After having the liberty to do assignments over a two week period and then the change in pace to just a one week completion time, I have become more aware of my time and how to best use it. Yet, what can I say. Its week 5, and we are on the backside of the CD 315 mountain. Soon we will look back on this class and all of its wonderful learning experiences it has provided and realize that this was one of the quickest summers I have ever spent.

I enjoyed the class meeting this week. It was good to see all of the faces behind the MOO conversations again, as well as our MOO master, Mrs. McComas. I feel that coming f2f gives everyone that extra bounce in their step to complete the rest of the course assignments. Lets face it, this is a new way to take a class that I had never experienced. A lot of quirks to work out in my lifestyle to adhere to its time maintenance requirments.

Overall, this week I have learned a lot about my MRP and where it is heading. I have revised my Essential Question several times and have now focused in on one key area, federal funding opportunities. While completing this weeks assignment for genres, I really found my inner voice and care for this topic. I just set down at my computer and started typing my letter to the editor in a clients voice that was unable to recieve speech therapy for financial and insurance billing reasons. I realized that I have a true opinion for these people who do not recieve quality healthcare.

Also, the assignment for internalizing web evaluations really brought forth some ideas that I had never considered before about web sites and their credibility. I found that appearance as well as information must work hand in hand in order to create a website that is efficient and effective.

This week has really been a topic consideration week for me. I had to decide if my topic was pertinent and wonder if I could get enough resources to support my ideas. Well, I guess I have dove into the waters of advocacy and am still afloat. Until next week.......

To: Local Dispatch
From: Venecia Kline

I would like to start out by saying that it is about time they published one of my letters in this newspaper. I am writing today to complain about the healthcare system in our area, especially Dopping Pines. I recently had a stroke and am glad to say I am fully recooperated, except for some speech deficits. Due to these deficits, I have to seek speech therapy. Lucky for me, Dopping Pines Medical Center performs outpatient therapy in speech. So, this is where I was referred by my attending physician.
Well to make a long story short, I went to my first day of, supposed, therapy. From the time of my stroke, my insurance has covered 100% for all medical intervention, so I assumed that speech therapy would not be any different. Boy was I fooled. First they told me my insurance did not cover outpatient services and then they told me the price per visit that I WOULD have to pay. I was shocked and discouraged. Shocked by the price and discouraged because I knew I could not afford to pay that price for speech and I needed speech therapy. Also, the next place that provides speech, even remotely close, is 150 miles away.
So I am writing today to encourage those professionals in the field of speech therapy, or any therapy field, to petition their senators, congressmen or the federal government themselves to provide some kind of supplemental funding for qualified individuals to add to their current insurance or funding for low-income families to provide themselves with the quality of care they deserve and need.
Finally, I would like to say that this event in my life has changed my whole outlook on the healthcare regulations passed by our government and upheld by our insurance companies. It's ridiculous and needs to be reorganized from the top down .

Sincerely,
Venecia L. Kline

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Essential Question:
How do we make speech and language intervention available, or at least advocate for its availability, to those who require other federal assistance?

Foundation Questions:
1. What are the statistics on persons who have been denied speech and language service, or who have received service and are unable to pay, due to inability to pay or lack of insurance?

2. What federal funding is available to professionals for them to provide intervention to 100% of all people who require speech therapy?

3. What legal routes need to be taken to ensure proper implementation of such a program?

4. What criteria do hospitals and professional services look at when determining a person’s ability to pay upon receiving services?

5. If such people receive service and have insurance, what do insurance companies look at in order to provide payment?

Tentative Point:
The idea that citizens who require any therapy service, especially speech and language, and show the need for federal assistance can receive funding for adequate and productive intervention.

Tentative Genres:
Poem (Clinician)
Webliography (Clinician)
PowerPoint presentation (Federal Agency)
Pamphlet (Federal Agency)
Letter to the Editor (Client)
Letter to a Politician (Clinician)

Integration of Genres:
I want to show how that through a clients financial status, and the willingness of one clinician to contact federal agencies and lobby for legislature to allot funds for a special program that provides the necessary funds for this client to receive early and productive intervention. The letter to the editor is what starts the ball rolling and the PowerPoint presentation is what wraps up a successful journey to help a client.

Tentative Resources:
Lovern, Ed (2002). Governors seek flexibility, funding for Medicaid. Modern Healthcare, 32 (9), 8-9. Retrieved July 13, 2002 from ProQuest Database.

Kaplan, Tom et.al. (1997). A Portrait of Child Health in Wisconsin. WisKids Count Data Book, 4, 183. Retrieved July 13, 2002 from ERIC Database.

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