Georgia Speech Language Hearing Association Policies
ASHA CE Provider Code: AADJ
Effective Date: 2/17/2026

Georgia Speech Language Hearing Association (GSHA) Continuing Education Policies

Updated 2/17/2026, Effective 2/17/26

Table of Contents:

1. Accommodations
2. Complaints
3. Professional Conduct and Nondiscrimination
4. Creating Respectful and Supportive CE Experiences
5. Intellectual Property
6. Privacy and Security
7. Continuing Education Refund & Cancellation Policy

 I.                    Accommodations

              Accommodations are adjustments or modifications made to courses that provide equitable access to all learners, enabling them to participate fully and demonstrate their knowledge without unnecessary barriers.  Learners can request accommodations for all events via the course registration form.  We ask for a minimum of 3-week notice to arrange for the necessary accommodations.   Accommodations include, but are not limited to, access to the physical space, interpretation services and dietary requirements for events where food is provided as part of your registration fee.

              GSHA encourages all of their presenters to design their course materials in accordance with ASHA. 

“Here are some best practices for creating accessible and inclusive documents. These guidelines apply to various resource types—such as slide decks, handouts, and posters. After reviewing the general practices in this section, check out our specific suggestions for each type in the sections that follow.

• Font: Use sans serif fonts (e.g., Helvetica, Veranda, Arial).
• Plain Language: Apply principles of plain language when possible.
• Spacing: Use at least 1.5 times the font size for line spacing within paragraphs and 2 times the font size following each paragraph.
• Contrast: Ensure high contrast between text and background, with a ratio of at least 4.5:1. Use tools like the WebAIM Color Contrast Checker.
• Images: Avoid placing text over images. If necessary, use a semi-opaque overlay to ensure high contrast.
• Links: Make hyperlinked text meaningful and descriptive. For better screen reader navigation, avoid hyperlinking on non-contextual phrases such as “click here.”
• Cultural Responsiveness: Ensure that language is respectful and inclusive. Mitigate the harmful effects of bias by asking yourself if the content is free of stereotypes regarding race, ethnicity, culture, and gender.
• Social determinants of health (SDOH): Implement health equity awareness to support better treatment outcomes and quality of life.

Handouts and Printed Resources

Course handouts reinforce learning outcomes, create interactive experiences, and provide supplemental resources. To accommodate diverse learner needs, consider the following guidelines:

• Large Print: Provide a version with a minimum 18-point font.
• Emphasis: Avoid using italics and color alone for emphasis or to present information; use bold text instead.
• Digital Copies: Use QR codes or cloud storage for digital copies, enabling screen reader access.
• Check Accessibility: Use tools like Microsoft Accessibility or Adobe Accessibility (Acrobat Pro required) to ensure accessibility.

Slide Decks

Slide decks enhance visual reference during your course. Follow these accessibility guidelines when creating and presenting slides:

• Verbal Descriptions: Describe text and images on slides during your presentation. Introduce yourself and your surroundings visually. Use specific names instead of vague terms like “this” or “that.”
• Font: Use a 24-point or greater font size.
• Slide Text: Avoid text-heavy slides; use bullet points or numbering to break up text.
• Alt Text: Use alt text on images, graphics, and charts.
• Captions: Include captions for embedded videos.
• Titles: Use slide titles to help screen reader users navigate.
• Reading Order: Ensure that each slide’s content has a logical reading order for screen readers.

Posters and Infographics

When designing research posters and infographics, consider the following for better visual and cognitive access:

• Image Descriptions: Provide a transcript of your resource, including detailed image descriptions.
• Contrast: Ensure high contrast (at least 4.5:1) between text and background colors, and use a contrast checker to confirm.
• Structure: Use clear headings and titles, and ensure proper formatting for digital resources.
• Digital Copies: Offer QR codes or links to digital copies for in-person presentations.

Video or Audio Content

Instructors should ensure that their audio and video content is accessible. Please follow these guidelines to help all learners fully engage with your resources.

• CART, ASL, and Other Forms of Translation: Confirm if an interpreter, captioner, or translator will be present. Provide them with presentation materials and speaking notes in advance. Ensure that they have the necessary materials to meet their preparation deadlines.
• Rate of Speech: Speak slowly and pause frequently to aid captioning, translation, and learner comprehension.
• Captions: Ensure that recorded content has captions. Using closed captioning allows learners to toggle the captions on or off.
• Transcripts: Provide transcripts of all audio and video content.
• Microphone: Always use a microphone, and speak directly into it; speaking loudly is not sufficient.”

 II.                 Complaints

              GSHA has a formal process for addressing concerns or grievances raised by learners, instructors, staff, or other stakeholders. This policy ensures that the organization handles complaints fairly, consistently, and in a timely manner while maintaining transparency and trust between learners and the organization.

What Constitutes a Complaint:  GSHA accepts any concern or grievance related to Continuing Education as a complaint in this policy.  This could include course quality, content, delivery, instructor behavior, administrative processes, or other services.

How to Submit a Complaint:  Complaints are accepted in written form.  GSHA will not accept in-person or voicemail initial complaint submissions.  Complaints can be sent to [email protected] or mailed to P.O. Box 1867 Buford, GA 30515.  If you wish to submit anonymously, please use the following form:  Continuing Education Complaints

Acknowledgment, Investigation, and Resolution: GSHA will review, resolve and respond to complaints within 12 months of the complaint submission.  We thank you for your patience as complaints may lead to policy changes which may require Executive Council or general membership voting.

Communication:  GSHA will respond in writing within 12 months of the complaint.  GSHA will communicate to it’s learners the Complaint Policy and who to contact at our website and on each event’s primary promotional material.

Updates to this Policy: 

This Complaint Policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect:

-          Changes in ASHA CEB requirements

-          Changes in applicable laws and regulations

-          Changes in our CE program operations

-          Technological developments

When this policy is updated:

-          The revised policy will be posted on our website with an updated effective date

-          Current CE program participants will be notified of material changes

-          A copy of the updated policy will be available upon request

 III.               Professional Conduct and Nondiscrimination

Professional Conduct Policy

All individuals must treat others with dignity, courtesy, and respect, regardless of background, identity, beliefs, or role.   All individuals involved in a continuing education event (e.g., learners, volunteers staff, speakers, vendors, and other stakeholders) are expected to demonstrate (in accordance with ASHA’s Code of Ethics):

-          ethical behavior

-          respect

-          accountability

All individuals are expected to maintain confidentiality  in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Nondiscrimination Policy

GSHA has a commitment to equity and reasonable accommodations.  GSHA Continuing Education prohibits discrimination against any person on the basis of an individual’s age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status (“protected status”) by a learner, speaker, vendor, volunteer or other GSHA Continuing Education stakeholder.  Should GSHA hire staff to assist with continuing education events, our hiring and employment practices, and workplace conduct follow our nondiscrimination policy.

IV.               Creating Respectful and Supportive CE Experiences

Faculty & Facilitator Preparation

GSHA is dedicated to ensuring that our speakers and content contributors reflect a wide array of backgrounds, perspectives, and clinical experiences.

Inclusive Excellence: GSHA expects and supports inclusive teaching practices. 

Inclusive Excellence: GSHA expects and supports inclusive teaching practices. To achieve this, we provide cultural humility resources to course planners and instructors as needed.

Instructor Guidelines: All faculty are provided with clear expectations regarding content quality and accessibility requirements via the GSHA website to ensure a consistent, high-standard learner experience.

Inclusive Communication

-          We believe that a respectful environment begins with the first point of contact.

-          Marketing & Registration: GSHA utilizes inclusive and welcoming language across all promotional materials and registration platforms.

-          Engagement Standards: GSHA encourages presenters and volunteers to:

-          Incorporate opening remarks or materials that explicitly affirm GSHA’s and the instructor’s commitment to respect and inclusion.

-          Utilize visuals and language that signal respect for all identities (e.g., diverse imagery, pronoun options, and person-first or identity-first language as appropriate).

Learning Design & Delivery

-          GSHA Continuing Education (CE) events are intentionally designed to be accessible and representative.

-          Content Review: Our review process ensures that educational content includes a variety of lived experiences, perspectives, examples, and imagery.

-          Active Participation: We prioritize learner interaction (including Q&A, breakout discussions, group activities, and live polling) to encourage broad and meaningful participation.

-          Transparency: GSHA ensures that volunteers, attendees, and members understand how planned activities are specifically designed to foster an inclusive environment.

-          Accessibility: GSHA documents and implements essential accessibility features upon request, such as closed captioning, alt-text for visuals, and screen reader compatibility. Accessibility information for each course is shared with participants in advance.

Learner Experience & Feedback

The voice of the learner is central to our mission of continuous improvement.

-          Shared Perspectives: Through designated Q&A sessions, GSHA provides a platform for learners to incorporate their personal experiences, backgrounds, and clinical needs into the course dialogue.

-          Evaluation: Post-activity evaluations and general CE surveys will inquire whether learners felt respected, supported, represented, and valued.

-          Annual Review: GSHA Continuing Eduation reviews this evaluation data annually to identify trends and implement improvements to the learning experience.

Policies & Continuous Improvement

GSHA maintains a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination and a proactive approach to growth.

-          Reporting Concerns: All individuals (including but not limited to learners, volunteers, and instructors) may report concerns related to discrimination or exclusion through the formal GSHA Complaints Process.

-          Ongoing Relevance: GSHA regularly reviews and updates CE content to ensure it remains culturally relevant, evidence-based, and inclusive of the diverse populations served by speech-language-hearing professionals.

 V.                 Intellectual Property

The Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association (GSHA) is committed to fostering innovation and the exchange of clinical expertise. Protecting Intellectual Property (IP) ensures that the hard work of our educators is respected while clarifying the rights GSHA maintains to provide high-quality continuing education (CE) to its members.

Definition of IP

For the purposes of GSHA CE events, Intellectual Property includes, but is not limited to:

-          Course handouts, slide decks, and teaching resources.

-          Original video and audio recordings of presentations.

-          Proprietary software, clinical tools, or assessment protocols.

-          Any other original content created for delivery within the GSHA education framework.

Ownership

Unless otherwise negotiated in a written contract, GSHA recognizes the presenter as the primary owner of the IP they create.

-          Presenter-Owned: Original research, methodology, and presentation materials.

-          GSHA-Owned: Materials specifically commissioned and paid for by GSHA (e.g., organizational branding, compiled conference programs, or GSHA-developed training manuals).

Use and Licensing

By participating as an instructor, the creator grants GSHA a non-exclusive, limited license to:

-          Reproduce and distribute handouts to registered attendees.

-          Archive session descriptions and bios for historical or regulatory (CEU) record-keeping.

-          Use the creator’s name and likeness for promotional purposes related to the event.

Protection and Compliance

GSHA requires all presenters to ensure their materials do not infringe upon the rights of third parties.

-          Citations: All source material must be properly cited using APA or relevant academic standards.

-          Legal Compliance: Presenters must adhere to all current copyright and trademark laws. GSHA reserves the right to remove any material that is found to be in violation of these laws.

Presenter-Generated IP for Future Use

To ensure the longevity of educational content, GSHA clarifies its right to:

-          Maintain copies of the content for a period required by CE auditing bodies.

-          Use snippets or summaries of created content in future promotional materials (e.g., "Best of GSHA" highlights) unless otherwise restricted by the presenter in writing.

Policy Review and Communication

This I.P. Policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect:

-          Changes in ASHA CEB requirements

-          Changes in applicable laws and regulations

-          Changes in our CE program operations

-          Technological developments

When this policy is updated:

-          The revised policy will be posted on our website with an updated effective date

-          Current CE program participants will be notified of material changes

-          A copy of the updated policy will be available upon request

 VI.               Privacy and Security

The Georgia Speech Language Hearing Association (GSHA) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information of all individuals who participate in our ASHA Continuing Education (CE) programs. This policy outlines how we collect, use, store, protect, and share personal information in compliance with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Continuing Education Board (CEB) requirements effective 2025, as well as applicable federal and state privacy laws.

Scope

This policy applies to all personal information collected from CE program participants, including but not limited to:
- ASHA members
- Non-ASHA members
- Students
- International participants
- Course instructors and presenters
- Volunteers and hired staff/contractors involved in CE activities

Definitions

Personal Information: Any information that can be used to identify an individual, including but not limited to name, ASHA account number, address, email, phone number, date of birth, certification/licensure information, and course participation records.

Sensitive Personal Information: Information that requires enhanced protection, including financial information, health information, demographic data, and government-issued identification numbers.

Collection of Personal Information

Types of Information Collected

We collect the following types of personal information:
- Full name
- ASHA account number (when applicable)
- Contact information (email, phone, address)
- Professional credentials and licensure information
- Course registration and completion data
- Payment information (when applicable)
- Demographic information (as required by ASHA for reporting purposes)
- Accessibility needs and accommodations requests
- Course evaluation responses
- Learning assessment results

Methods of Collection

Personal information is collected through:
- Online registration forms
- Course evaluations
- Learning assessments
- Email communications
- Telephone communications
- ASHA CE Registry reporting systems

Consent

We obtain explicit consent from individuals for the collection, use, and sharing of their personal information. Consent is obtained through:
- Clear privacy notices at the point of collection
- Opt-in mechanisms for data sharing beyond ASHA CE reporting requirements
- Clear explanation of how personal information will be used
- Option to withdraw consent (with understanding that this may impact CE credit reporting)

Use of Personal Information

The Georgia Speech Language Hearing Association (GSHA) uses personal information for the following purposes:
- Processing course registrations and payments
- Reporting course completion to the ASHA CE Registry
- Providing course materials and resources
- Issuing certificates of completion
- Conducting program evaluations
- Communicating about current and future CE opportunities
- Improving our CE programs based on participant feedback
- Complying with ASHA CEB requirements and audits
- Meeting legal and regulatory obligations

Data Security Measures

To protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction, we implement the following security measures:

Technical Safeguards
- Encryption of personal information during transmission and at rest
- Secure, password-protected database systems
- Regular security updates and patch management
- Firewalls and intrusion detection systems
- Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
- Backup systems and disaster recovery protocols

Administrative Safeguards
- Access controls based on job/volunteer responsibilities

Physical Safeguards
- GSHA is paper-free and does not keep physical records

Data Retention and Disposal

- Personal information is retained for four (4) years after course completion to comply with ASHA CEB requirements and state licensure board regulations
- When no longer needed, personal information is securely disposed of through:
- Secure deletion of electronic records
- Shredding of physical documents (if applicable)
- Annual review of stored data to identify and properly dispose of information that exceeds retention requirements

Data Sharing and Disclosure

ASHA CE Registry
- Course completion information is reported to the ASHA CE Registry for participants who provide their ASHA account number
- Information shared includes: participant name, ASHA account number, course information, completion date, and number of CEUs earned

Third-Party Service Providers
- We may share personal information with third-party service providers who help us deliver CE programs, including:
- Association management system providers
- Payment processors
- Email communication platforms
- Survey and evaluation tools
- All third-party service providers are contractually required to:
- Use personal information only for the purpose of providing the contracted service
- Implement appropriate security measures
- Comply with applicable privacy laws and regulations
- Not share or sell personal information to other parties

Legal Requirements
- We may disclose personal information when required by law, regulation, or legal process
- We will notify individuals of such disclosures unless prohibited by law

Individual Rights

Participants in our CE programs have the following rights regarding their personal information:

Right to Access
- Individuals may request a copy of their personal information that we maintain
- Requests will be fulfilled within [30] days

Right to Correction
- Individuals may request correction of inaccurate personal information
- Corrections will be made within [30] days and communicated to the ASHA CE Registry if applicable

Right to Deletion
- Individuals may request deletion of their personal information, except information that:
- We are required to maintain for ASHA CEB compliance
- Is necessary for our legitimate business interests
- Is required for legal or regulatory compliance

Right to Opt Out
- Individuals may opt out of:
- Marketing communications
- Sharing of information beyond what is required for ASHA CE reporting
- Certain types of data processing

Process for Exercising Rights
To exercise any of these rights, individuals should contact the GSHA President in writing at:
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: Georgia Speech Language Hearing Association
P.O. Box 1867
Buford, GA 30515

Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach involving personal information:
- We will notify affected individuals within 30 days of discovery
- Notification will include:
- Description of the breach
- Types of information involved
- Steps we are taking to investigate and mitigate harm
- Measures individuals can take to protect themselves
- Contact information for questions
- We will notify the ASHA CEB of the breach as required
- We will comply with all applicable state and federal breach notification laws

Special Considerations for Virtual Learning Environments

For online and virtual CE programs:
- We implement additional security measures for virtual learning platforms
- Access to online courses is protected by unique login credentials
- Participant interactions and communications within virtual platforms are subject to this privacy policy
- We do not record participants without explicit consent
- If sessions are recorded, participants are notified in advance and given options to:
- Turn off their camera
- Use a virtual background
- Change their display name
- Participate via chat only

International Data Transfers

If personal information is transferred outside the United States:
- We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the information
- We comply with applicable international data protection laws
- We inform individuals if their data will be transferred internationally

Children's Privacy

Our CE programs are designed for adult professionals. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 18.

Updates to This Policy

This privacy and security policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect:
- Changes in ASHA CEB requirements
- Changes in applicable laws and regulations
- Changes in our CE program operations
- Technological developments

When this policy is updated:
- The revised policy will be posted on our website with an updated effective date
- Current CE program participants will be notified of material changes
- A copy of the updated policy will be available upon request

Compliance Statement

Georgia Speech Language Hearing Association (GSHA) is committed to complying with all ASHA CEB requirements related to privacy and security, as well as applicable federal and state privacy laws. We regularly review and update our practices to ensure ongoing compliance and to implement privacy and security best practices.

 VII.            Continuing Education Refund & Cancellation Policy

General Policy & Transferability

All GSHA Continuing Education registrations are non-transferable. Registration fees are tied to the individual registrant and may not be transferred to another person, event, or future membership cycle.

Cancellation Procedures

-          Written Notice Required: To cancel a registration, the registrant must provide a formal written request via email to the Executive Director at [email protected].

-          Deadlines: Cancellation deadlines are event-specific. Please refer to the specific event’s registration form for the specific deadline to request a partial refund. Requests received after the posted deadline will not be honored.

Refund Structure

Refund eligibility depends on the type of educational event: