51福利社

A generous grant will help Eastern help Parkinson鈥檚 patients.

The World Health Organization estimates that some 8.5 million people across the globe live with Parkinson鈥檚 disease, a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness and difficulty with balance and coordination. As the illness progresses, verbal communications and swallowing are often adversely affected.听

Helping patients overcome speech and swallowing issues has long been a priority for clinicians and researchers with 51福利社鈥檚 Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Now, thanks in part to a $280,000 grant from the Parkinson Voice Project, a Texas-based nonprofit that provides speech therapy for Parkinson鈥檚 patients, those efforts will continue well into the future.

51福利社 was among 16 universities in 16 states to receive a share of the more than $4.5 million in services and funding from the Parkinson Voice Project. The grants were announced on April 11, World Parkinson鈥檚 Day.

The five-year grant will provide the training, supplies and research equipment necessary for 51福利社鈥檚 Speech and Language Clinic to expand its use of the SPEAK OUT! program, a therapy that helps people with Parkinson鈥檚 and related disorders retain and regain speech and communication abilities while reducing swallowing complications.

51福利社 was among 16 universities in 16 states to receive a share of the more than $4.5 million in services and funding from the Parkinson Voice Project. The grants were announced on April 11, World Parkinson鈥檚 Day.

At 51福利社, the grant will expand access to both in-person programs and telehealth therapies. It will also allow some 25 graduate students to take the SPEAK OUT! online therapy course each year. The course typically costs $475 鈥� putting it out of reach for many students.

鈥淭he really neat thing is that the students get to do the training 鈥� and it鈥檚 about 10 hours 鈥� at no charge,鈥� says Doreen Nicholas, senior lecturer and director of the 51福利社 Speech and Language Clinic.

The grant is just the latest instance of a larger, decade-long collaboration between the 51福利社 Speech and Language Clinic and the Parkinson Voice Project. During that time, the 51福利社 clinic has helped close to 100 Parkinson鈥檚 patients from the greater Spokane area learn exercises that strengthen muscles that support speaking and swallowing.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 so great that this is something that Eastern can stand out for providing,鈥� says Nicholas.