Communication Sciences and Disorders

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Spring 2012 Communiqué Read the latest issue of the department's biannual newsletter.
5-8-12 Ehren Appointed Department Chair Barbara Ehren, professor and director of the doctoral program, has been appointed chair of the department effective today.
4-19-12 Students Win Scholarships at UCF Service-Learning Fair Students teams in courses taught by Associate Professor Jennifer Kent-Walsh and Assistant Professor Anthony Kong took home nearly $2,000 in scholarship awards at UCF’s Ninth Annual Service- Learning Showcase on April 17.
4-12-12 iPads Give Children with Down Syndrome a Voice Learn more about the iCan Communicate program in an article in today's Central Florida Future.
3-29-12 Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Event Winter Park Memorial Hospital Memorial Library, 200 Lakemont Ave., Winter Park, Fla. 12 to 1 p.m. - Presentation 1 to 2 p.m. - Risk Assessment
3-28-12 Free iPads Give Children with Speech Difficulties a Voice Children with Down syndrome and limited speech recently received help learning to communicate using an iPad and special “apps” hand-selected by speech experts at the University of Central Florida. Photo at right: Three-year-old Meredith Griffen uses an iPad "app" to communicate at UCF's Communication Disorders Clinic.
2-28-12 UCF Recognized for Advocating for Children with Disabilities On Feb. 25, Interim Chair Tom Mullin and Clinical Instructor Pamela Resnick of the FAAST ARDC accepted the Lynda Pollack, MD, Advocate Award presented by the Down Syndrome Assocation of Central Florida at the statewide Down Syndrome Conference on behalf of the University of Central Florida. The Lynda Pollack, M.D. Advocate Award honors an organization or individuals each year who give of themselves, their talents and their time advocating for children with disabilities and their families. Photo at right: Tom Mullin (left) and Pam Resnick (click photo to enlarge)
2-24-12 Gabrielle Giffords' Therapist Collaborates with UCF to Promote Art Therapy Nancy Helm-Estabrooks, the neurological-disorders expert who has been treating former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, is visiting the University of Central Florida this week to promote the benefits of art as part of stroke therapy.
RECENT EVENT 2-24-12 Cluttering: Assessment and Treatment The Eighth Biennial Gene J. Brutten Symposium on Stuttering 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 a.m., UCF Student Union, Key West Ballroom
1-9-12 UCF ASL Team to Sign for Orlando Magic Again The Orlando Magic has invited UCF's ASL (American Sign Language) Team back to sign the national anthem at each of its home games during the 2011-2012 basketball season. "The Magic is the only professional sports team to provide this service," said Jason Hurdich, an ASL adjunct instructor at UCF and the team's advisor. "Our program [is having] an impact on a million or so fans per season."
1-6-12 New Grant Ensures Continuation of Assistive Technology Center at UCF The University of Central Florida will continue to offer the latest in assistive technology services for individuals with disabilities thanks to a new grant from the Florida Alliance for Assistance Services and Technology.
12-8-11 Scholar-in-Residence Program Featured in Local Magazine The department's new Scholar-in-Residence Program is featured in the latest issue of Oviedo–Winter Springs Life, a magazine for residents living in two cities near UCF's Orlando campus. This fall, the program placed a doctoral student and six master's degree students from the department at Bridges Academy, a private school for students with reading disabilities in Winter Springs. (Click on the link above to read the article.)
Fall 2011 Communiqué Read the latest issue of the department's biannual newsletter.
11-7-11 New UCF, USF Program to Help Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children UCF and the University of South Florida have secured a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to train future speech-language pathologists so they can help deaf and hard-of-hearing children whose families do not speak English. At UCF, the principal investigator for the grant is Associate Professor Linda I. Rosa-Lugo (right).
10-26-11 Rivers Honored for Outstanding Support to Florida Education Fund Associate Professor Kenyatta Rivers has been awarded "The Israel Tribble Award for Outstanding Alumni Support" by the Florida Education Fund. Rivers is a graduate of the FEF's McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program, which was established to increase the number of African-Americans earning Ph.D.s in historically underrepresented disciplines. As an alumnus of the program, he has contributed to the FEF's capital fundraising drive, served as a mentor for matriculating McKnight Doctoral Fellows at UCF and other Florida institutions, served as both a panel chair and a discussant at fellows' meetings, served on a fellow's doctoral dissertation committee, and served as the faculty advisor to UCF's Chapter of Knights for McKnight. Rivers received the award on Oct. 21 at the FEF's annual conference in Tampa. Israel Tribble was the president/CEO and founder of the FEF.
RECENT EVENT 10-14-11 Preparing Speech-Language Pathologists to Serve English Language Learners with Communication Disorders Second Annual Colloquium The second colloquium will be held this Friday, October 14, 2011 from 7:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m. in the Student Union, Cape Florida, Room 316. Please review the brochure for more information about the event.
10-12-11 Kent-Walsh Publishes New Text Associate Professor Jennifer Kent-Walsh is the author of a new text, "What Every Speech-Language Pathologist/Audiologist Should Know About Service–Learning," published this fall by Pearson/Allyn & Bacon. The text provides students with "key background information and practical strategies to successfully complete service-learning practices and for faculty members to easily manage service-learning activities in communication sciences and disorders."
10-11-11 Ehren Named Fellow of International Organization Congratulations! Professor Barbara Ehren, director of the department's doctoral program, has been selected a fellow of the International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities. The IARLD is an international professional organization with members from 35 countries. The organization and its fellows are dedicated to conducting and sharing research about individuals who have learning disabilities.
8-18-11 Students Selected for ASHA Leadership Program Congratulations to Michelle Cardona and Brittney Nesch, students in the master's degree program, and Karen Davis, a student in the doctoral program, on their selection to participate in the 2011 Minority Student Leadership Program sponsored by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The program is designed to recruit and retain racial and ethnic minorities that have been historically underrpresented in the professions of audiology and speech-language pathology. This year's program will be held Nov. 15-20 in San Diego, Calif., in conjunction with ASHA's annual conference, held Nov. 17-19. Each student submitted an essay, a resume and a letter of support from a faculty member to apply for the program. (Click here to learn more)
8-16-11 Study Reveals One Third of Secondary School Teachers Have Voice Problems In a collaborative study with the Hong Kong Association of Speech Therapists, Assistant Professor Anthony Kong and his colleagues found that one out of three secondary school teachers in Hong Kong have voice problems. In addition, the more students a teacher has in a class, the more likey she or he will have voice problems. For more information, see pp. 11 and 21 of a news clip package for reports on these findings in the English press in Hong Kong.
7-21-11 Kong, International Colleagues Receive Hong Kong Government Research Grant Anthony Kong, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, is a co-investigator for a new research project funded by the prestigious Hong Kong SAR Government Research Grants Council in Hong Kong. He and colleagues Sam Po Law (principal investigator) and Chun Sing Wong from the University of Hong Kong, David Copland from the University of Queensland in Australia, and Alice Su-Ying Lee from the University College Cork in Ireland will investigate the unique relationship between brain and language behaviors among speakers of Chinese, a lexical tone language that is very different from European languages such as English. The grants council awarded the investigators $51,736 (U.S.) to conduct the yearlong study, titled "An Investigation of Neural Representations of Distinctive Linguistic Features of Chinese Using Voxel-based Lesion-Symptom Mapping."
6-27-11 Kent-Walsh Attending All-Expense-Paid National Research Training Jennifer Kent-Walsh, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, was selected to attend the first Summer Research Training Institute on Single-Case Intervention Research Design and Analysis sponsored by the National Center for Special Education Research in the U.S. Department of Education. She is attending the weeklong institute from June 27 through July 1 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The national program is designed to "increase the national capacity of education researchers to conduct single-subject intervention studies that have scientifically credible methodology and analysis." The program pays for all travel, accommodations and meals.
RECENT EVENT 6-14-11 Free Hearing Screenings Help celebrate Better Speech and Hearing Month and receive a FREE hearing screening. Students from the Communication Disorders Clinic will provide hearing screenings on Friday, June 12, 1 to 4 p.m., in the Student Union, room 224. Learn more.
6-2-11 UCF Receives Key Awards at Annual FLASHA Convention Linda I. Rosa-Lugo, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders, received the Honors of the Association Award at the Annual Convention of the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, held May 26-29 in Marco Island, Fla. She is the third UCF faculty member in four years to win the award. In addition, graduate students Karen Davis and Michele Cardona won first place in the convention's poster competition. Other communication sciences and disorders students were recognized as well. (Click on title above to learn more.)
RECENT EVENTS 4-26-11 Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Event Panel Discussion: 12 to 1:30 p.m. Winter Park Memorial Hospital Library, 200 Lakemont Ave., Winter Park Head and Neck Cancer Risk Assessments 1:30 to 2 p.m., Winter Park Memorial Hospital Library 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., YMCA Crosby Wellness Center, 2005 Mizell Ave., Winter Park Both are open to the public. Admission is free. For further information, contact Bari.HoffmanRuddy@ucf.edu
4-28-11 OPEN HOUSE @ The Aphasia House Thursday, April 28, 2011, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., 12424 Research Parkway (Main Lobby) Central Florida Research Park, Orlando Open to the public. For further information, contact stevy.weathers@ucf.edu.
4-19-11 Hurdich Achieves FACS Coder Certification Instructor Jason Hurdich is believed to be the first deaf and American Sign Language fluent person to achieve Facial Action Coding System (FACS) certification.
Spring 2011 Communiqué Read the latest issue of the department's biannual newsletter.
RECENT EVENT 4-13-11 World Voice Day: Panel Discussion and Performances Once again, UCF's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is taking the lead in organizing a regional World Voice Day event. This year's event will focus on professional and occupational voice use, from prevention to treatment. The panelists will include ENT physicians, speech pathologists, singing and acting teachers and former patients. Open to the public. Admission is free. Time: 6 p.m. Location: Tiedtke Concert Hall of the Keene Music Hall, Rollins College, Winter Park, Fla. For further information, contact Bari.HoffmanRuddy@ucf.edu
4-12-11 Student Research on Stuttering Meet Andrea Snider, a master's degree student in communication sciences and disorders and Graduate McNair scholar who has been conducting research on stuttering.
Congratulations! 4-11-10 Brittney Nesch, a second-semester master's degree student in communication sciences and disorders, is the recipient of the 2011 Progressus Therapy Scholarship awarded by the National Black Association for Speech-Language Hearing. The $3,000 scholarship is “awarded to a graduate student whose primary career interest is in providing speech-language services to children in school or early intervention settings following graduation." She was honored on April 8, 2011, at the NBASLH Convention in Indianapolis, Ind.
Congratulations! 4-6-11 Anthony Pak Hin Kong, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, received the college's Excellence in Research award for 2011 at UCF's Founders' Day event. Read more
3-31-11 FLASHA Student Member Spotlight: Michelle Ranc & Caroline Krohne Two master's degree students participating in the department's "Project SLP-ELL" are highlighted in the Spring 2011 newsletter of Florida Chapter of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
2-7-11 UCF TV Episode Focuses on Aphasia The first new episode of the For Your Health show explores aphasia — the loss of speech and language resulting from stroke or other neurologic injury. The episode features studio interviews with Clinical Educator Janet Whiteside and Assistant Anthony Kong. And it takes you to The Aphasia House, where participants with aphasia undergo intensive therapy that produces stunning results. The episode will air repeatedly throughout the month of February on Bright House Channel 1 and Central Florida on Demand Channel 300. Click here to view the episode online.
1-20-11 Someone You Should Know: Cheran Zadroga Cheran Zadroga, a speech-language pathologist at Moss Park Elementary School in Orlando and doctoral student in communication sciences and disorders at UCF, is profiled in a recent issue of Lifestyle, a regional news publication.

11-19-10 Congratulations to Associate Professor Jennifer Kent-Walsh on her selection to receive a 2010 Clinical Research Grant of $50,000 from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation to be applied toward her study, "Teaching Children Who Use AAC to Ask Inverted Yes-No Questions.” The ASHFoundation acknowledged her receipt of the grant at a Founders Breakfast held today in Philadelphia in conjunction with ASHA's 2010 convention. Kent-Walsh developed her successful grant proposal while participating in the college's Research Faculty Fellows Program.
11-5-10 Oral Cancer Screening Draws Hundreds Volunteer prosthodontists and oral surgeons, in conjunction with UCF’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Pre-Dental Society, conducted hundreds of free oral cancer screenings during a Nov. 3 outreach event held near the Student Union.

10-29-10
Communication Sciences and Disorders Professor Barbara Ehren, director of the doctoral program, and Clinical Instructor Tom Ehren were awarded the Annie Glenn Leadership Award at a national conference on language and literacy held Oct. 24-26 in Columbus, OH. Annie Glenn, wife of former Ohio Sen. John Glenn, was on hand to present the award, which recognizes individuals who exemplify excellence in leadership and are committed to innovative change through sustained clinical or research interests in communication, language and literacy.

(Left to right) John Glenn, Annie Glenn,
Barbara Ehren and Tom Ehren

10-15-10 Student signing
UCF Students Sign With Orlando Magic
Thirty-five UCF students will sign the national anthem for deaf and hard-of-hearing fans before all Magic home games, including the preseason and playoffs.

Fall 2010
Communiqué
Read the latest issue of the department's biannual newsletter.

9-8-10
The University of Central Florida Department of Communication Disorders is proud to present a colloquium on “Preparing Speech-Language Pathologists to Serve English Language Learners with Communication Disorders.” The event will be held on Friday, October 15, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the UCF Student Union, Cape Florida 316 ABCD. The colloquium will focus on prevention in working with English Language Learners (ELLs). Two experts in the field, Dr. Hortencia Kayser and Dr. Julie Esparza-Brown, will make presentations on the subject. Additional information is provided in the brochure.

7-19-10
Grant to Provide Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students
Students in the College of Health and Public Affairs who face economic hardship may be eligible to receive scholarship support thanks to federal funding that aims to increase the number of health professionals working in underserved areas.

Student working with a client 7-14-10
New Aphasia House Offers Innovative Therapy in a Home-Like Setting
A new facility dedicated solely to innovative therapy for individuals with aphasia, or the loss of speech resulting from neurologic injury, has been established at the University of Central Florida with an anonymous $25,000 donation.

6-15-10
Congratulations!
Professor Chad Nye (right), executive director of the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD), was elected a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Fellowship in ASHA is given to members who have made oustanding contributions to the profession and is one of the highest honors that ASHA can bestow. All of the full professors in the department have been awarded this special honor.

6-7-10
Congratulations!
Janet Whiteside (right), director of the UCF Communication Disorders Clinic, received the Honors of the Association Award at the 2010 Annual Convention of the Florida Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists in Orlando. In addition, graduate student Adam Lloyd received the Larry B. Director Graduate Student Fellowship and doctoral student Janet Proly took third place in the poster session. Click here to learn more.

Spring 2010
Communiqué
Read the latest issue of the department's biannual newsletter.

5-7-10
'Driven to Succeed': Grad Helps Others Through Her Own Struggles
Communication sciences and disorders student Katherine Olson was diagnosed with severe hearing loss when she was 4. She graduated on May 7, 2010, after overcoming a "magnitude of challenges."

4-14-10
UCF‘s College of Graduate Studies has selected Michelle Cardona, an undergraduate student in communication sciences and disorders, to receive the university's Graduate RAMP Fellowship. The fellowship is awarded to "the most outstanding RAMP students who have a stellar academic record and a strong potential for success.” The award includes tuition, a stipend and health insurance coverage, collectively worth $31,400 over two years. Cardona will begin the master's degree program in communication sciences and disorders this fall.

4-1-10
UCF, Medical Community to Offer Free Risk Assessment of Cancer
The UCF Communication Disorders Clinic, Florida Hospital Cancer Institute and The Ear Nose and Throat Surgical Associates will jointly offer free risk assessments for oral, head and neck cancer in observance of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, April 12-18.

3-31-10
Congratulations to Janet Proly and Kim Murza, students in the communication sciences and disorders track in the doctoral program in education, for winning Best in Education awards at the UCF Graduate Research Forum! The titles of their research projects are identified below. Professor Barbara Ehren was the faculty mentor for both projects.

Janet Proly, "Exploring Students' Perceptions of Evidence-Based Practice"
Kim Murza, "Speech-Language Pathologists' Adoption of a District-Wide Innovation'

Opportunity
›› The UCF Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is currently accepting applications for a new interdisciplinary specialization in school speech-language pathology and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages). Click here for more information.

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