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I read the article in the Dec. 26, 2006, issue about Western Carolina University's Communication Disorders Program in Severe Disabilities. Until now I was unaware of its existence.
I have spent my entire career (more than 30 years) as an SLP working with children and adults with severe disabilities in intermediate care facilities for mental retardation/developmental disabilities, group homes, day programs, schools, hippotherapy, and aquatic therapy. I am an offsite supervisor for interns for Nova Southeastern University and Florida International University. My interns report that they get very little classroom training in severe disabilities and many have no idea what to expect when they meet my clients. My adult clients range from mild to profound MR, but many also have CP, autism, OCD, deaf/blindness, SI deficits, complex medical conditions, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder.
Treatment ranges from pragmatics, to AAC, to dysphagia, with everything in between. My interns are usually overwhelmed initially, but by the end of the semester, they love it. They learn to work as part of an interdisciplinary team and I also require them to attend my direct support staff trainings.
Many interns know nothing about positioning for mealtime and have never pushed a wheelchair before. Most tell me they would never have considered working with this population until participating in this internship experience. I have even hired some of them after graduation!
There is such a need for training in this area, and I am so sad to hear that this is the final year of funding. I'd love to have been involved.
Ellen Garrett
Miami Shores, Florida
ellengarrett@mac.com
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