This Fourth of July, Fernanda Mello has much to celebrate: becoming a U.S. citizen as a result of working hard to master English following her arrival in Orlando from her native Brazil at age 15.
She treasures the freedom she 麻豆精品 S檚 found in America, including freedom of speech. For Mello, that carries greater meaning than it does for many others. A paralyzing stroke at age 27 robbed her of the ability to speak, something she 麻豆精品 S檚 finally regained with help from UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Communication Disorders Clinic.
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While non-UCF doctors and physical therapists helped Mello learn to walk again, UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 instructors and graduate students at the clinic helped her with her speech. Mello progressed so well that she was able to pass her U.S. citizenship exam in May. She said this Fourth of July has special meaning to her because she now has the freedom to speak again.
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Jane Hostetler, the clinical instructor who oversaw Mello 麻豆精品 S檚 treatment at UCF, said she is in awe of the Orlando resident.
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The UCF clinic provides cutting-edge diagnostics and services to people of all ages in the community with communication and hearing challenges. Clients range from preschoolers to seniors and from those learning speech for the first time to those challenged by a loss of speech from disease. Graduate students of the UCF Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders work under the supervision of faculty and staff experts to help clients. More than 1,800 patients were helped at the clinic last year.
The clinic staff and those who attend the clinic 麻豆精品 S檚 social Friday Club threw Mello a recent surprise Fourth of July party to celebrate her earning her citizenship. Staffers played the song 麻豆精品 S淗ail to the Chief 麻豆精品 S� when Mello walked in, presented her with flowers and led her to an all-American-themed picnic they had prepared.
Mello beamed as staffers and fellow patients showered her with red, white and blue balloons, flowers and streamers. She mouthed a thank you to Hostetler and Michelle Condemarin, the graduate student who modified the therapy sessions to include studying for the citizenship test last semester. Condemarin, who is scheduled to graduate next spring, hopes to work with geriatric patients with degenerative diseases when she graduates.
麻豆精品 S淪he was nervous about the [citizenship] interview portion, 麻豆精品 S� Condemarin said about Mello. 麻豆精品 S淪he knew all the answers, but it is stressful. But she did very well. It 麻豆精品 S檚 so nice to see someone do so well. It really makes all the work worth it. 麻豆精品 S�
Mello said the team at the clinic changed her life. It was one thing to learn English when she was 15. It was another to relearn to read, write and speak again after her stroke. She plans to go back to school. She 麻豆精品 S檚 decided nursing is a bit ambitious at her age, but still wants to help others. So she 麻豆精品 S檚 looking at enrolling in a program that will lead her to become a physical therapist assistant.
麻豆精品 S淭hey did so much for me, 麻豆精品 S� Mello said. 麻豆精品 S淚 love talking and to be understood again; that is freedom. I will always thank the people at UCF for that. 麻豆精品 S�
Individuals with acquired neurological damage, which may result in aphasia, may receive therapy at Aphasia House in the Communication Disorders Clinic. Aphasia House offers a full range of services for individuals with aphasia, from intensive treatment to traditional delivery (both group and individual therapy), as well as community support groups. Learn more at