News and Events
Youngerman Center marks 20th anniversary of providing support group for stroke survivors
A milestone helping stroke survivors and their families adapt to new lives has been achieved at SUNY Fredonia. The Henry C. Youngerman Center for Communication Disorders in the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences (CDS) has offered support group meetings for stroke survivors and their family members for the last 20 years.
Clinic Director Julie Williams established the stroke support group program in 2004 with assistance from former clinic director Michele Notte. It was expanded and renamed the Stroke/Head Injury Support Group in 2008 to include head injury survivors, as that population was not being served in the area. Read about it here.
Stroke/Head Injury Support Group, Upcoming Meetings
Meetings are Tuesdays at 3 p.m. in E148 Thompson Hall on these upcoming dates:
- June 17
- July 15
The Youngerman Center offers support group meetings free for stroke and head injury survivors and their family members. A typical group meeting includes activities to assist stroke and head injury survivors use compensatory strategies to improve their communication skills, to provide educational information, and to provide an opportunity to socialize and share experiences. Light refreshments are provided.
The Youngerman Center recognizes that there are individuals in our community whose insurance benefits for therapy have been exhausted but whose hopes for improvement remain. Please contact Julie Williams, Coordinator (Julie.Williams@fredonia.edu, 716-673-4618 or 716-673-3203) for more information about attending this group.
CDS Junior Cara Pellechia earns SUNYAC honors of Female Field Athlete of the Year and Women's Indoor Track & Field Scholar Athlete of the Year
CDS is proud to share that Cara Pellechia has earned these stellar SUNYAC honors as Female Field Athlete of the Year and Women's Indoor Track & Field Scholar.
CDS Juniors Madison Winfield and Declan Whitmore recipients of Donald Nasca Undergraduate Student Research and Creativity Awards
CDS is honored to announce both Madison Winfield and Declan Whitmore as recipients of the highly competitive Undergraduate Student Research Award, sponsored by Dr. Donald Nelson Nasca, an award that supports undergraduate student research and creativity here at Fredonia. Madison and Declan, with Dr. Bridget Russell as mentor within the Speech Production Laboratory, are investigating treatment methods for cough strength and vocal health in patients with Parkinson's Disease
The goal of the award is to promote excellence in student research and creativity and to enhance the dissemination of that work. Through an endowment, Dr. Nasca has provided funding to support student research projects at SUNY Fredonia. The Nasca Award is provided to at least two students each academic year and a maximum of $5,000 is distributed among student projects.
Youngerman Center Welcomes new Audiologist, Dr. Melanie Zimmer, and bids adieu to Dr. Marc Wilcox
A career spanning three decades drew to a close at the end of September with the retirement of Dr. Marc Wilcox, audiologist at the Henry C. Youngerman Center for Communication Disorders at SUNY Fredonia. The department has welcomed Dr. Melanie Zimmer, a Buffalo native, as the center’s new clinical audiologist. Learn more.
Allison Schoenfeld (Class of 2005) returns to Fredonia to present Continuing Education Workshop
On Friday, October 25, 2024, the Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences hosted a Continuing Education Conference for local Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and related professionals. The seven-hour workshop, titled, Foundations of Oral Function: Exploring Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) and Tethered Oral Tissues (TOTs). The presenter was Alison Schoenfeld (M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology, Class of 2005). Allison is an ASHA Certified and California licensed pediatric SLP with 20 years of experience. She owns Strides In Speech, a private practice that specializes in Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders & airway-focused care. Eighty-five attendees reviewed orofacial anatomy and physiology, etiology, as well as related signs and symptoms and engaged in discussion regarding assessment and intervention strategies. Collaborative management approaches, case studies, and interactive discussion were also part of the workshop. SUNY Fredonia faculty and staff, as well as students and community members participated. Mrs. Allison Manning and Ms. Sandra Eichner were instrumental in planning and organizing this well received workshop. Thank you, Allison, and to all who participated!
CDS Provides Hearing Screenings at Unified Champion School Summit
Approximately 250 students, teachers and staff members from 16 local high schools attended the Unified Champion School Summit on the SUNY Fredonia campus on September 30. This event served as 'kick-off' for Unified Sports for the school year. As stated on the Special Olympics website: Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.
Fredonia’s Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences offered free hearing screening to any students, faculty, and staff from the participating schools. In total, 33 screenings took place. Overall, it was a great day for all involved.
Service Dog Onboard for Class of 2024 M.S in Speech-Language Pathology Graduate
Our recent graduate, Madison Evans, and her service dog, Sunny, are featured in this article.
Services at the Youngerman Center for Communication Disorders
See Youngerman Center Provides Speech-Language and Hearing Services Across the Lifespan.
Audiology and Speech-Language Services at the Youngerman Center are open to the campus & community. Community members may call for an appointment at 716-673-3203.
Continuing Education Conference: Trauma-Informed Care for Providers, with Rachel Archambault
Thank you to Rachel Archambault, M.A., CCC-SLP, for presenting on Trauma-Informed Care for providers on Friday, October 13, 2023 at SUNY Fredonia. 55 providers, including speech-language pathologists, social workers, nurses, billers, and graduate students attended. The positive feedback regarding the presentation is a testament to Rachel's commitment to and knowledge of Trauma-Informed Care and the difference it can make in people's lives.
Are you a prospective student?
Our program is happy to host you. Contact communicationdisorders.Sciences@fredonia.edu to schedule your visit.
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