A former organization of Seventh-day Adventist professionals in speech pathology and audiology. Purposes of the association were to contribute to the evangelistic outreach of the church among those with disabilities, to provide information about training programs to interested students, to provide information to denominational institutions about qualified professionals available for employment, to encourage and devise ways to extend services to language-, speech-, and hearing-impaired Seventh-day Adventist members and their families, and to provide Christian fellowship for SDA students majoring in these professions at nondenominational schools.
The organization was established in San Francisco, California, in 1972 with a charter membership of 44. Representatives of four SDA colleges and three hospitals elected as the first officers: president, Norma K. Bork, Ph.D.; secretary-treasurer, Norma S. Parker, M.S.; and editor-public relations, Roy Hartbauer, Ph.D.
Membership was open to any SDA serving or in training for professions in speech pathology and/or audiology. Those in allied professions, such as education of those with a hearing disability, education of those with learning disabilities, or physical therapy, and parents or others responsible for the care of disabled persons could become affiliate members.
Regional representatives who advised and assisted the local conferences in utilization of the unique services of the members were organized into a house of delegates and were advisory to the executive committee. The association published a quarterly newsletter, SHASDA News, and maintained a directory of SDA professionals.
Meetings of the association were held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Speech and Hearing Association.