My name is Valentina Gomez, and I am a sophomore at the University of South Florida pursuing a degree in Business data analytics and information systems. I grew up in Boca Raton, FL but come from a Colombian background. Because of my Hispanic Background and my experience growing up around spanish- speaking families, I am passionate about learning more about the challenges this community faces.
I chose the topic of Spanish-Speaking Families in Tampa Bay: Cultural and Linguistic Barriers in Speech-Language Pathology Services , because it connects culture, language, family support , education, and healthcare access services because of language barriers, lack of information, cost, transportation, and or limited avaliavbility of bilingual professionals. Spanish-speaking families in Tampa Bay may face barriers when trying to access speech-language pathology services because of language differences, lack of bilingual providers, cost, transportation, insurance, and cultural misunderstandings.
This website is meant to raise awareness about these barriers and explain why culturally responsive communication services are important. It also explores how speech language pathologists and other communication professionals can better support diverse families.
