Clinical Services Center for Communicative Disorders
Clinical Training Experiences for Students
Speech/Language Pathology:
Students receive practicum experiences with diverse populations and age groups at the Center for Communicative Disorders and/or at affiliated off-campus sites. The Center maintains close working relationships with numerous professionals in the medical, rehabilitation, and public/private school communities.
Undergraduate students enroll in two semesters of clinical practicum during their senior year under the supervision of Department faculty and staff. Students provide individual or small group therapy sessions and complete communication assessments at the Center.
Graduate students in speech/language pathology obtain practicum experiences each semester. Under the supervision of Department faculty and staff, students provide individual or small-group intervention and diagnostic services at the Center or the affiliated off-campus sites. The culminating experience, which follows completion of the graduate academic coursework, is a 15-20 week, off-campus externship. This externship allows students to expand their knowledge and skills in the educational or medical setting.
Audiology:
Students receive practicum experiences with diverse populations and age groups at the Center for Communicative Disorders and/or at affiliated off-campus sites. The Center maintains close working relationships with numerous professionals in the medical, rehabilitation, and public/private school communities.
Clinical doctoral students in audiology progress through four semesters of on-campus clerkship experiences, four semesters of off-campus clerkship experiences, and a full-time externship during the final year of their academic program. The clerkships and externship provide invaluable experiences in educational and medical settings to prepare students for a career as an audiologist.
Services Within the Center for Communicative Disorders
The Center for Communicative Disorders is a clinical training facility, accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation of the American Speech - Language - Hearing Association (ASHA). It has a reputation for excellence in serving the University and the Central Wisconsin area by providing clinical services as part of the professional preparation of students. Services, including evaluation, treatment, and consultation, are available to those of all ages, from infants to the elderly, and are provided by undergraduate and graduate students under the supervision of nationally certified, state licensed audiologists and speech-language pathologists.
The Center for Communicative Disorders has modern equipment and well-designed facilities. The environment is spacious and conducive to student learning and collaboration. Materials and the equipment available for therapy, classroom instruction, and research are among the finest in the Midwest.
- Laboratory and clinical facilities are available for research and clinical training experiences in both audiology and speech/language pathology. The facility includes the following: a spacious reception area, graduate student offices, comfortable student lounge, student computer lab, therapy observation room, family conference room, Clinical Media Center, 10 individual therapy rooms, large group therapy room, four diagnostic suites, two clinical and two research audiological sound treated suites, two hearing aid labs, auditory and vestibular electrophysiological (ENG and ABR) testing lab, speech/hearing science instrumentation lab, gross anatomy lab, and a state-of-the-art augmentative/alternative communication AAC Lab.
- The AAC Lab provides students, as well as professionals in the Central Wisconsin area, with opportunities to familiarize themselves with high- and low-tech devices for individuals who find speech difficult or impossible. An equipment loaning service promotes the collaborative efforts between area professionals and the Center. The AAC Lab also functions as a regional diagnostic center.
- The Clinical Media Center houses a wealth of diagnostic/therapy materials and equipment, resource videos, and instructional materials for student use.
The Center is fortunate to have a contract with Ministry Health Care - St. Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point. Speech/language students who are assigned to St. Michael's Hospital provide speech/ language and swallowing evaluation and therapy services to patients in this acute-care and outpatient rehabilitation setting. Click on Swallowing Program for more information regarding this practicum site at St. Michael's Hospital. The Center also contracts with the Stevens Point Public Schools to provide diagnostic and intervention services for preschool children and for children in private/parochial schools within the Stevens Point School District. Mrs. Elizabeth Hipke acts as the School Coordinator and serves as a liaison between the Center and the public school program.
If you would like more information about the Center for Communicative Disorders or the clinical experiences in this training program, contact Tami Gumz, Director of Clinical Services, at 715-346-2456 or via email .
Important Websites for Current Student Use
Clock Hour Website: http://cps.uwsp.edu/comd
Clinical Handbook: Click here to view handbook
Externship Handbook: Click here to view handbook
ASHA Listing of State Licensure Requirements/Contacts: State Association Contact Information
Professional Resources
Dept of Public Instruction: Speech/Language Services http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/speech.html
SLP "Start Page"
Wisconsin's IDEAS Portal Web Site
Professional Organizations
Wisconsin Speech/Language and Hearing Association
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)