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Achievement through Collaboration (ACT)

This program is designed to:

1. Address speech and language needs in children and adolescents through collaborative teaming between a university speech-language program (LU) and special education services in regional public schools (PAISD)
2. Prepare graduate students in speech-language pathology in best-practice methods for delivering speech-language pathology services in the public schools.

Our clinical rotations include preschool programs for children with disabilities and programs for school-age children with moderate and severe-profound disabilities.

For more information contact Karen Whisenhunt Saar at kwsaar1@lamar.edu.

Accent Modification/Management Training

This accent management program is designed to:

1. Provide speakers seeking to modify a foreign or national origin with access to training in listening skills and in the use of rhythm, intonation, and breathing to improve the intelligibility of American English Speech Sounds
2. Prepare graduate students in speech-language pathology to utilize evidence-based strategies when providing this elective service.

Our pretesting process allows us to design personalized plans to meet each individual's unique goals and needs. Dates and times vary.

For more information regarding this program, please contact Karen Whisenhunt Saar at kwsaar1@lamar.edu.

Aphasia Conversation Lab

The Aphasia Conversation Lab (ACL) is a clinical research laboratory developed to advance interactional research in aphasia, train clinicians on functional treatment approaches and provide support to persons with aphasia as they move through the continuum of recovery.

The ACL functions as a specialty clinic in the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University Speech & Hearing Clinic with the primary goal of helping persons with aphasia (PWA) overcome communicative barriers and learn to live a successful and satisfactory life after aphasia. The ACL offers individual and group sessions where PWA can work on specific, client-centered goals.

We offer three different types of groups that meet weekly: conversation groups where PWA meet to discuss a variety of topics and practice communication strategies, a technology group aimed at helping PWA better access the internet and digital technologies and a book club where PWA participate in shared reading and reflective activities.

We also have an active support group that meets the first Wednesday of each month at noon. The support group focuses on getting on with life after aphasia and building a community network for PWA and their families. Check out our  to stay up to date with all of our scheduled events!

For more information, contact the speech-language pathology clinic at (409) 880-8171.

SPEECH STARS: Ages 5-9

Speech Stars is a summer camp devoted to helping students improve articulation skills. Sessions focus on target sounds and effective strategies. A variety of visual, verbal and tactile cues are used to help students produce target sounds accurately.

Drill-based games are utilized during this time to encourage the production of target sounds. Experiments and other fun activities are implemented to encourage the generalization of correct production outside of the therapy room.

For more information, contact the speech-language pathology clinic at (409) 880-8171.

ASD College Transition: Ages 18 & Up

ASD College Transition is a summer program designed for students with autism who will be attending college for the first time.

The group meets twice weekly to discuss topics such as goal setting, disclosure and self-advocacy, expectations in the college classroom, campus resources, and navigating the campus. Each week, clinicians guide students on tours across campus to familiarize the students with the campus layout.

College students who previously attended College Connect serve as mentors to the incoming students. It is a great program to help these students feel comfortable as they approach this new experience.

For more information, contact Beth Byers at beth.byers@lamar.edu.

Camp interACT

Camp interACT is a collaborative theater project with Beaumont Community Players. Students of all ability levels work together in an inclusive environment to rehearse and perform a play. Thematically related language enrichment activities and individualized communication and social skills support are woven throughout the rehearsal and production process. Ages 8 through 18.

For more information, contact Karen Whisenhunt Saar at (409) 880-8171.

College Connect: College Students

College Connect is a support group dedicated to providing support and building relationships that help LU students overcome obstacles in college life. College Connect is designed for students who may be worried about socially interacting with professors and peers in the classroom, communicating with their professor, setting and meeting college goals or finding their place at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University.

The group meets for a 10-week period during the fall and spring semesters. Topics such as advocacy and seeking support, time and stress management, hidden rules in the classroom, navigating campus environments, job interview skills, taking advantage of campus resources, understanding roles and responsibilities in group projects and goal setting are discussed within the group.

For more information, please contact Beth Byers at beth.byers@lamar.edu.

Language Enrichment Programs

Preschool and school-age children with language disorders, autism, and/or developmental delays may be candidates for this program.

Contact Tammy Frederick at (409) 880-8171 for program offerings.

Social Skills and Communication: Ages 5-7

Social Skills and Communication is a summer camp devoted to helping students improve pragmatic language skills. Social skills or “pragmatics” are a vital part of living and functioning in our world today. Pragmatic language is defined as “the social use of language and communication behaviors needed to interact effectively and appropriately with others.”

Each day includes a 45-minute group session that focuses on identifying emotions, appropriate listening and turn-taking skills and interacting appropriately with other peers. Activities include story time, games, crafts, singing/dancing and communicating in a group environment.

Each session begins with a storybook that focuses on a specific appropriate behavior. This appropriate behavior is reminded to the students through follow-up activities within a small group setting.

Southeast Texas Stuttering Clinic

The Southeast Texas Stuttering Clinic is an intensive parent/child training program designed to help children who stutter and their parents become effective communicators within the world of stuttering.

The clinic focuses on teaching children who stutter (ages 6-11) of all ages and their families about the experience of stuttering, address negative attitudes and feelings about speaking, teach helpful ways to cope with stuttering, and how to use effective techniques to improve communicative ability.

Parents are also taught specific strategies that help minimize the impact of stuttering and also learn valuable information related to stuttering in the process. The stuttering program includes parent training sessions, individual times, group times, and take-home sessions.

For more information, contact Dr. Stefanie Becerril at sbecerril1@lamar.edu.

Summer Language Enrichment Program

This program is for preschool and school-age children with language disorders, autism, and/or developmental delays may be candidates for this program. The program is twice a week for four weeks and runs during the month of July.

Contact Tammy Frederick at (409) 880-8171 for program offerings.

Voice Lab and Vocology Clinic

This lab serves the department and the university under four categories: teaching, research, clinic, and outreach. LU currently offers the only online Certificate in Vocology program in the United States utilizing our state-of-the-art voice lab and clinic.

Please contact Ms. Abigail Dueppen at adueppen@lamar.edu for more information.

Voices in Transition

This is a voice habilitation program designed to provide education and treatment on safe voice use along with appropriate verbal and non-verbal characteristics that are consistent with an individual’s gender identity.

For more information contact Ms. Abigail Dueppen at adueppen@lamar.edu.