Marked by precedent and the promise of access to resources and tools for audiologists and speech-language pathologists, a collaboration has formed between the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Ida Institute, an independent nonprofit based in Denmark that works to integrate person-centered care in hearing rehabilitation, ASHA announced.
Ida first reached out to ASHA this past April. Founded in 2007 with a grant from the Oticon Foundation, the Institute has teamed up in the past with like-minded groups in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia. However, its new collaboration with ASHA reportedly marks the first time it has had such an arrangement with a US-based organization focused on hearing.
In an Institute press release, Managing Director Lise Lotte Budesen described Ida as “very pleased” to team with ASHA, “an organization whose reach and influence is respected throughout the speech and hearing community.” Meanwhile, ASHA Chief Executive Officer Arlene A. Pietranton, PhD, CAE, noted the excellence of Ida’s resources and tools and the value they will provide to ASHA members.
“Ida’s focus on patient-centered care,” Pietranton added, “is inspirational and aligns with ASHA’s vision of making effective communication a human right, accessible and achievable for all.”
The organizations plan to meet quarterly for the foreseeable future and gradually introduce the deliverables of their new collaboration. However, some of the first evidence of them will be on display next month when the Institute holds “Hands-on Lab: Ida Institute Tools for Supporting Person-centered Care in Audiology” at ASHA’s 2018 annual convention in Boston. The session is scheduled for 9:30-11:30 a.m., Saturday, November 17, Boston Convention Center, Hall C, Lab 2.
Source: ASHA, Ida Institute
Very familiar with IDA and an ASHA member for many years…good move to combine forces to improve Audiology services and have a positive impact on hearing impaired lives !