Top Lang Disorders Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 103–120 Copyright c  2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins A Conceptual Framework for Responsive Global Engagement in Communication Sciences and Disorders Yvette D. Hyter The field of speech–language pathology needs a conceptual framework to guide the provision of services in a globalized world. Proposed in this article is a conceptual framework designed to facilitate responsive global engagement for professionals such as speech–language pathologists, who are increasingly serving diverse populations around the world. A set of concepts associated with Critical Social Theory is defined and then organized into a statement. This proposed con- ceptual framework could be useful for educating speech–language pathologists, educators, and related professionals to provide relevant services across the globe. Examples of how the con- ceptual framework could be infused into research questions, university course content, clinical services, or community outreach are provided. Key words: global engagement, globalization, macropractice, social theory, theoretical framework G LOBALIZATION is generally defined as the increased and intensified interde- pendencies across national borders. In this regard, globalization is far reaching and has influenced practices in many fields, in- cluding speech–language pathology (Hyter, 2012; McAllister, Wylie, Davidson, & Marshall, 2013). Globalization consists of dynamic and multidimensional processes (Hopkins, 2002; Steger, 2010). It is defined differently on the basis of one’s conceptual framework, and it has been around for many years, being de- scribed by some scholars as having at least five historical periods (Ellwood, 2002; Hopkins, 2002; Steger, 2010). Table 1 outlines these Author Affiliation: Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. The author has indicated that she has no financial and no nonfinancial relationships to disclose. Corresponding Author: Yvette D. Hyter, PhD, CCC- SLP, Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology, Western Michigan University, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 (yvette.hyter@wmich.edu). DOI: 10.1097/TLD.0000000000000015 five periods of globalization and their main characteristics. What is often less discussed with regard to globalization is that it oper- ates within varied levels and domains (e.g., economic, political, cultural, ideological, en- vironmental, and military) (Hylland Eriksen, 2007; Steger, 2010). The consequences of globalization are un- even, experienced differently in various parts of the world, with both positive and neg- ative effects. On the positive side, techno- logical advances allow almost everyone in the world who has access to electricity and information-processing technology to inter- act across cultural and national boundaries. Events in one part of the world now can be communicated to or become known by an- other part of the world in a matter of seconds. In addition, travel across national borders is more possible for some. On the contrary, some negative effects of globalization are ex- perienced as inequality, military occupation, imperialism, or economic apartheid, particu- larly by disenfranchised groups and in the im- poverished regions in the world (Akindele, Gidado, & Olaopo, 2002; Amin, 2000, 2013; Copyright © 2014 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. 103