To better understand Assistant Professor Hamzeh Ghasemzadeh and his work, he goes back to a childhood memory of broken toys. Within hours of receiving little robotic figures or remote-control cars, he 麻豆精品 S檇 dissembled what had once been a carefully crafted package of technology. To him, sitting among the remnants of a new gift meant he was sitting in a circle of fun.

麻豆精品 S淢y favorite game was to take the toys apart to see how they work and then try to put them back together, 麻豆精品 S� Ghasemzadeh says. 麻豆精品 S淢y parents saw my curiosity as a great thing. 麻豆精品 S�

“This is why I came to UCF. I 麻豆精品 S檝e been able to jump right in and address mysteries that haven 麻豆精品 S檛 received much attention.”

That same curiosity now drives his research at , where he seeks to take apart discomforted voices, figuratively, so he can develop strategies to make each one whole again. Ghasemzadeh, who joined UCF in late Summer 2025 and will teach in the school 麻豆精品 S檚 newly launched , has already secured one research project funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is developing another.

麻豆精品 S淭his is why I came to UCF, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e been able to jump right in and address mysteries that haven 麻豆精品 S檛 received much attention until now. 麻豆精品 S�

A Common Problem Without Clear Answers

The first such mystery sounds quite straightforward: vocal fatigue, a common vocal complaint. Beneath the surface, however, it 麻豆精品 S檚 deceptive. Solutions have mostly evaded scientists, leaving vocal fatigue as an ongoing problem for many people who rely on their voices, like coaches, public speakers, singers and teachers. Many of Ghasemzadeh 麻豆精品 S檚 colleagues experience the very throat discomfort that he 麻豆精品 S檚 deconstructing during the funded project just underway.

“We want to collect … multi-modal data and use machine learning models to analyze [vocal fatigue] and develop recommendations for each person.”

麻豆精品 S淪ome instructors get vocal fatigue quickly, some get it slowly and some don 麻豆精品 S檛 get it at all, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淭here 麻豆精品 S檚 a genetic component, but there are also behavioral components. How do they use their voice? How often do they use it? What about the environment where they 麻豆精品 S檙e using it? What about personality? We want to collect such comprehensive multi-modal data and use machine learning models to analyze it and develop recommendations for each person. 麻豆精品 S�

The recommendations might include pacing voice usage, projecting the voice efficiently and allowing the voice to recover. Ghasemzadeh envisions this model being predictive and 麻豆精品 S� this is the part he stresses most 麻豆精品 S� personalized.

麻豆精品 S淭he approach to general medicine started with an assumption that while we 麻豆精品 S檙e different on the outside, we are very similar inside. Patients with similar ailments took the same medications and [the] same dosages. But we now know that people don 麻豆精品 S檛 always respond to pills the same way. If we can quantify how we 麻豆精品 S檙e different inside, we can create a computational model to predict responses to medications and optimize treatment plans. 麻豆精品 S�

To integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into vocal fatigue solutions, subjects in Ghasemzadeh 麻豆精品 S檚 study will wear sensors that track how and where they use their voices. He 麻豆精品 S檒l prompt them to perform specific vocal tasks and monitor their phonatory function throughout the day. The AI model will analyze these patterns in real time to identify early signs of vocal strain and predict when fatigue is likely to occur.

“We are different. Every prescribed solution should be different, too.”

Participants will also visit his lab at the in Central Florida Research Park, where specialists will collect imaging, aerodynamic and acoustic data. The highly equipped facility brings together America 麻豆精品 S檚 leading hearing and voice scientists to develop new technologies and clinical tools for people with hearing loss or voice disorders.

With all of that in hand, including the technology, Ghasemzadeh and his team hope to unwind the mystery of vocal fatigue 麻豆精品 S� one person at a time.

麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 the idea I want to put forward with every project, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淲e are different. Every prescribed solution should be different, too. 麻豆精品 S�

From Engineering to Human Connection

Many would think a toy-reassembling boy is destined to become an engineer. That 麻豆精品 S檚 what Ghasemzadeh thought, too. He earned bachelor 麻豆精品 S檚 and master 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in electrical engineering and began his career with a focus on telecommunications and signal processing.

麻豆精品 S淭here was something important missing, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淗uman connection. 麻豆精品 S�

“Speech became my research interest because … it sets us apart as a species and as individuals.”

He crossed paths with a close friend who mentioned his own research in a field Ghasemzadeh was vaguely familiar with: communication sciences and disorders. The conversation sparked Ghasemzadeh’s enthusiasm for applying his expertise in areas such as signal processing to personally help others.

麻豆精品 S淪peech became my research interest because it 麻豆精品 S檚 the signal we predominantly use to communicate, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淚t sets us apart as a species and as individuals. 麻豆精品 S�

For example, it 麻豆精品 S檚 quite easy to identify Ghasemzadeh without even seeing him. He sounds young yet intelligent enough to have dual doctoral degrees. There 麻豆精品 S檚 an inflection of humility in his voice. The curiosity is always there, too. In fact, his peers have noticed, from his work, what his parents noticed among his broken toys: his curiosity leading to great things. Shortly after arriving at UCF, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association chose Ghasemzadeh for its Early Career Contributions in Research Award.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 also a reminder that I 麻豆精品 S檓 early in my career, 麻豆精品 S� he says, 麻豆精品 S渁nd the sky is the limit. 麻豆精品 S�

At the center of his work as a principal investigator is a belief that progress doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 happen alone, but through teamwork.

麻豆精品 S淵ou have to surround yourself with different skillsets, all of us willing to take things apart that have never been taken apart, with everyone focused on one goal, 麻豆精品 S� Ghasemzadeh says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen you win, I win and everyone wins. 麻豆精品 S�

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health under award number R00DC021235. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Shelves, cabinets and bins are stocked with a wide range of technology, tools and gadgets. A visitor to the center will see hundreds of products that range from specially designed kitchen equipment and gardening tools to computerized utensils, iPads and adaptive gaming consoles. There 麻豆精品 S檚 a robotic feeding device compatible with switches that enables users with physical disabilities to independently feed themselves and a Control Bionics wearable system that empowers a person with limited movement to use small muscle contractions to accomplish activities of daily living through electromyography (EMG).

There are also a wide range of traditional building tools and a set of 3D printers always at the ready for the faculty and students employed at the facility 麻豆精品 S斅犅爐he Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) Center 麻豆精品 S� to modify and personalize 麻豆精品 S渙ut of the box 麻豆精品 S� products to meet the specific needs of individual clients with their communication, recreation, transportation and activities of daily living.

This year is the 20th anniversary of the center, which has aided thousands of children, seniors and families by connecting them with assistive devices; trained caregivers and future clinicians; and served as a key partner in research initiatives designed to find long-term gains in the application of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

The聽FAAST聽Center is led by highly experienced speech-language pathologists and faculty researchers in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, all of whom are certified as Assistive Technology Professionals: Senior Associate Dean Jennifer Kent-Walsh, Associate Instructor聽Carolyn Buchanan 麻豆精品 S�12惭础, Senior Instructor Nancy Harrington, and Instructor 笔耻苍补尘听Desormes 麻豆精品 S�02.

Their shared聽goal: improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

Connecting Clients with聽Assistive Technology

One of 12 Regional Demonstration Centers in Florida, the UCF FAAST Center has an Assistive Technology Equipment Loan program that offers an easily accessible way for individuals with disabilities, their family members, service providers and other caregivers from Brevard, Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties to test different types of Assistive Technology (AT) at no cost. The program includes an interlibrary loan system that lends an average of more than 600 items a year and can tap into a statewide inventory of 6,500 AT devices. The center serves clients of all ages, helping people with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries, autism, Down syndrome and other conditions to increase their independence.

Most often, the FAAST Center loans AT devices that help with communication, cognition, recreation, and activities of daily living. Popular supports are communication-related items like tablets and mounts that help position equipment on a bed, chair or table, switches that make it possible to turn things on and off, and 3D-printed key guards 麻豆精品 S� protective overlays for keyboards that have openings to help users with limited motor skills press keys.

Clients come to the center to test out AT devices for ongoing personal use, to acquire devices for particular events or activities, or to borrow a device to use while a primary device is pending repair or funding.

Strong relationships within the community have allowed the center to reach a large number of families. The Center connects with clients through community events and networking with healthcare providers, as well as partnerships with organizations such as the Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida, and Early Steps, a Florida Department of Health program that offers services for infants at-risk for developmental disabilities.

麻豆精品 S淭he work of our center is driven by service to our community.” 麻豆精品 S斅� Carolyn Buchanan 麻豆精品 S�12惭础, associate instructor

麻豆精品 S淭he work of our center is driven by service to our community. All our projects 麻豆精品 S� whether through FAAST or the AAC Lab 麻豆精品 S� are designed with input from people with disabilities, their families, and the providers that work with them, 麻豆精品 S� Buchanan says. 麻豆精品 S淲hether it 麻豆精品 S檚 creating solutions to problems that have not yet been solved, or providing more robust treatment options, our collaborators inform everything we do. This creates a unique opportunity in our region for both our students and our community members. 麻豆精品 S�

Adapting Devices

The聽center has a聽Maker聽Space聽equipped with soldering irons, laminators, two 3D printers and more,聽to make everyday equipment accessible.

Recently, a parent of a child with fine motor impairments was searching for the types of handles most often found on cups for young children. As her child aged, the small cups were no longer appropriate, but they were unable to locate options with that style of water bottles used by older children. The Maker Space created prototypes and then custom fabricated modifications using 3D printers, ultimately leading to a solution both age appropriate and accessible.

Students serving with the Aphasia Family, a support group for people with the communication disorder, contacted FAAST when they were organizing a crocheting event for their members but were not sure how to make it accessible to those with challenges with dexterity and range of motion. A FAAST team member worked with them to fabricate a custom stand that enabled everyone to participate.

The center frequently uses switches to access toys, like musical instruments, dolls and toy vehicles.聽聽Switches enable a person with physical, cognitive or motor limitations to physically access and manipulate a device, whether that 麻豆精品 S檚 by physical touch, voice or blinking.

The center employs a doctoral student from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and often collaborates with the Society for Women Engineers and Engineering Without Borders to host events like adapt-a-thons.

麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 about matching clients to the equipment, providing training, and enabling engagement in activities of their choice, 麻豆精品 S� Harrington says. 麻豆精品 S淥ur focus is helping people reach their potential for participation, well-being, and health with the support of these devices. 麻豆精品 S�

Providing聽Caregiver Education and Training

The center is a hub not just for lending and modifying AT, but also for providing comprehensive training so products can be used efficiently and adjusted as needed. Over the last 10 years, more than 41,600 clients, caregivers and clinicians have received training at the center as well as at community events and on-site in places like schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and support groups.

Over the last 10 years, more than 41,600 clients, caregivers and clinicians have received training at the center, community events and on-site workshops.

There 麻豆精品 S檚 a strong relationship with hundreds of community clinicians 麻豆精品 S� speech-language pathologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists and teachers of the visually impaired 麻豆精品 S� all of whom benefit from the center 麻豆精品 S檚 resources and expertise.

The center is physically located adjacent to the Communications Disorders Clinic, the Aphasia House, and the Rehabilitation Innovation Center, which houses a Smart Apartment outfitted with technology used to demonstrate how a home can be adapted for safety and better navigation.

Inside the Smart Apartment, visitors can find rolling mounts, voice-activated appliances, and fall detection devices. The center supports multiple clients who have tested the Smart Apartment 麻豆精品 S檚 capabilities, along with eye and head tracking technology provided by the center, to explore new tools to make everyday living easier. The co-location of these specialized services is helpful for families and caregivers.

麻豆精品 S淲e recognize that transportation for services can be challenging for this population, but we 麻豆精品 S檙e unique in the way that people can come to us for both clinical services and assistive technology, 麻豆精品 S� Harrington says.

Shaping the聽Future

Over the last two decades, faculty researchers in the center have secured more than $5.2 million for 18 projects tied to developing new assistive technology interventions.

Kent-Walsh is the principal investigator for an NIH-funded聽grant that will build upon her team 麻豆精品 S檚 two decades of work to provide clinicians with evidence-based assessment and intervention options to help children develop language skills through AAC technologies. The clinical trial underway explores how using these technologies, coupled with tailored speech language therapy, can help preschool children with communication challenges improve their expressive language skills.

Earlier this year,聽Buchanan and聽Assistant Professor Julie Feuerstein were awarded a $100,000 grant from the WITH Foundation聽.

The holographic library will improve training for students and healthcare professionals by providing cases of first-hand experiences from people who use augmentative and alternative communication who will share their preferences and priorities related to accessing high- quality healthcare.

In addition to this grant, Buchanan is also the principal investigator on another grant through the VentureWell Foundation that 麻豆精品 S檚 building new curricular and co-curricular opportunities focusing on healthcare technology innovation for students. Partnering with Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs Bari Hoffman 麻豆精品 S�96听 麻豆精品 S�98MA聽and Clinical Associate Professor聽Jennifer Tucker 麻豆精品 S�23笔丑顿聽in the Division of Physical Therapy, students are gaining new opportunities to learn from industry leaders and to聽participate聽in developing novel technological solutions to human-centered design challenges.

Preparing聽Tomorrow 麻豆精品 S檚聽Healthcare Providers

Graduate students聽studying聽communication sciences and disorders are exposed to the extensive library of AT and often tap into the center 麻豆精品 S檚 resources to support clients they are aiding in their clinical service, whether at the adjacent Communication Disorders Clinic or at sites in the community.

麻豆精品 S淭his hands-on training provides students with critical knowledge and skills to serve as advocates and supports for clients in healthcare and educational settings across the country and well beyond. 麻豆精品 S澛� 麻豆精品 S斅� Jennifer Kent-Walsh, CHPS Senior Associate Dean

A student working to become a speech-language pathologist may borrow an augmentative and alternative communication device, or a hearing or voice amplifier from the center 麻豆精品 S檚 inventory when working with a patient in a session. A student serving at the Aphasia House may check out a cognitive aid, like a medication reminder device. Students also learn to conduct comprehensive AAC and AT assessments and treatment plans under the supervision of licensed speech-language pathologists.

麻豆精品 S淭he center has a far-reaching ripple effect in preparing the next generation of clinicians caring for clients with disabilities and a wide range of assistive technology needs, 麻豆精品 S� Kent-Walsh says. 麻豆精品 S淧ower is not only in teaching the students to use the equipment, but in providing them with direct service-delivery experience. This hands-on training provides students with critical knowledge and skills to serve as advocates and supports for clients in healthcare and educational settings across the country and well beyond. 麻豆精品 S�

The inductees and their respective academies are: Interim Dean Matthew Theriot (Social Work), Associate Dean of Research Jennifer Kent-Walsh (Speech-Language Pathology), Department of Health Sciences Chair Gail Kauwell (Nutrition and Dietetics), Director for the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders Ann Eddins (Audiology), Associate Professor Nicole Dawson (Physical Therapy), Clinical Associate Professor Carey Rothschild (Physical Therapy) and Assistant Professor Susanny Beltran (Social Work). The honors were bestowed at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 15.

Prior to his appointment as interim dean, Theriot served as the director of the School of Social Work where he implemented a professional and community education program, grew interprofessional research opportunities, and elevated the school 麻豆精品 S檚 graduate rankings. As the interim dean, he provides leadership to the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Department of Health Sciences, the School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the School of Social Work. Theriot 麻豆精品 S檚 career includes more than two decades of higher education teaching and research coupled with years of executive leadership roles centered around implementing strategic initiatives. He previously worked as a school social worker, mobile crisis counselor and child welfare worker. Theriot is active in professional service on a national level, chairing the Council on Social Work Education 麻豆精品 S檚 Commission on Membership and Professional Development.

Kent-Walsh is a Pegasus Professor and the associate dean of research and faculty excellence within CHPS, the director of the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology Center and leads the Assistive Technology Center Lab. Kent-Walsh has earned more than two dozen awards and accolades for excellence in teaching, service, research and innovation during her more than 20-year career in higher education and has worked extensively in interdisciplinary teaching and clinical roles. A highly accomplished researcher, she has secured millions in funding to further her research which focuses on aided language development and augmentative and alternative communication, has presented her work extensively nationally and internationally, and has led a variety of initiatives in the college to advance interdisciplinary research and practice.

An experienced educator, researcher and registered dietician nutritionist with more than four decades of experience in academia focused on nutrition and dietetics education and practice, Kauwell has served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Sciences for the last six years. Her mentoring skills and passion for educating future healthcare professionals have been recognized with multiple awards for teaching and mentoring excellence. Her research record, which focuses on folate and vitamin B12, has been published in top-ranked journals with findings translated into materials for healthcare professionals and consumers. Kauwell most recently spearheaded the development of the department 麻豆精品 S檚 first graduate program, the master 麻豆精品 S檚 in health promotion and behavioral sciences.

Eddins, a professor and the director of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, has more than 30 years of academic and leadership experience in the field. She is a clinical audiologist and classically trained neuroscientist who has centered her clinical and research interests on neural encoding, neural plasticity aging and rehabilitative intervention 麻豆精品 S� working to better understand the neural bases of auditory perception in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired individuals. Her research has been continuously funded by the NIH, NSF, private industry and foundations. Eddins is also a leader on a national level, serving as past President of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences & Disorders and on the Board of Directors and journal editor for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Dawson has been involved with interprofessional education, practice and research throughout her 22-year career. An associate professor in the Division of Physical Therapy and director of the Aging and Longevity Initiatives for Vitality & Enrichment Lab, Dawson 麻豆精品 S檚 clinical work and research has centered around healthy aging and improving the quality of life for seniors. She is a Board Certified Geriatric Physical Therapist Emeritus who has been recognized by both the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy and the American Physical Therapy Association for her outstanding work as an educator. She holds an appointment with UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Faculty Cluster Initiative in Disability, Aging and Technology, an interdisciplinary collaboration that explores innovations to better support aging populations.

A clinical associate professor in the Division of Physical Therapy, Rothschild is a board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy and orthopedic physical therapy, a certified strength and conditioning specialist and a Menopause Society certified practitioner. Her areas of interest are determining best practices for the assessment and treatment of persistent pain to improve the health of patients. Rothschild has more than 25 years of clinical practice experience, collaborating with interprofessional and intraprofessional teams to deliver cost-effective, collaborative and patient-centered care to those with chronic pain. She has been recognized nationally for her teaching excellence, and recently helped lead the implementation of a new Women 麻豆精品 S檚 Health Physical Therapy Residency program in conjunction with Orlando Health. She also serves as editor in chief of the prominent publication Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Practice.

Beltran, an assistant professor in the School of Social Work and a co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health Research and Training is committed to fostering interdisciplinary education and research in social change and development. Her expertise is in gerontological social work and her research concentrates on end-of-life care, advance care planning and challenges that may come with working in hospice and nursing home settings. Beltran aims to enhance collaborative practice in the care of older adults and improve access and navigation of end-of-life care for older adults while preparing social workers for effective practice in interdisciplinary settings.

The NAP Academies also include dentistry, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, psychology, respiratory care and veterinary medicine.

These faculty members join four CHPS faculty previously inducted into the NAP. In 2023, 听补苍诲听, and in 2024, Clinical Associate Professors Laurie Neely and Jennifer Tucker 麻豆精品 S�23 were inducted in physical therapy.

Supported by a five-year, $1.25 million personnel preparation award from the ED, Project ASD 7 aims to increase the number of fully credentialed special education teachers and speech-language pathologists in the workforce. The and the 麻豆精品 S� both housed within the College of Community Innovation and Education 麻豆精品 S� is partnering with the UCF in the to facilitate preparing scholars to do just that.

麻豆精品 S淭his project is a collaborative grant that continues the work of Project ASD 6, 麻豆精品 S� says , associate director of the TJEEI and principal investigator for the project. 麻豆精品 S淲ith this new funding, 46 scholars will be supported as they complete their master 麻豆精品 S檚 degrees in either exceptional student education or while working together to earn the graduate certificate in ASD. 麻豆精品 S�

The graduate certificate in ASD consists of four courses that constitute the requirements for endorsement by the state of Florida. By incorporating these requirements into both degree programs, Project ASD 7 ensures students in both disciplines receive state endorsement.

Since January 2004, various iterations of Project ASD have addressed the critical need for special educators who serve school-age children identified with intellectual disabilities and emotional disorders. The program provides funding for up to 36 credit hours and has seen over 600 graduates to date.

Qualified special education personnel are in high demand. The Florida Department of Education ranked autism second on its list of teacher certification shortage areas for the 2022-23 school year. A 2024 USDoE report shows 49 of 50 states reporting insufficient numbers of special education teachers and speech-language pathologists. Additionally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national employment rate for speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 19% from 2022 to 2032 麻豆精品 S� much faster than average.

, associate professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and co-principal investigator of the project, reiterates the need for trained and credentialed specialists. She says this latest version of Project ASD is especially exciting due to its focus on increasing the number of specialists.

The central benefit of the program is its interdisciplinary structure. With a strong focus on collaboration, the project prepares scholars to work with professionals in different areas of specialization. Schaffer says this approach not only reflects the daily reality in the field but also has a positive effect on individuals with ASD.

麻豆精品 S淏y building interdisciplinary collaboration, we develop strong skillsets so that teams who support people with ASD can work together more effectively, 麻豆精品 S� Schaffer says. 麻豆精品 S淎 team consists of multiple professionals providing a variety of services 麻豆精品 S� this might include a psychologist, a speech-language pathologist, a behavior analyst and an educator. Working together with a common goal for a child is the best way to set that child up for success. 麻豆精品 S�

Towson adds that interprofessional education and practice is essential to working as a special education teacher or speech-language pathologist.

麻豆精品 S淧roject ASD gives our students the opportunity to learn with and from each other to provide better outcomes for the children and families they will serve in the future, 麻豆精品 S� Towson says.

, assistant professor in the School of Teacher Education, joins Schaffer and Towson as a new co-principal investigator for the project. Park, an expert in training special education teachers, says she is thrilled to collaborate with colleagues in a variety of fields to prepare educators to support students with ASD.

麻豆精品 S淧roject ASD 7 will provide teachers and speech-language pathologists with rigorous, evidence-based instructional practices that will be more accessible for students. Our hope is that by increasing the quality of training for teachers and speech pathologists, we will empower students with ASD to realize their full potential, 麻豆精品 S� Park says.

The project offers a wealth of valuable advantages. Enrolled students are eligible to receive a scholarship of $250 per course. They may also attend state and national conferences and complete internships with UCF-affiliated schools, organizations and educational agencies in the Central Florida region. To help scholars integrate coursework and field experiences, the program uniquely incorporates the use of mentor demonstration sites via live seminars, synchronous and asynchronous online presentations, and video streaming.

In addition to these short-term benefits, Park and the other members of the project also foresee long-term benefits to local educational communities, as program participants take their new knowledge and share it with fellow special educators and the families of students with disabilities to promote a more inclusive learning environment.

Many students and graduates consider Project ASD instrumental in shaping their career path. Kyra Liebertz, a current scholar, says her drive to become an effective and knowledgeable speech-language pathologist motivated her to apply.

麻豆精品 S淭he opportunity to specialize in autism studies aligned perfectly with my professional goals, 麻豆精品 S� Liebertz says. 麻豆精品 S淭hrough coursework and hands-on experiences, I 麻豆精品 S檝e developed skills in assessment, intervention planning and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Joining Project ASD has inspired me to pursue a career in high-needs schools. 麻豆精品 S�

Going forward, Schaffer is confident Project ASD will continue to meet the needs of the workforce and provide scholars with the optimal training necessary to excel in their careers.

Those wanting to learn more about Project ASD and how to get involved should reach out to projectasd@ucf.edu.

The irony is obvious. Awan is a speech scientist. Through research, he helps speech pathologists improve clinical services for people with speech disorders. His momentary vocal discomfort creates an opening to discuss 麻豆精品 S� and simplify 麻豆精品 S� his most recent groundbreaking work.

麻豆精品 S淏eing hoarse isn 麻豆精品 S檛 necessarily a problem unless it persists for more than two weeks, 麻豆精品 S� Awan says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen it disrupts daily life beyond an irritation, medical referral and potential speech pathology services come into play. The goal of my research is to help speech pathologists more easily determine the 麻豆精品 S榳hy 麻豆精品 S� regarding voice disorders. 麻豆精品 S�

With his current research, Awan and his team can literally hear the future of speech pathology. They can see the future, too. In fact, Awan can hold it in the palm of his hand. For more than 30 years, the research professor in UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 School of Communication Sciences and Disorders has focused his lifelong interest in acoustics and his expertise in voice evaluation to find the root causes of communication disorders that affect as many as one in ten people in the U.S. One of the unsolved problems in voice-disorder assessments enticed him out of retirement so he could pursue a simple solution, this time with a $3.12 million dollar grant funded by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and a team of six interdisciplinary researchers from three universities.

Today, Awan and his team believe they have an answer: a whistle. Not a cumbersome costly machine, but a vortex whistle small enough to fit into a shirt pocket. In its final form, it will be biodegradable, disposable, and affordable. It will have no moving parts and doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 need to be powered. Awan envisions the whistles being as readily available as a bag of dental-floss picks. Accompanying software that captures and analyzes the vortex whistle tone completes the system.

He also sees them changing lives, soon.

麻豆精品 S淥ur version of the vortex whistle addresses a widely known deficit that speech pathologists deal with in terms of accurately assessing voice-disordered patients, 麻豆精品 S� Awan says.

To uncomplicate the picture, he compares the evaluation of voice to the evaluation of vision. 麻豆精品 S淚magine if your optometrist said, 麻豆精品 S榃e really should do one other test to make sure we 麻豆精品 S檙e on the right track with your prescription 麻豆精品 S� but we don 麻豆精品 S檛 have the equipment because it 麻豆精品 S檚 too expensive. 麻豆精品 S� That 麻豆精品 S檚 the scenario what we want to change in speech pathology. 麻豆精品 S�

Voice production, Awan says, combines the physical laryngeal component (the 麻豆精品 S渧oice box 麻豆精品 S�) with respiratory airflow. To properly assess and treat patients with voice disorders, four key areas need to be measured:

1. Perceptual analysis. 麻豆精品 S淭he therapist listens to the patient, describes the voice and categorizes it. This requires training but no additional instrumentation. 麻豆精品 S�
2. Visual analysis. 麻豆精品 S淚mages of vocal folds, often referred to as 麻豆精品 S榲ocal cords 麻豆精品 S�, are obtained by a laryngologist or an associated professional under the supervision of a laryngologist). 麻豆精品 S�
3. Acoustic analysis. 麻豆精品 S淭he acoustic signal is recorded and analyzed for measurements related to a potential voice difference and the severity of the problem. Almost all speech/voice clinicians have access to a computer, microphone and analysis software capable of doing this type of measurement. 麻豆精品 S�

And that leads to number four, the critical link that 麻豆精品 S檚 usually missing.

麻豆精品 S淎erodynamics, 麻豆精品 S� Awan says. 麻豆精品 S淲hen you produce voice, the vocal folds vibrate because of air coming up from the lungs. The voice is dependent on the respiratory system 麻豆精品 S檚 capacity and ability to generate air flow and pressure. If there 麻豆精品 S檚 a deficit in producing or controlling respiratory forces, the voice is often affected. There could be an underlying neurological problem, or a medical issue like asthma or COPD that may require medical treatment or voice therapy. Until now, the respiratory element in speech has been overlooked because there 麻豆精品 S檚 been no low-cost, accurate, available method to measure aerodynamics. This vortex whistle, with easy-to-use software, will make it possible in a day-to-day clear-cut fashion. 麻豆精品 S�

Awan talks about how this project came about.

麻豆精品 S淭his all started at a voice disorder conference, 麻豆精品 S� he says. 麻豆精品 S淧eople were discussing the fact there were no low-cost tools to measure aerodynamics as it relates to voice. In my mind, I knew there must be something out there that could be reimagined. 麻豆精品 S�

Awan, the speech scientist who once thought following his graduate work in the U.S. that he might return to his childhood home in London, Ontario, Canada, to pursue a career in music, used his knowledge in acoustics to consider a few ideas. A flute? A referee 麻豆精品 S檚 whistle?

麻豆精品 S淣either of them produces a sound specifically related to the amount of air flow going into them, 麻豆精品 S� Awan says. 麻豆精品 S淭hen I became aware of the vortex whistle. It has no moving parts. Air enters the cylinder, which forces the air to spiral and exert pressure against the walls of the cylinder before exiting. This creates a signal that has a pitch and frequency that are directly proportional to the amount of air flowing into the whistle. That 麻豆精品 S檚 the principle. 麻豆精品 S�

The frequency of the vortex whistle sound wave can then be converted to measurements of airflow and volume.

The vortex whistle 麻豆精品 S檚 potential is why Awan took up his friend and colleague, UCF Professor David Eddins, on an offer to unretire, form a team, and work toward applying the science. The NIDCD-funded grant has accelerated the progress. At Purdue, his son, Jordan Awan, leads data analysis while aerodynamics engineer Jun Chen works on modifications of the whistle for specific tasks. At Emory University, Amanda Gillespie conducts studies with voice disordered human subjects. And at UCF, Awan, Eddins and Assistant Professor Victoria McKenna have access to lab space built to spec in the Communication Technologies Research Center in the UCF Innovative Center 麻豆精品 S� sound-treated booths, an anechoic chamber and a reception area for subjects participating in tests. In the same building are a speech and hearing clinic and capabilities for 3D printing and simulation.

麻豆精品 S淔or the vortex whistle to be ready for use, its construction has to be very precise, 麻豆精品 S� Awan says. 麻豆精品 S淚t also requires software development to accurately capture and analyze a somewhat difficult soundwave. We 麻豆精品 S檙e getting close. 麻豆精品 S�

The Journal of Voice has already published the study from Awan 麻豆精品 S檚 team as an award-winning cover story. Since then, various versions of the whistle have been computer-modeled and 3D printed. The modifications are being tested in the first of three large-scale human subject studies. The second study, in 2025, will look at subjects from 5 to 90 years old to see how well the vortex whistle works to document potential changes in measurements of respiratory volume and airflow during voice production across the lifespan. And the final study will utilize the vortex whistle as a treatment-outcome measure before and after medical procedures for vocal-fold paralysis.

From there, the application could be far-reaching.

麻豆精品 S淢y hope with the vortex whistle, 麻豆精品 S� Awan says, 麻豆精品 S渋s that we start with speech and voice-disordered patients, and then identify its usefulness in other areas of medicine and associated areas such as exercise science and sports physiology. By making it affordable and accessible, there 麻豆精品 S檚 no limit to how many people can ultimately benefit from it. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淏oth the scientific findings and, more importantly, the feedback from the families of children using AAC and their service-providers, have shown us the incredible power assistive technology can hold for children with significant speech impairments when combined with customized language therapy, 麻豆精品 S� says Jennifer Kent-Walsh, founder of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Assistive Technology Center and a Pegasus Professor in the College of Health Professions and Sciences. 麻豆精品 S淭his new round of NIH funding means we can expand our work to provide clinicians with more evidence-based assessment and intervention options to help children develop language skills through use of AAC technologies. 麻豆精品 S�

The NIH can clearly see from data that children with significant speech impairments and genetic conditions like Down syndrome and cerebral palsy are communicating at higher levels. They can also look at the flurry of activity and engagement among the children, families, service providers, UCF students, community clinicians, caregivers and researchers at the center. Thousands of people have come for workshops, individualized training and therapy, and to borrow assistive technologies to help those struggling with language development, communication and a wide range of other needs.

麻豆精品 S淲e are fortunate to have had support at UCF to align the critical stakeholder groups required to simultaneously advance science and practice 麻豆精品 S� community, clinical, academic, research, industry, and the next generation of speech-language pathologists and related service-providers, 麻豆精品 S� Kent-Walsh says. 麻豆精品 S淭wo key aspects of the study this new funding will support relate to the critical need to design interventions that are implementable in real-life contexts for clinicians and accessible to as many children as possible for sustained periods of time in community settings. 麻豆精品 S�

Kent-Walsh argues that engineering great technologies and even designing effective interventions can still miss the mark of meaningful scientific advancement in healthcare without implementation. This new funding will allow Kent-Walsh 麻豆精品 S檚 team to focus on validating interventions that are designed with and for clinicians supporting children using assistive technology to communicate. 聽The fact that the NIH is funding this work is a sign of the significant and practical progress that 麻豆精品 S檚 been two decades in the making.

Kent-Walsh is the cornerstone of this classic from-the-ground-up story. She came to UCF as an assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders in 2003. As a teacher and speech-language pathologist in Canada and England, she had witnessed first-hand the life setbacks that speech and language disorders can cause for children. At UCF, she would have the freedom to explore meaningful solutions, including technology-based ideas, to address these challenges. 麻豆精品 S淭he university always had an openness for innovation 麻豆精品 S� particularly in areas relating to engineering and technology, 麻豆精品 S� she says. 麻豆精品 S淔or me, it was exciting to have the opportunity to develop a program of assistive technology research in an environment already primed for technology development and with an emerging focus on health and wellness. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淐ommunication is a basic human right which can, and must, be supported for all. 麻豆精品 S�

During her time at UCF, Kent-Walsh has secured millions of dollars in funding from local, state and federal sources to expand research and optimize assistive technology service-delivery. In 2023, after being named a Pegasus Professor, Kent-Walsh saw a banner hung in her honor with the words that have driven her from day one:

麻豆精品 S淐ommunication is a basic human right which can, and must, be supported for all, 麻豆精品 S� Kent-Walsh says.

When any of this is brought up 麻豆精品 S� the research, the scientific findings and the successes 麻豆精品 S� Kent-Walsh shifts the focus to the power of people working together.

麻豆精品 S淲e have been able to learn and accomplish as much as we have to this point through true team science, 麻豆精品 S� she says.

Cathy Binger at the University of New Mexico (UNM) has been Kent-Walsh 麻豆精品 S檚 primary research collaborator for the past two decades and she serves as the other principal investigator for this new grant. Their decades long partnership has afforded invaluable cross-institutional learning and funded training experiences for both UCF and UNM students through clinical trial investigations like this one. Professor John Heilman, from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, recently joined the research team as a language measurement expert. Other key team members include Professor Debbie Hahs-Vaughn from UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Community Innovation and Education, who serves as biostatistician for the project, and associate clinical instructor Nancy Harrington who serves as project director for this multi-site clinical trial investigation. 聽And then there is the project team 麻豆精品 S� with additional clinical and academic connections for the project facilitated by the broader village of collaborators in the FAAST Center and AAC Lab, including associate clinical instructor Carolyn Buchanan and clinical instructor Punam Desormes.

麻豆精品 S淲hen we involve students and our community at large, the network of advocates expands to ensure that any child can gain access to assistive technology services, 麻豆精品 S� Kent-Walsh says. 麻豆精品 S淭hey know, and NIH knows, that there is a growing body of findings indicating that the use of AAC technologies, combined with tailored language intervention, is where the magic happens. 麻豆精品 S�

The team 麻豆精品 S檚 overall goal is to reach as many children as possible in as many healthcare settings as possible, and ultimately, to improve lives.

With the help of a $570,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health, College of Health Professions and Sciences researcher and Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders Lauren Bislick is exploring alternative, cost-effective practice opportunities to help people with post-stroke AOS continue speech rehabilitation beyond treatment usually available in an outpatient, clinical setting.

Those who experience post-stroke AOS traditionally receive one-on-one speech therapy in an in-person session, often two days a week for 50 minutes, to help them regain or improve verbal expression. Research shows stroke survivors with AOS respond positively to this protocol, but an extensive amount of practice is needed to drive lasting change.

However, intensive or ongoing speech therapy isn 麻豆精品 S檛 always feasible due to financial, time and insurance restraints. Burdens like the cost of services, travel time to and from clinics, and limited insurance-covered sessions make it difficult for those affected by post-stroke AOS to continue long-term speech therapy. As a result, many people discontinue care and fall short of their communication goals.

麻豆精品 S淩ecovery for patients following a stroke is not like healing a broken arm or leg, 麻豆精品 S� Bislick says. 麻豆精品 S淒ifferent types of therapies are often necessary, and recovery timeframes can be extensive and continue well beyond what insurance allows. 麻豆精品 S�

To address this problem, Bislick and her team will develop and assess a home practice protocol that utilizes motor imagery practices called Motor Imagery for Treatment Enhancement and Efficacy, or MI-TEE. 麻豆精品 S淲hen I started combing through the literature, I realized there 麻豆精品 S檚 a lot of evidence for motor imagery support in training athletes and the rehabilitation of limb-related injuries, but almost nothing has been done in speech rehabilitation, 麻豆精品 S� Bislick says. MI-TEE will serve as an accessible and practical tool that can accompany traditional speech therapy for stroke survivors and others by providing them the tools to further practice their speech skills outside the clinic through an at-home program.

The treatment, individually curated for each patient, will present sounds and images of target words, prompting the patient to imagine speaking each word in their mind. In previous studies, motor imagery practice has shown to help rehabilitation by engaging neural networks that support motor execution 麻豆精品 S� including those involved in speech 麻豆精品 S� priming the brain for the physical act.

The grant will fund the rehabilitation of 18 patients participating in the 8 陆-week program. Nine of these patients will receive a combination of traditional speech therapy, comprising of three weekly 50-minute sessions and MI-TEE for 8 陆 weeks. The remaining nine patients will receive traditional speech therapy for the first five weeks, followed by a combination of traditional speech therapy and MI-TEE for the last 3 陆 weeks.

The research is scheduled to begin Spring 2024.

麻豆精品 S淭he goal of this research is to produce a low-cost, evidence-based speech rehabilitation tool that can bolster treatment in between sessions and beyond and be used by a large portion of the AOS-affected population, 麻豆精品 S� Bislick says. 麻豆精品 S淲e want to create something that speech language pathologists in the field are comfortable using, and we want to give people the ability to continue therapy regardless of insurance, time or financial restrictions. 麻豆精品 S�

Bislick 麻豆精品 S檚 grant provides funding for three years from the NIH 麻豆精品 S檚 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. She is collaborating with Professors Debbie Hahs-Vaugh and Audra Skukauskaite in the College of Community Innovation and Education.

Bislick is the director of the Aphasia and Related Conditions Research Lab and the Aphasia House, a program that delivers multi-week intensive therapy for those affected by aphasia. She is a certified speech language pathologist and brain injury specialist. Bislick was also recently named as the for her research and service contributions focused on enhancing the quality of life for people with aphasia.

It 麻豆精品 S檚 graduation day. But not for the students.

It 麻豆精品 S檚 a commencement ceremony for their patients. In this case, four adults with aphasia 麻豆精品 S� a communication disorder that can occur suddenly following a stroke or head injury but may also develop slowly from a brain tumor or a progressive neurological disease. June is Aphasia Awareness Month.

One of these four patients is Kyle Burke, a constantly smiling 25-year-old who seemingly knows everyone in the room.

He arrives at the ceremony in an orange Clemson University T-shirt. In May 2020, he was enrolled as a student and celebrating the completion of final exams and making the dean 麻豆精品 S檚 list when the pandemic brought him back home. It was there that a skateboarding accident would leave him with a traumatic brain injury and an inability to speak, write or understand language.

His family found the 麻豆精品 S� one of just a few of its kind in the country and known for its intensive and highly-personalized treatment.

麻豆精品 S淜yle 麻豆精品 S檚 a young guy and I just thought, ‘what a perfect environment,’ 麻豆精品 S� . 麻豆精品 S淭his is what he needs. He needs to be out with a bunch of people in a college environment. And he was excited. 麻豆精品 S�

In October of 2021, Burke began his first delivery of the six-week program at UCF.

On April 21, 2023, he 麻豆精品 S檚 completed the program for what marks his eighth and final time.

Thriving Through Therapy

麻豆精品 S淜yle came to us with severe expressive and receptive language deficits making understanding what people said to him in speech and in writing severely impaired, as well as being severely impaired in his ability to express himself, 麻豆精品 S� says Angela Ziegler, an instructor in communication sciences and disorders and licensed clinical aphasia educator. 麻豆精品 S淗e initially didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know many of the errors he made while trying to communicate because he couldn 麻豆精品 S檛 hear his own errors. 麻豆精品 S�

Burke 麻豆精品 S檚 treatment plan called for working on expressive and receptive language, making sure he could accurately understand what people say to him and easily formulate into words what he wants to say to others. His program consisted of individual therapy administered four hours a day, four days a week for six weeks. His therapists: a team of trained student clinicians 麻豆精品 S攁spiring speech language pathologists, operating under the close supervision of a faculty clinician and themselves approaching graduation from UCF.

Communication sciences and disorders graduate student Nathalie Espinal 麻豆精品 S�21 served as Burke 麻豆精品 S檚 clinician in the summer of 2022 and then again in the fall. She focused heavily on conversation-based therapy treatments.

麻豆精品 S淥riginally, he didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know any of his clinicians 麻豆精品 S� names, 麻豆精品 S� Espinal says. 麻豆精品 S淗e would recognize us, of course, and we had a relationship, but he had trouble with that recall. By the second semester, he knew all the names and was able to get our attention and engage in more verbal conversation. 麻豆精品 S�

By design, therapy was conducted in settings Burke would expect to be in naturally, like cooking, playing games and socializing with peers. Espinal coached Burke in Response Elaboration Training, or RET, a therapy technique that allows a patient to make a simple statement, and with a therapist 麻豆精品 S檚 assistance, expand on the original statement into something much richer and deeper.

麻豆精品 S淲e did a lot of therapy in open areas interacting with other people, 麻豆精品 S� Espinal says. 麻豆精品 S淗e would have a conversation and say a few words that were maybe not grammatically correct, but we would build on that sentence and add more details to it. 麻豆精品 S�

Progress was steady, says Espinal, who personally worked with Burke up to seven hours a week over a 12-week period and drew from common interests in therapy sessions.聽 Conversations covered movies, music and pop culture. Espinal also helped Burke improve his ability to use his phone to communicate with his friends.

麻豆精品 S淚nitially, I worked with him on some ways to help him with texting some friends, 麻豆精品 S� says Espinal. 麻豆精品 S淗e was using Snapchat a lot. We worked on spelling for texts and building his vocabulary on certain topics and areas of interest. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淚t genuinely felt like it was becoming a friendship, 麻豆精品 S� Espinal says. 麻豆精品 S淗e was so adamant about working. He would ask about my life and my family, and we definitely bonded a lot. 麻豆精品 S�

A Graduation Speech

The tradition at Aphasia House graduation is for the students to make speeches, sharing reflections on the progress of their clients and personal words of hope and encouragement.

On his graduation day, Burke also made a speech. He is the only one in his cohort of four to do so.

Since arriving, he has changed out of his Clemson T-shirt into a black polo shirt 麻豆精品 S� the same one worn by student clinicians. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a graduation gift and a souvenir of his time at the Aphasia House.

His parents look on. The room is silent.

麻豆精品 S淗i, I am Kyle. I have a brain injury. And I 麻豆精品 S檓 麻豆精品 S�.I 麻豆精品 S檓 麻豆精品 S�.phasia. I went to Clemson University, and I am from Greer, South Carolina. 麻豆精品 S�

His speech is slow and deliberate. He uses his finger as a guide along the words of the paper.

麻豆精品 S淚 love that Clemson won a bunch of football ACC championships. 麻豆精品 S�

The room erupts in laughter.

He goes on to discuss his time at the Aphasia House. At times pausing. Sometimes reversing words. But the communication is clear.

麻豆精品 S淚n the hospital, I cannot really speak or understand anything. Now I am 麻豆精品 San talk and understanding the news, sports and TVs. I can read and understand song lyrics. 麻豆精品 S�

麻豆精品 S淭he students and I play mini basketball together. Watching movies 麻豆精品 Seading 麻豆精品 Salking and listening to songs is fun. Also, we had community outings such as bowling. 麻豆精品 S�

He carefully acknowledges his parents, the students, their supervisors and 麻豆精品 S� ever playful 麻豆精品 S� his dog.

麻豆精品 S淭hank you for everyone helped me. 麻豆精品 S�

Burke 麻豆精品 S檚 graduation speech is four minutes long.

Moving Forward

Research has shown that people with aphasia have higher rates of recovery when therapy is intensive, and at the Aphasia House, therapy spaces are designed to evoke a sense of home and belonging. The rooms are themed to help remind patients of favorite things: a garden room, a music room, a game room, and a garage room. Patients, students and faculty gather together in a working kitchen and a cozy living room.

麻豆精品 S淥ur personal hope for Kyle is that he finds his way in this world that allows him to live well following a TBI and aphasia in whatever manner 麻豆精品 S榣iving well 麻豆精品 S� feels for him, 麻豆精品 S� Ziegler says.

Burke has set his sights on one day returning to school and driving a car.

麻豆精品 S淚 want him to feel independent and successful, 麻豆精品 S� Espinal says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 so clear that he 麻豆精品 S檚 willing to put in so much work to get there. It 麻豆精品 S檚 only a matter of time before that ends up happening for him. 麻豆精品 S�

The iREAD program, within , is a four-week course that addresses phonological and phonemic awareness, spelling, reading fluency and comprehension, written expression, and oral language skills.

An Annie E. Casey Foundation study found an inability to read by third grade is a strong predictor of high school dropout rates. In Orange County Public Schools, 46% of聽third graders are not reading proficiently; 37% in Seminole and 55% in Osceola counties. Research shows these numbers are highest for students of low socioeconomic backgrounds.

The iREAD program successfully addresses these deficits through hands-on multisensory activities, direct instruction based on clinically based methods and weekly progress monitoring. Participants in the first two years of the iRead program demonstrated gains in reading comprehension and spelling ability.

Orlando Magic Youth Foundation 麻豆精品 S檚 support will allow the iREAD program to expand, increasing the number of participants for Summer 2023 from 26 to 51.

The program will move to the UCF Downtown campus in Orlando 麻豆精品 S檚 urban core, blocks from the heart of the Holden/Parramore neighborhood. In this neighborhood, the 2022 Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) test showed that 78% of third-grade students are not able to read proficiently 麻豆精品 S� significantly higher than the local averages for the public schools in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties.

The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation’s investment in the iREAD program has the potential to change the futures of students and help improve high school graduation rates.

The iREAD program is supported by 35 graduate student clinicians from education and communication sciences and disorders programs at UCF who will help deliver services alongside faculty members as part of their graduate program. At least half of these students are expected to work in local schools after graduation, where they’ll continue to create a positive impact on the learning and future academic success of children in the community.

Autism spectrum disorder affects about one in 36 children nationally, according to 聽the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

She was starting the 15-week , run by Associate Professor Jeanette Garcia of the . The program isn 麻豆精品 S檛 an ordinary judo lesson; it is specifically for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. Garcia and her team of 20 undergraduate health sciences students research how movement interventions like judo can help improve physical activity, sleep quality, social skills, self-confidence and academic performance in kids with ASD, which affects about one in 36 children nationally, according to a new report released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just ahead of Autism Awareness Month, which occurs in April.

According to the CDC, autism is a developmental disorder that can result in a variety of symptoms, such as challenges with social communication and interaction skills, leading to impaired speech and language development. Some with ASD also may have sensory issues. For this young girl, judo brought her out of her shell.

麻豆精品 S淓ven after the program, she continued to take lessons and earned a yellow belt. She ended up coming back to present with me at a conference about the benefits of judo, 麻豆精品 S� Garcia says. 麻豆精品 S淪he had no issues demonstrating judo at the conference, and even went on to take the lead in her school play. 麻豆精品 S�

Garcia 麻豆精品 S檚 research is showing that kids with ASD enjoy structured formats, like judo and martial arts. Structure can help ease social anxiety, which often affects this population.

麻豆精品 S淧rior research [on interventions for kids with ASD] didn 麻豆精品 S檛 examine whether kids enjoyed the program, 麻豆精品 S� Garcia says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 important to me because if they like it, it 麻豆精品 S檒l be sustainable. 麻豆精品 S�

The research is looking at benefits to parents of children with ASD, too, including changes in their sleep quality and stress levels, says Garcia. Family members often participate with their kids in the judo lessons.

The UCF Judo Program is in its fourth semester thanks to grant funding and continuous interest from the community. It is just one of many ways the university supports the ASD community through resources and research.

Thanks to state legislative funding, individuals with ASD, their families and educators in the seven Central Florida counties surrounding UCF have access to a vast array of resources. Beginning in 1999, the UCF , located in Central Florida Research Park, hosts family education seminars, assists parents in the educational planning of their child, offers communication-development programs for toddlers and preschoolers, trains teachers in best practices to educate ASD students and much more.

麻豆精品 S淲e serve the entire lifespan from the time a person is diagnosed with ASD, 麻豆精品 S� says Teresa Daly, director of CARD.

More than 20,200 families are registered with CARD, which brings its services to the community in schools, scout troop meetings, daycares, community agencies and others.

More than 20,200 families are registered with CARD, which brings its services to the community in schools, scout troop meetings, daycares, community agencies and others.

麻豆精品 S淐ARD is not a place where you bring people for services, 麻豆精品 S� Daly says. 麻豆精品 S淲e go out into the community to provide our services in the natural environment each case calls for. 麻豆精品 S�

Routinely, CARD develops new programs to serve the ASD community in all stages of life. Programs help young children with reading, math, behavior and social skills; teens with learning how to drive; and adults with living independently, attending college, and even in meeting others in the local ASD community with game nights and dinner outings.

Daly says CARD is expanding its capabilities to serve the growing Hispanic population in Central Florida, with four bilingual clinicians already on staff.

An additional perk families receive from CARD is they are first in line to participate in numerous research programs at the university that call for participation from those with ASD. Daly stays in close contact with UCF researchers from the College of Health Professions and Sciences, the , and the to help them recruit participants for their studies. Garcia 麻豆精品 S檚 judo program is one of them.

Another study is , a summer program for kids with ASD who have a reading skill level from pre-kindergarten to third grade. Led by Carrie Loughran 麻豆精品 S�99 麻豆精品 S�08MA, an instructor in and graduate from the communication sciences and disorders program, and Nancy McIntyre, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders, Camp iREAD examines how hands-on, interactive activities while reading improves comprehension.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e hoping our program shows that when you make content from a book real and something you can physically engage with, it becomes meaningful and you can better comprehend the concepts you 麻豆精品 S檙e reading, 麻豆精品 S� Loughran says.

In just its second iteration, Camp iREAD will take place this summer along with an additional pilot program that can bring Camp iREAD to the next level. Using the College of Health Professions and Science 麻豆精品 S檚 new Blended Learning Interactive Simulation Suite (BLISS), a mixed reality space with 270-degree, floor-to-ceiling touchscreen walls, children will be immersed in virtual books, allowing them to interact with the words, characters and pictures, and giving them new means to engage with and comprehend what they are reading.

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Similarly, McIntyre is analyzing data to understand how a bout of physical activity may enhance reading comprehension in children with ASD. Thanks to an internal grant, Garcia and McIntyre observed that 45 minutes of judo prior to reading may improve focus and attention during the reading lesson. They are in early stages of analyzing their results, and if found to be successful, they intend to seek a larger grant to continue studying the connection between physical activity and reading in ASD children, says Garcia.

Physical activity and learning are strongly linked in the ASD community, researchers are finding, and the and are expanding that understanding, too.

Popular toys and even books for children often are designed for neurotypical, able-bodied kids, leaving out those with different abilities. Thanks to the ECAP Lab and Go Baby Go! kids of all abilities have a chance to play and, as a result, learn.

Go Baby Go! for instance modifies ride-on toy cars for toddlers, giving those with limited mobility new means to play and interact with their environment, which often results in more communication and expression. This and other adaptive toys offered through these research programs help kids, including those with autism, learn through play and engage with their communities.

Participating families say opportunities like this are difficult to come by.

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Approximately 40% of the children the Early Communication and Play Lab and UCF Go Baby Go! serve are diagnosed with autism.

Approximately 40% of the children the ECAP Lab and Go Baby Go! serve are diagnosed with ASD. Together, they are studying how their interventions improve communication, mobility and participation. They accept new participants on an ongoing basis.

The work doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 stop there. The Center at UCF connects Floridians with disabilities, including those with autism, with assistive technologies and related services to increase their independence. The Center pairs children and adults with the right devices, like specially designed communication apps, cognitive aides and adapted computer equipment, and helps families and service-providers learn how to support their use by individuals with disabilities in everyday environments.

At the College of Medicine, researchers are studying ASD on a molecular level, Daly says, and the in the College of Community Innovation and Education spearheads initiatives to prepare and retain teachers to serve students with special needs.

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