ASLP Interstate Compact Update Follow Up as of 4/9/2026

This is a follow up to my previous post regarding the Audiology and Speech Language Pathology Interstate Compact.

The ASLP Compact Commission has published a document titled “State Fee and Jurisprudence Requirements,” updated on 4/9/2026. It is available on the ASLP Compact website and outlines what each state requires in order to obtain a compact privilege.

Here is what it shows:

Fees

There are two types of fees
Each state has its own state fee
There is also a $50.00 USD compact fee per state through the Compact Commission
The total cost depends on the state you are applying to

Application Status

The chart shows whether each state is currently accepting ASLP compact applications
Not all states are open yet

Important Requirement

Your home state must be issuing compact privileges before you can be issued a practice privilege in another state

Jurisprudence Requirements

A jurisprudence exam is a short test on that state’s laws and rules for practicing as an SLP
Some states require this exam and some do not
If required, it must be completed before obtaining the compact privilege
There may also be a separate fee for the exam

Process Differences by State

There is no one standard process
Some states only require a fee
Some require a fee plus a jurisprudence exam
Others may have additional steps

Where to Find This Information

Everything is organized through CompactConnect
You can see fees, jurisprudence requirements, and any additional state requirements there

Note

Being part of the compact or having legislation passed is not the same as accepting applications for compact privileges

Key Takeaway

The compact makes it easier to practice across states
You still have to meet each state’s individual requirements

This is a common misunderstanding, so I wanted to clarify it based on the actual resource.

Here is the document:
https://aslpcompact.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/State-Fee-and-Jurisprudence.pdf

HEAD BANGING IN CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Head banging is a type of self-injurious behavior commonly seen in some autistic individuals, often used as a way to cope with overwhelming sensory input or emotional distress.

It can be triggered by sensory overload, frustration, anxiety, pain, or a desire for deep pressure input — making it essential to identify the root cause before addressing the behavior.

✨ Let’s talk about:
Why head banging happens
What it tells us about the child’s needs
And how we can respond safely and effectively

In the world of special education, communication is the foundation for meaningful growth. ✨

Recently, I worked with a vibrant 5-year-old student named Adam. Although he could vocalize words, he struggled with purposeful communication. His needs for toys, food, and assistance often went unmet simply because he lacked an effective way to express them.

Through the use of Functional Communication Training (FCT), we introduced structured, meaningful alternatives to his communication attempts. By teaching Adam simple, functional phrases paired with visual supports, we opened a door, empowering him to replace frustration with connection.

Functional communication isn't just a strategy; it's a critical step toward autonomy, dignity, and learning.

Today, I’m sharing a glimpse into how FCT can transform a child's world, one request at a time.

Why Is He Always Throwing Things

When I first met Ayaan (name changed), a 5-year-old autistic boy in my classroom, his days were filled with unpredictability, for both of us. He would run to the door multiple times, throw toys across the room, and burst into giggles at seemingly random moments. Verbal instructions didn’t land. He seemed inattentive, overwhelmed, and unreachable.

One morning, as I was picking up the same toy he had thrown for the fourth time, I paused and asked myself: "What if this isn’t misbehavior? What if this is a cry for structure?"

That simple question changed everything.

We started small: a visual schedule with just four steps, a consistent arrival routine, and movement breaks between tasks. Within weeks, he began checking the visual chart on his own. The throwing lessened. He stayed longer at the table. And for the first time, he waited in line during snack time.
It wasn’t magic. It was predictability, and it made his world feel safer.

"He Didn’t Even Look at Me…" ✨

When I first met my 3-year-old autistic student, he didn’t make eye contact, didn’t respond to his name, and didn’t want to sit down for any activity.

He was in his beautiful world — tapping toys, watching shapes pop up and down, occasionally reading things out loud that he had never been formally taught.

There was no schedule, no routine, and no structured learning.
Just a child who taught himself the way he liked, in an environment that hadn’t yet adapted to how he learns best.

I wanted to help him grow, but I quickly realized that before I could teach, I needed to connect.

So I stopped asking him to "sit down" or “do the work.”

I sat beside him and joined his play.
I popped the toy when he popped it.
I echoed his happy sounds.
I gave him his favorite things without expecting anything in return.

Slowly but surely, he began to smile at me.
He brought toys closer to me.
He stayed a little longer in the room.
And that was the start of everything. 💛

Are you familiar with the How We Feel app?!🤩

The How We Feel Project is a scientific non-profit, created in 2020, that went on to develop the app that is now the Social Impact Finalist for the 2024 Apple Design Awards🏆.

The How We Feel app is a FREE application that includes emotional tracking, emotional regulation strategies, daily check-ins, as well as friend sharing❣️💞

Emotional intelligence starts with one’s ability to manage one’s own emotions. It is a skill we all need and do not discuss often enough. Having access to tools that support one’s better understanding of the internal reactions going on within the body enhances our skillsets as humans. Because, if we want to give better to the world, we must start with ourselves.💗

Get to know yourself better by getting to know your moods.✨💫🌟

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/how-we-feel/id1562706384

An ACE score is a tally of different types of abuse, neglect, and other hallmarks of a rough childhood. According to the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, the rougher your childhood, the higher your score is likely to be and the higher your risk for later health problems. You can take the test below:

Take the quiz for yourself and learn what is does and does not mean:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/02/387007941/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean

We can better support children’s needs by adopting and actively practicing trauma informed care.

Trauma-informed care recognizes and responds to the signs, symptoms, and risks of trauma to better support the health needs of patients who have experienced negative consequences from dangerous situations. It's a commitment to avoid repeating traumatic experiences and to help people regain a sense of safety, power, and self-worth despite the toxic stress they have been exposed to.

Read more here:
https://www.healthcaretoolbox.org/d-e-f-framework-trauma-informed-care

“Healthy development in the early years provides the building blocks for educational achievement, economic productivity, responsible citizenship, lifelong health, strong communities, and successful parenting of the next generation.”

“This three-part video series from the Center and the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child depicts how advances in neuroscience, molecular biology, and genomics now give us a much better understanding of how early experiences are built into our bodies and brains” -Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

Learn more here:
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/three-core-concepts-in-early-development/

Did you know that exposure to trauma can have lifelong lasting impacts and even result in increased physical health risks as well shortened lifespan?

Former Surgeon General of California & Pediatrician, Nadine Burke Harris, expounds on the neurological impacts of trauma across the lifespan in the TEDTalk entitled “How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime” 💔📈📊🧠

“High doses of adversity not only affect brain structure and function, they affect the developing immune system, developing hormonal systems, and even the way our DNA is read and transcribed.” -Nadine Burke Harris

Watch TED Talk in full here:
https://youtu.be/95ovIJ3dsNk?si=ETLaH0e73Lhbika8