Culturally Responsive Practice Matters—For Our Clients, Our Communities, and Ourselves

Meaningful Professional Development That Also Meets ASHA's

DEI Requirement

As part of ASHA's Certification Maintenance Standards, all practicing SLPs must complete at least 30 hours of professional development every 3 years—and at least 2 of those hours must focus on topics related to cultural competence, cultural humility, culturally responsive practices, or DEI.

This requirement underscores ASHA’s commitment to lifelong learning about diverse cultures, identities, and lived experiences. It’s not just about ticking a box—it’s about ensuring we provide the best possible care for individuals from all backgrounds and collaborate effectively with students, families, and colleagues from diverse communities.

At Bright Ideas Media, providing inclusive learning opportunities is central to our mission. We’re proud to offer a growing library of courses led by speakers from a wide range of cultural, linguistic, neurodivergent, and lived experiences. Whether you’re just beginning your DEI journey or deepening your understanding, you’ll find practical, evidence-based learning in our course library.

Courses That Satisfy the ASHA DEI/CC Requirement

Here’s a sample of courses in our library that meet ASHA’s requirement for DEI-focused professional development:

Cultural Competence & Inclusive Practice

• Examining Culturally Sustaining SLP Practices: Explore culturally sustaining pedagogy and how it translates to meaningful, affirming clinical practice.
• Critical Topics in the Assessment of Bilingual Clients Across the Lifespan: Learn nuanced strategies for assessing bilingual individuals in a culturally responsive manner.
• Dynamic Assessment for Students Who Are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse: Learn to shift away from static measures toward more equitable assessment approaches.
• Let's Talk About Illiteracy: Understand the systemic factors impacting illiteracy and how to address them with cultural sensitivity.

LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Practices

• Gender-Inclusive Language With Children: What, Why, and How: Practical tools to support gender-expansive youth through affirming language use.
• Creating a Queer and Trans-Inclusive Literacy Classroom: Explore actionable steps to create safer, more inclusive learning environments.
• Teaching Pronouns Through an Inclusion Lens: Learn how to teach pronoun use in a way that respects and affirms all identities.
• LGBTQ+ Inclusive Practices 101: Foundational training for educators and clinicians seeking to create more inclusive spaces.
• Cultural Responsiveness: Crafting Safer Spaces for Autistic LGBTQIA+ Clients: Insightful guidance for understanding intersectional identities and building trust.

Diversity, Disability, and Identity

• We Belong: The Intersectionality of Impostor Syndrome for BIPOC + LGBTQIA+ SLPs: A powerful session exploring how systems of oppression shape professional identity.
• Disrupting the Race Gap for Alexithymia Care: Investigate how racial disparities impact emotion identification and mental health care.
• Effects of Diverse Cultural Experiences on Clinical Practices: Reflect on your own cultural background and how it influences your clinical lens.

Neurodiversity & Intersectionality

• Intersections of Neurodiversity, Child Development, and Learning Theory: Learn how to support neurodivergent learners using culturally and developmentally responsive frameworks.
• Equity and AAC: Reimagining Education, Literacy, and Linguistic Justice: Address barriers to AAC access and promote justice-oriented AAC instruction.
• One Size Does Not Fit All: Communication Equity in the Deaf Community: Learn from Deaf educators and advocates on how to meet diverse communication needs.

Voices from the Field

• Inclusive IEP Meetings: Perspectives from All Sides of the Table: Hear from professionals and caregivers on how to ensure all voices are valued in the IEP process.
• Expressive Youth: Discovering the Power of Figurative Language: Center Black youth voices and identity in language and literacy development.
• Walking Diverse Clinical Pathways (Medical SLP Edition): Real-life narratives from medical SLPs navigating culturally diverse care.
• Equity Series LIVE Town Hall: Get Involved: A collaborative, community-led event focused on action, accountability, and equity.

Our Ongoing Commitment to Inclusion

Bright Ideas Media is proud to create inclusive, accessible, and practical professional development that reflects the real-world diversity of the students and clients we serve. We are intentional in uplifting voices from a wide range of identities and backgrounds—including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, multilingual, and disabled professionals—because we believe the best learning happens through representation, conversation, and connection.

Whether you're working toward certification renewal or simply looking to expand your lens, our DEI-aligned offerings provide the tools you need to grow and serve with confidence.

Ready to start learning?

Browse our full library of courses to find one that speaks to your goals.

Note: Don’t forget: at least 2 hours of your required 30 for ASHA certification must come from courses like these. We’re here to make that easier—and more impactful.