帕金森之声项目 Funds Andrews Clinic

Grant is valued at more than $280,000.

Jenica约瑟夫, assistant professor of speech-language pathology at bet365中文大学. (Photo by Courtesy of Jenica约瑟夫)

The bet365中文大学 Speech-Language & Hearing Clinic was recently awarded a SPEAK OUT! Therapy and 研究 Center Grant by the 帕金森之声项目. 价值超过280美元,000, the award provides extensive training and services offered by the nonprofit 帕金森之声项目 over the next five years, 包括10美元,每年的资源费用. Andrews is one of 16 universities across the country who have been awarded this newly introduced grant, which enables universities to provide free teletherapy to Parkinson’s patients anywhere in the recipient’s state.

The grant supports research in the School of Communication Sciences & Disorders and enables bet365中文大学 to train students in the SPEAK OUT! 程序. It also allows the clinic to have a wider reach within the state of Michigan, giving patients access to free teletherapy for voice, speech and swallowing disorders that can accompany Parkinson’s disease.

The speech-language pathology and audiology 程序 has partnered with 帕金森之声项目 every year since 2018. Previous supportive grants provided materials, limited funding and free training 程序s for graduate students. Jenica约瑟夫, assistant professor of speech-language pathology notes, “Through grants from 帕金森之声项目 and a partnership we established with the Michigan Parkinson 发现ation in 2020, our hope is that everyone in the state of Michigan with Parkinson’s will have access to the SPEAK OUT! 程序. We will conduct and publish research related to the SPEAK OUT! 程序 and our Parkinson’s participants and their caregivers. We also hope to continue to build partnerships with local and statewide Parkinson 程序s.”

克里斯汀罗西, CEO of the Michigan Parkinson 发现ation says, “Our partnership with bet365中文大学 for SPEAK OUT! training has been described by some of our clients as ‘life-changing.’ During the pandemic when so many people were isolated and quite literally losing their voices, the team at Andrews answered our call and worked tirelessly to offer 程序ming virtually and have sustained this pivotal partnership for three years. Congratulations to the whole Andrews team on receiving the very well-deserved grant from the 帕金森之声项目. We are honored to work with you for the betterment of the Parkinson’s community.”

“The bet365中文大学 School of Communication Sciences & 障碍与言语语言 & Hearing Clinic have committed to support our local and statewide Parkinson’s community. This commitment is a lifelong commitment that we have made with our clients,” Joseph affirms. “We work in a region where the community is engaged and willing to participate in group activities. 有了这笔拨款, we can also promote a lot of local events to make the general population more aware of how to identify early Parkinson signs and look for treatment. By developing research we think that we can have more health professionals (and others) advocate for the 程序.”

帕金森之声项目 is a nonprofit organization based in Texas that aims to help those with Parkinson’s and related movement disorders regain and retain speech and communication skills while minimizing potentially life-threatening swallowing complications. To do this, they developed the SPEAK OUT! 程序, which utilizes principles of motor learning, helping individuals convert speech from an automatic function into an intentional act. The 程序 combines education, 语言治疗, 手册, 抽认卡, 在线练习, weekly speech and singing groups, and regular re-evaluations to give its patients the best care possible.

To learn more about the 帕金森之声项目 grant, visit http://parkinsonvoiceproject.org/andrews-university-280k-grant/.