Illinois State University’s speech-language pathology and audiology graduate students have an assortment of off-site clinical opportunities within Central Illinois. These opportunities occur in various settings to provide the students a diverse range of experiences as they prepare to become practicing clinicians.
Some of these settings include Heritage Health Therapy and Senior Care, The Autism Place, Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, the Central Illinois Institute of Balance, the Activity and Recreation Center (ARC), and numerous local preschool and elementary schools.
These opportunities allow students to apply the knowledge they have gained in their academic course work and clinical experiences at Illinois State to real-world clients, patients, and students. It also allows the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) graduate students an opportunity to determine and narrow their professional interests, in a very broad and diverse field.
Specifically, two speech-language pathology graduate students provide weekly speech-language therapy at LeRoy Elementary School. These students apply course and clinic content they have learned at Illinois State, while managing a group therapy session. This firsthand experience highlights the importance of organization, preparation, and data collection in order to effectively provide appropriate and differentiated treatment.
“I enjoy the opportunity to meet a variety of students with a variety of needs and learning what can be done through RTI (response to intervention),” said graduate student Anna Yates.
“I’m thankful to gain a valuable clinical experience in an environment full of students and staff that are kind and welcoming,” graduate student Karrighan Quick said.
Find out more about clinical opportunities available through CSD by emailing Clinic Director Heidi Verticchio.
