By Andrea Hein, Harris College communications intern

On the other side of the world, donations from students of the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders and community clients of the Miller Speech & Hearing Clinic (MSHC) have benefited children at the Shanghai Healing Home.

The Shanghai Healing Home is an orphanage for special needs children. The home is in its third year of existence and is independently funded. A western couple and Chinese national woman primarily organize the home, which houses special needs babies, many of whom have cleft lips and cleft palates. The babies are cared for pre- and post-surgery.

Laurel Lynch, clinical supervisor and instructor at MSHC, has traveled to Shanghai, China, several times on “medical mission” trips and witnessed their needs. The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) conducted a fundraiser centered on “The Giving Turkey.” Students, clients and their parents collected items (written on the turkey’s feathers) that were specifically needed by the home.

Lynch went back to the home this past Thanksgiving and brought an entire suitcase with the donations. Approximately $300 was raised to help purchase bottles specifically for babies with cleft palates. Lynch made a presentation to NSSLHA about her observations and experiences when she returned from China.

“One reason I love speech-language pathology is because it’s a helping profession. Having the opportunity to help those who are less fortunate is really a joy and a blessing. I think it encourages me professionally because my hope is that by sharing my knowledge and experience, someone can learn and implement strategies that would be beneficial for children there,” Lynch said.

Jennifer Watson, COSD professor, and Lynch received a grant to pilot a program this summer to train volunteers and staff in therapeutic intervention for babies who need therapy at the Shanghai Healing Home.

Lynch said the immediate need is for skilled intervention by trained professionals for children who have had their first cleft palate surgery. She hopes this pilot program will serve as a bridge toward a service learning opportunity for students sometime in the future.

“I want to help speech-language pathology students gain experience and the growth and joy I have experienced by working with those in a different culture,” Lynch said.