CSD Students Present at ASHA National Convention

Poster named one of 10 best

By Ryan Clark

CHS Communications Director

Students in the College of Health Sciences’ Communication Sciences and Disorders program presented research at the recent American Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention, and an undergraduate poster was named one of the 10 best.

CSD undergraduates Katie Kielman, Elly Head, Sydney Clayton, Chloe Drake, Gina Huber and Megan Simmons; mentored by Mary Jo Cooley Hidecker, PhD, MA, MS, CCC-A/SLP; Judith Page, PhD, CCC-SLP, FASHA, FNAP; Pat Kitzman, PT, PhD; and recent master’s graduate Sara Elise Craig, presented the poster, “MakerSpace: Making AAC Keyguards, Switches, & Battery Interrupters,” at the National Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in Boston Nov. 17.

The poster was one of 10 posters receiving the highest scores from the Convention Program Committee, resulting in a waiver of their Convention registration. They participated in ASHA’s PROGEGNY program which highlights undergraduate research.

Their poster explained how 3D printing can make needed augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) modification more affordable. Other co-authors included current HHS undergraduate Megan Cerar as well as 2023 spring graduates Sarah Deaton, Elias Dominguez, Natalie Huseman, Catherine Kremer, and Ashleigh Mounkes.

Craig Presents Master’s Thesis

A convention poster by UK All About Communication Lab CSD research students was also presented at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association convention.

Sara Elise Craig, recent CSD master’s degree graduate and new speech-language pathologist at UK Pediatric Therapies at the Child Development Center of the Bluegrass, presented her master’s thesis as a convention poster, “Scoping Review on Eye-Gaze as an Access Method for Augmentative and Alternative Communication,” at the National Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in Boston Nov. 18. 

Other co-presenters included 2023 spring graduates Ashleigh Mounkes and current CSD undergraduates Elly Head, Madeline Ritchie, and Katie Kielman. Co-authors were CSD faculty Mary Jo Cooley Hidecker, PhD, MA, MS, CCC-A/SLP; and Judith Page, PhD, CCC-SLP, FASHA, FNAP; along with the Human Development Institute’s Jacqueline Kearns.

Congratulations to all!