2014 Fall Institute Offers Attendees Valuable Experience
The 10th Annual Fall Institute kicked off Thursday, September 4th at The Inn at Ole Miss. Sponsored by the University of Mississippi’s NSSLHA Chapter and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the two-day Fall Institute offers practical therapy techniques for challenging articulation cases, as well as lectures on enhancing language therapy. Over 200 participants registered for this year’s event including UM students, alumni, faculty, and private practice speech pathologists.
The opening day focused on topics such as “S” Production Analysis and the Eight Sensory-Motor Elements of Speech Production. Samantha Rankin, graduate clinician and president of the UM chapter of the NSSLHA, opened the conference.
“The field of speech pathology is growing by leaps and bounds,” Rankin said. “The [UM] Fall Institute is a reflection of that, impacting the students and the profession.”
Velmer Burton, Dean of the School of Applied Sciences, also addressed attendees.
“With some of the brightest students and faculty in our school,” said Burton, “this department touches the lives of those in the Mississippi region with its research and scholarship in communication sciences.”
The 2014 Fall Institute also featured Char Boshart, speech therapist and president of Speech Dynamics, whose latest books include The Key to Carryover: Change Oral Postures to Fortify Speech Production and Demystify the Tongue Tie.She began Thursday’s seminar by focusing on the Fall Institute’s effect on students.
“It’s not about the grades. It’s not about what students do with their degrees after graduation. It’s about working with people who need help with speech,” Boshart said.
Friday’s events featured lectures on therapy organization and activities. Before the conference’s conclusion, there was also time for questions and comments amongst speakers and attendees.
Dr. Lennette Ivy, chair of the communication sciences and disorders department, emphasized that UM students managed the conference from beginning to end, giving students skills in event planning and time management.
“The Fall Institute is an extension of the classroom. Students are provided with evidence-based practices and techniques which can be used in the clinic,” Ivy said. “Students will carry the things they learn at the Fall Institute into their professions. It’s a great experience.”