Misericordia University to host Communications Fair

The Luzerne and Wyoming Counties Mental Health and Developmental Services Training Council on Quality, in cooperation with Misericordia University and the Advocacy Alliance Health Care Quality Unit, will hold a Communications Fair at the Misericordia University Speech-Language and Hearing Center on the second floor of John J. Passan Hall, 100 Lake St. Dallas, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program is free to the public, but registration is required.

The program is for anyone who has a communication need, as well as people with special needs, the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, support coordinators, provider agency administrators and managers, and direct support professionals. All human service agencies are welcome to attend. The deadline to register is Sept. 19.

The program features several guest speakers, including Brian Black, Luzerne County 911 Center; Jennifer Alberti, M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P., adjunct faculty, Misericordia University; Carrie Kane, M.S., C.C.C.-S.L.P., A.T.P., a speech-language pathologist and assistive technology professional; Tom Shaffer, program manager for Deaf Services and the Interpreter Referral Program for the Northeast Center of Independent Living, as well as faculty, staff and students of the Misericordia University Speech-Language and Hearing Center.

Guest speakers will talk about effective communication for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, provide demonstrations on the Video Relay Service, a video telecommunication service, and participate in breakout sessions that will address augmentative and alternative communication devices.

The program will also feature demonstrations of the Wii videogame console being used by members of the Misericordia University Speech-Language Pathology faculty for people who have language disorders or traumatic brain injuries, and Proloquo, a multi-lingual augmentative and alternative solution for people who have difficulty speaking or cannot speak at all. An overview and on-site registration of Luzerne County’s Smart911 Program will be provided by a representative from the Luzerne County 911 Center.

Misericordia University Speech-Language Pathology students will also offer tours of the Speech-Language and Hearing Center and free hearing screenings.

For more information or to register, call 825.9441.