By Andrea Hein, Harris College communications intern

Students in the Miller Speech and Hearing Clinic (MSHC) have been hard at work this semester reaching out to Fort Worth clients and the global community. An organization called the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSHLA) offers opportunities for students to volunteer and attend workshops in the communication science disorders field.

NSSLHA offers open membership for all undergraduate students with either a major or minor in communication science disorders. This year a new point system has been implemented to recognize members for time spent on NSSLHA activities. Each member is required to have a set amount of eight points per semester; however, students may earn extra incentive points to be recognized in the organization. Students who reach 12 points are eligible to receive honors chords for graduation.

Teresa Hughes, current NSSHLA president, said, “Members can earn points for tasks such as attending meetings, participating in fundraising events or educating others about NSSHLA.”

The new adviser, Irmgard Payne, COSD lecturer, introduced new ideas and re-energized the organization along with the student officer board. This year NSSHLA has the largest membership in its history with 95 members, almost triple last year’s numbers.

“We have one of the best board of officers yet this year. I am really excited about the overall passion that has been shown for NSSLHA and as an extension for our future profession.” Hughes said.

Hughes also said one of her favorite opportunities through NSSHLA includes the speaker panel of speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Several current SLPs, TCU alumni and current professors come for an evening to discuss their areas of practice and answer students’ questions. About 40 students attended a November event featuring four speakers.

Client appreciation week, a four-day event, is an event NSSHLA plans each semester to give back to MSHC clients. This year Lauren Edwards, senior speech-language pathology major and NSSHLA treasurer, organized a photo booth area in the waiting room with costumes and props for clients to take pictures with their clinicians. These pictures could then be incorporated into therapy later that week in activities such as crafts around Halloween. Older clients received an appreciative note and a Starbucks gift card.

On the global level, NSSHLA held a fundraiser referred to as “Turkey Feathers” to raise funds and supplies for the Shanghai Healing Home, an orphanage in China specializing in cleft palate and lip repair and recovery. Students had the opportunity to “pluck a feather” from the “Giving Turkey” posted in either the MSHC waiting room or therapy hallway. Each feather contained a task of either a monetary donation or goods for the orphanage to care for these special babies.

 

Laurel Lynch, a supervisor and lecturer, traveled to the orphanage over Thanksgiving on a medical mission trip to bring these donations. Each feather with donations was “plucked” from the turkey within a week. [See “The Benefits of the Giving Turkey” elsewhere in this newsletter.]