Smoke Signals 7
JUNE 15, 2013
Ross hired as Tribal speech language pathologist
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
Sarah Ross, who has served as a
speech therapist contractor for the
Tribe since 2011, is now serving in
that capacity on staff at the Tribal
Health and Wellness Clinic as of
May 20.
"I've always been very interested
in the oral tradition, storytelling
and healing practices of Native
culture, and I felt that my role as
a Tribal member is a combination
of those. Speech therapy kind of fit
with that," she said.
She received a master's degree
in Speech Language Pathology
at Portland State University in
2009.
She serves about 20 youth, from
birth to 18 years of age, and hopes .
to begin treating adult Tribal mem
bers or their descendants, as well
as community members covered
by Shasta, Providence or Oregon
Health Plan insurance in the near
future.
Statistically, the number of peo
ple with speech problems is about 8
percent to 9 percent of the popula
tion, Ross said, or for approximately
5,000 members of the Grand Ronde
Tribe, about 400 to 450 people,
including adults and children.
"There should be more people ac
cessing the service than are now,"
she said. "One of the reasons Native
SLPs are needed in Tribal commu
nities is because Native American
children are often over identified for
communication disorders by non
Native SLPs. This is due to a lack
of understanding of cultural com
munication and learning styles."
Ross said that parents can see the
signs of communication difficulties
when "youth are not interacting
with peers as others do. Maybe the
child has difficulty with reading,
writing or spelling. Oftentimes,
children with language disorders
have difficulty managing their
behavior. They have increased emo
tional outbursts. Language is the
foundation for everything we do. If
our communication is affected, then
' t K
Photo by Michelle Alalmo
Sarah Ross, Tribal speech and language pathologist, makes the sound that
the letters V and "u" make together for Brandon Thorsgard, 6, to repeat
while working on speech exercises with him on Monday, June 3.
we might have difficulties socially,
emotionally and academically."
In the younger years, the follow
ing may be signs of communication
difficulties:
No gestures, like pointing or
reaching, before 12 months of
age;
Having less than 20 words by 18
months;
And older children may have dif
ficulty making friends.
"When a child has a communi
cation disorder, more frequent
emotional outbursts may happen
because they cannot effectively
communicate with caregivers or
peers," Ross said.
She looks to parents to help. "Par
ents are the experts with their own
children," she said. "I have an open
door policy with families. Parents
are always welcome.
"The kind of therapy I do is very
unique," she said. "Less than 1
percent, some 300, of all speech
therapists in the country are Na
tive American, and of those 300,
even fewer speak their Tribal
language.
"There is a lack of cultural compe
tency training in speechlanguage
therapy for Native American com
munities. I really want to empha
size incorporating the cultural piece
it.
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't
into this because it is so unique in
the field.
"We have predominantly non-Native
therapists serving Native com
munities. They do not understand
the cultural implications of our
language, the way we interact so
cially, the way Native communities
view disorders and medical condi
tions, and so it's a unique thing I'm
starting here by incorporating the
rich cultural traditions from Grand
Ronde in my treatment of Grand
Ronde people."
Ross is currently working with
colleagues to describe her work in
research publications for non-Native
speech language pathologists.
The goal is to help them with
knowledge of Tribal culture and
communications to provide more
effective treatment in Native com
munities.
While at Portland State, Ross
taught in an urban classroom for
homeless youth. She led a literacy
outreach program for at-risk youth
in Portland.
She managed curriculum for
Kiwanis stroke camps, addressing
stroke survivors and their families
by providing art and other therapy
activities. Care providers had time
alone to cope with the responsibili
ties of being a caregiver.
She was a speech language pathol
ogist for K-12 special education and
then worked in early intervention.
Before taking on speech therapy
at the Tribe, she started working
here through the local Head Start
program, also making early inter
vention a priority.
Education Department Man
ager April Campbell reported being
"very grateful" that the Tribe sup
ported a full-time speech language
pathologist.
"The Tribe is fortunate to have
this position represented by Sarah.
She is a Tribal member and youth
enjoy working with her," Campbell
said.
Campbell said that youth needing
the services "can experience a va
riety of teasing and bullying" that
discourages youth participation in
classroom exercises or reading as
signments. The speech language pathologist
is a key part of the support services
these youth need, Campbell said.
"I'm so glad to be here," Ross said.
"This is where I always wanted to
be."
Volleyball nights held on Wednesdays
The Tribe's Recreation Program holds open volleyball from 5 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday in the Tribal gym. Volleyball is open to anyone wanting to
participate. For more information, contact Recreation Coordinator Mat
thew Mosley at 503-879-1369 or matthew.mosleygrandronde.org. B
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