ASHA Statement on Supreme Court Decision: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

June 24, 2022

We understand and respect many ASHA members may have strong feelings about the Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and want ASHA to take a position on the issue. Undoubtedly, the Supreme Court’s decision is among a range of important issues under discussion or debate in the public discourse. Nonetheless, it is beyond the scope of ASHA’s mission and advocacy efforts to take a stand.

ASHA’s mission is empowering and supporting audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists through advancing science, setting standards, fostering excellence in professional practice, and advocating for members and those they serve. ASHA’s advocacy takes direction from the annual Public Policy Agenda, which reflects input from a variety of parties and sets our priorities for meeting ASHA members’ professional needs.

ASHA’s advocacy work, including engagement with lawmakers and policymakers, centers on meaningfully addressing professional issues of critical importance to audiologists and speech-language pathologists, such as coverage, payment, caseload, licensure, and inclusion and access. Our approach to these issues is nonpartisan. We must work with lawmakers across the political spectrum if we are to advance the priorities of the Public Policy Agenda and raise the needs of the professions successfully.

We realize some members may find this message frustrating. It is not at all meant to be. Instead, it is intended to convey our need to remain aligned with our mission, a fundamental and critical step toward achieving advocacy goals for the professional benefit of all ASHA members.