphasia can and should participate fully in life—book clubs, tech classes, community activities. We’re no longer just treating deficits; we’re supporting life engagement. ✅ Surface EMG for Dysphagia This biofeedback tool provides real-time data during swallow therapy. Both clinician and client can see immediate progress, making treatment more efficient and motivating. ✅ Medicare Changes for SGDs New policies may prevent users from accessing unlocked speech-generating devices. That’s not just a technical issue—it’s a major threat to quality of life for many.

Why This Isn’t a Data Dump This is a blog, not a lecture summary. I’m here to share impressions, not statistics. The Convention is more than CEUs—it’s about connection, reflection, and passion for our profession. The energy in those rooms is something you can’t quite quantify—but it fuels your work for the rest of the year. The People, the Parties, the Pulse of the Profession ASHA is our annual reunion—a gathering of the SLP “clan.” Over time, some traditions have shifted: • 📢 The keynote now opens the conference with no competing sessions. • 🥪 Boxed lunches are now an option. • 🎓 University open houses have shrunk. • 💃 The beloved Convention dance? Gone. But even with the changes, the sense of purpose and community remains stronger than ever.

Why I’ll Keep Coming Back ASHA isn’t just work—it’s my annual vacation, recharge, and professional growth window. Over the years, I’ve presented on topics ranging from aphasia pharmacotherapy to swallow screenings and even horticulture therapy. Every November, that same canvas bag gets packed. And I show up.