News and Events
Save the Date of Friday, October 16, 2026 - The ADHD & Executive Function Lens for Practitioners
CDS is pleased to host program alum Valerie Mackiewicz, MS, AACC, CACP for this Fall 2026 full day Continuing Education (.5 CEU) workshop, The ADHD & Executive Function Lens for Practitioners. Registration available in early August.
Stroke/Head Injury Support Group
The Youngerman Center's Stroke/Head Injury Support Group meets during the Fall 2026 semester in E148 Thompson Hall at 3 p.m. on these dates:
- Tuesday, September 22
- Tuesday, October 6
- Tuesday, October 20
- Tuesday, November 3
- Tuesday, November 17
- Tuesday, December 1
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 Senior Fox Birdtail named as Intern at Program Evaluation Center
Fox Birdtail, a senior Communication Disorders and Sciences major with a minor in School and Counseling Psychology, has been appointed to the position of Program Evaluation Center Student Research Intern for the summer. Birdtail will provide assistance for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Center - Improvement and Advancement Grant, whose purpose is to identify and address gaps in behavioral health service needs for individuals with serious mental health, substance use, or co-occurring conditions.
CDS Senior Cara Pellechia named Fredonia's Female Athlete of the Year for Second Consecutive year; Other CDS Students Nominated
For the second consecutive year, CDS's own Cara Pellechia (Track & Field) is honored as Fredonia State's Female Athlete of the Year. We wish to recognize two other CDS students--Brooke Grazen (Soccer) and Gabby Irwin (Soccer)--for having been nominated for the award, and CDS Freshman student Anna Ratchuk (Soccer) in recognition of her nomination for Female Rookie of the Year.
CDS Fredonia NSSHLA Students attend the 2026 Pennsylvania Speech and Hearing Association (PSHA) Convention
For two days, future speech-language pathologists (SLPs) Kayla Becker, Hannah Belknap, Emily Bradley, Ashleigh Hellwig, Lindsey Olendorf, Natalie Marier, Leila Ward, & Madison Winfield immersed themselves in the work of clinical practice and research at the PSHA Convention in Pocono Manor, PA. Through OSCAR funding and group efforts, the students attended the convention at an affordable rate. As the Fredonia NSSLHA chapter continues to grow, student experiences such as attending this convention, remain a cornerstone of their professional development, bridging the gap between student life and clinical excellence.
Come Visit our Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program
Are you exploring graduate programs in Speech-Language Pathology?
Contact Tim Overbeck (overbeck@fredonia.edu) for information and/or to set up a visit.
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.
CDS Students Kaylee Guzman, Declan Whitmore, & Madison Winfield present Parkinson's Disease Treatment Research at National Convention
Kaylee Guzman, Declan Whitmore, & Madison Winfield, mentored by CDS Faculty Dr. Bridget Russell presented their research at the 2025 ASHA Convention in Washington, DC.
CDS Faculty present Research in November at American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Convention in Washington, DC.
Dr. Christina Mead and Dr. Allison Manning recently presented their research at the ASHA Convention in Washington, DC.
Friday, October 17, 2025 - Maximizing TD Snap Resources for AAC Implementation, Assessment, and Funding
CDS recently hosted this Fall 2025 full day Continuing Education (.5 CEU) workshop, Maximizing TD Snap: Resources for AAC Implementation, Assessment, and Funding. Thank you for attending!
CDS Student 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 Students 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 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.
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.
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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