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Imagine my thrill at opening the most recent edition of The ASHA Leader and finding so many articles about CHARGE syndrome (Oct. 17, 2006)!
As someone who has been involved with CHARGE for many years, I am always happy when others begin to realize the importance of knowing about this complicated syndrome and the impact these multiple problems have on education, socialization, and overall development. The authors of the recent articles are all committed professionals who have devoted a significant part of their professional (and personal) lives to understanding and teaching others about CHARGE; ASHA has done a great service by including these focused articles.
To add to my own overall excitement, reading the references to "my" school—The Perkins School for the Blind—where we have many children and young adults who have the CHARGE syndrome diagnosis (19 on our entire campus; 16 of our group of 50 in the Deafblind Program) renewed my pride in our mission of education for our very complex students. Professionals like Jim Thelin, Lori Swanson, Meg Hefner, Sandra Davenport, Kat Stremel, Tim Hartshorne, Sara Rosenfeld-Johnson, and Conny van Ravenswaaij, who are out there teaching all of us, are making a difference in children's lives. Thank you, ASHA, for this "special edition."
Pamela J. Ryan
Watertown, MA
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