Becoming an Exceptional API Leader: Intimate Stories From 15 “Silent Voices” Changemakers

Ready to join the movement advancing API disability access and services?

Explore personal journeys and professional wisdom to gain greater insight and achieve your goals as an API leader.

"Becoming an Exceptional API Leader" challenges you to unite your personal passion with professional practice, empowering you to connect deeply with the Asian community and effect meaningful change.

This book presents a collection of previously unshared courageous stories from diverse members of the Asian Pacific Islander (API) disability community, including parents, speech-language pathologists, assistive technology experts, academic professionals, and individuals using augmentative communication.

This book provides powerful access to lived experiences, career paths, research, and resources as they relate to Asian people experiencing disabilities and Asian health service providers to broaden your perspective and take meaningful steps toward increasing disability acceptance, access, and support.

What you will gain:

• Fascinating insight into how Asian culture and disability perspectives intersect
• Motivational stories from pioneers in the API disability community
• Inspiring tips for professional growth
• Helpful resources and advice to enhance your impact

API Leaders in This Book:

These passionate and innovative leaders of Asian cultural heritage come from various backgrounds, including academia, technology innovation, and clinical practice. People with and without disabilities share their unique journeys, the prejudice they overcame, and the inspirational moments that guided them to advocate for themselves and those they support

—providing practical advice and tools to advance your cultural sensitivity and leadership success.

Get your copy today and become part of the movement, joining countless API leaders who are already making a significant difference!

Early Reviews:

“Courage powered the leadership of those who contributed to this important collection of perspectives. That courage advances the change that will impact the cultural responsiveness required to be heard and to be seen in order to promote equality, strengthen our shared knowledge and eliminate the attitudes and beliefs that are barriers to success. The authors show us the power of courage and provide examples of how we can influence change.”

Robert M. Augustine
Ph.D., CCC-SLP
2023 President (ASHA)American Speech-Language- Hearing Association
Senior Vice President
Council of Graduate Schools,
Washington, DC

"This book covers an important topic: the intersectionality of disability and Asian culture. Each chapter shares first-hand accounts, a wish for the reader, and actionable recommendations. Inspiring!"
–Carol Van Den Hende

The book celebrates courage, resilience, empowerment, and triumph of individuals, parents, and professionals in the diverse landscape of America. The stories are so authentic and discloses raw self-identities and real-life experiences. Each story offers a unique opportunity for readers to learn about the unfamiliar and paves ways to cultivate cultural humility for students, clinicians, and educators in the speech-language-hearing sciences field. Be ready to be inspired!

Hsinhuei Sheen Chiou, Ph.D., CCC-SLP. Professor Distinguished Faculty Scholar

Dept Chair, Speech, Hearing and Rehabilitation Services, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Co-President, Asian Pacific Islander Speech-Language-Hearing Caucus

Mai Ling Chan MS, CCC-SLP, is a mother, entrepreneur, speech-language pathologist, business strategist, speaker, podcast host, and author. Originating from Keyport, a small fishing town in New Jersey, Mai Ling embraced cross-country relocation which uncovered personal strengths, weaknesses, and identified areas for life-long growth. Building on these hard-earned lessons, Mai Ling also embraces her curiosity and love for human connections and she shares these passions through a variety of disability-focused offerings.As an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association accredited speech-language pathologist for over 18 years, she has provided comprehensive speech-language services to individuals and families affected by communication disabilities and is committed to advocacy and service in this community. In addition, stemming from her love for all things technology-related, she has been working to increase access to online professional education. She has years of experience creating disability-related websites, online learning platforms, and incorporating tablet technology into disability classrooms and adult rehabilitation services.Mai Ling is also working to bring advanced technology and inclusive and accessibile services to all areas of the globe.Her passion is centralized on deep-diving into the world of amazing disability leaders.Enter her world through one of her four (4) Amazon Best-Selling books: Becoming an Exceptional LeaderBecoming an Exceptional AAC LeaderBecoming an Exceptional Leader an Exceptional SLPBecoming an Exceptional API LeaderYou can also meet and learn from other global disability leaders through her Xceptional Leaders Podcast, where she co-hosts a bi-weekly program dedicated to spotlighting high-profile disability-focused topics and disability thought leadership with James Berges, CCC-SLP.When Mai Ling isn't podcasting, "Zooming", conducting FB Live interviews, or responding to emails, you can find her immersed in new technology, playing with her mini-Australian shepherd, and laughing with friends and family.

Dr. Li-Rong Lilly Cheng served as Professor in the School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences and Executive Director of Chinese Studies Institute at San Diego State University. She is the Managing Director of the Confucius Institute at SDSU. Professor Cheng served as a member of the board of trustees of the Campanile Foundation of San Diego State University. She is the past chair of the Multicultural Issues Board for the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) and served as chair of Education Committee for the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP) and is the president elect of IALP. She is a Fellow of ASHA and received the Honors of ASHA (the highest honor) in 2013. Professor Cheng is the President-Elect of the IALP. She was selected by ABC as one of 25 most influential women in the history of San Diego. Professor Cheng was the past President of the Phi Beta Delta Chapter at SDSU. She has received many awards from San Diego State University and professional organizations. She was selected as the outstanding alumnus of Michigan State University. Dr. Cheng is the recipient of the 1997 ASHA Award for special contributions to Multicultural Affairs and the recipient of the 2002 Diversity Award from the California Speech & Hearing Association. She is on the editorial board of several major professional journals. She has numerous professional publications and has lectured all over the world. In 2007, she received the best research article award from Council of Exceptional Children. She has taught Chinese to individuals across the life span in a multitude of settings. In 2010, she received the Humanitarian Award from the Asian Heritage Foundation. She received the 2012 Monty's Award from SDSU. She received the 2013 Diversity Award from CAPCSD. She served as consultant for the Sesame Street and Tiffany and Company.Dr. Cheng has published numerous articles and books on cross-cultural communication research, translation and interpretation, language learning and language teaching focusing on the development of an optimal language learning environment (OLLE). She is a frequent keynote speaker on the topic of speech, language pathology, culture, cross-cultural understanding, language learning and language teaching.

Phương Liên Palafox is a Vietnamese-Chinese American speech-language therapist, author and advocate. Currently, her time is spent serving clients and their families, educators and medical professionals internationally. Her work has been featured in various publications including the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and content for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. With a foundation of evidence-based and human-centered practices, she is continually invested in Culturally Responsiveness and Sustaining Practices, Multilingual Rights, Narrative-Based Interventions and the Mental Health of Educators and Service Providers. Attendees leave her presentations and storytelling feeling validated, refueled and re-engaged to fuel their meaningful work.