- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock professor investigates transparent face mask to help deaf and hard of hearing patients better communicate with healthcare providers

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 13:55:43 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock faculty member is hoping to make visits to healthcare professionals easier for patients and other health workers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Dr. Samuel Atcherson, a faculty member at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, is researching a prototype transparent surgical face mask that allows those who are deaf or hard of hearing and non-native English speakers to read lips. The face mask will make it easier for people who have trouble understanding orally, but Atcherson said the mask was originally designed with a completely different purpose in mind. “These transparent masks weren’t initially conceived to help deaf and hard of hearing people,” Atcherson said. “Wearing a mask can be intimidating to others. It was thought it would be easier for children if they could see more of the doctor’s face, but the transparent face masks allows people to read lips. This is especially important in noisy settings where people are having a hard time hearing. This could even improve communication access for a person with normal hearing who is in a noisy setting or who is speaking to a person with a foreign accent. We try to think about it universally rather than just for people with hearing loss.” Atcherson is a co-investigator with the mask’s inventor, Jeanne Hahne, a nurse in San Francisco. They received a two-year $95,602 grant from the National Institutes of Health in July 2016 to develop and test the transparent mask. Atcherson is conducting two research studies to determine how well the mask works and how people feel about the use of the mask. “The first study is a speech perception in noise study,” he said. “We have three groups of participants: people with normal hearing, those with moderate hearing loss, and people who have severe to profound hearing loss. To prepare for this study, we obtained audiovisual recordings of a male and a female speaker wearing no mask, the traditional mask, and the transparent mask repeating sentences displayed on a screen. The participants in the study were recruited to listen to and watch the speakers and repeat the sentences presented. We are comparing how well people can understand what people are saying while wearing the traditional mask and the transparent mask or no mask at all.” Typically, wearing the traditional mask versus the transparent mask makes no difference in how well people with normal hearing understand the speakers. “People with nominal hearing loss usually have a slight benefit with being able to see the lips of the speaker,” Atcherson said. “For the group of people with severe to profound hearing loss, that made the biggest difference. Being able to see someone’s lips move can provide greater access and understanding, even if you can’t read lips. For the two groups with hearing loss, being able to see lips moving reduces the fatigue factor. You use less energy trying to understand what someone is saying.” Atcherson said much of his research has spanned from his involvement with the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss. “I’ve been involved with this group for 18 years. What I noticed very quickly is that there was a lot of misinformation about hearing aids and hearing implants,” he said. “Lots of people had lots of questions on how to use a stethoscope with these devices. I imagine the general public isn’t aware there are amplified stethoscopes on the market. Your hearing aid and hearing implant is designed to provide access to speech frequencies, but heart sounds have energy much lower in frequency. Sometimes, an implant or hearing aid can’t deliver the sounds, so we try to come up with alternative strategies to address these issues.” In his spare time, he and other fellow researchers have been working to understand the benefits and limitations of various amplified stethoscopes to help healthcare professionals and students with hearing loss detect heartbeats and lung sounds. The goal of their research is to find a way to successfully integrate hearing implants, hearing aids, and amplified stethoscopes to help healthcare professionals and students who are deaf or hard of hearing practice medicine. “It’s really a compatibility issue. You have these three devices, and everyone’s hearing loss is different. Everyone has different hearing aids and hearing implants,” Atcherson said. “It’s important to integrate these three technologies so that healthcare professionals with hearing loss can continue to do their jobs, and so healthcare students can pass their technical standards. Eventually, I feel like there is enough shared knowledge in the association that we can figure out how to connect these devices.” In the upper right photo, Dr. Sam Atcherson wears medical equipment, a transparent face mask and amplified stethoscope, he is researching designed to help deaf and hard of hearing patients and doctors better communicate. Photo by Ben Krain.

College of Education and Health Professions recognizes top students, employees, and friends

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 21 May 2018 13:25:31 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s College of Education and Health Professions recently celebrated it’s top students, employees, and community supporters at the college’s annual awards ceremony. Abby Baldwin, of the School of Counseling, Human Performance, and Rehabilitation, received the Outstanding Student Award for a student earning an associate degree. Roger Powell, of the School of Social Work, received the Outstanding Student Award for a bachelor’s student. Meanwhile, Derenda Alexander, a master’s student in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, won the Outstanding Master’s Student Award. Finally, Hsin-Wei Huang, a doctoral student in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, won the Outstanding Doctoral Student Award. In faculty and staff awards, Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison and Dr. Kim Jones, both of the School of Social Work, were honored with the Dean’s Award. Additionally, Dr. Bruce Smith from the School of Education received the Faculty Above and Beyond Award. Kristy Kidd, program director of the Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted and Talented Education, received the Trojan Excellence Award. The college’s Faculty Excellence Award winners included Dr. Amanda Nolen, School of Education, for public research; Dr. Glenn Anderson, School of Counseling, Human Performance, and Rehabilitation, for service; and Dr. Bruce Smith, School of Education, for teaching. Each of the college’s academic departments, schools, and centers honored Friends of the College, an individual or organization that is recognized for their outstanding service and commitment to the College of Education and Health Professions. The Friends of the College include:

Friend of the Audiology and Speech Pathology Department: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences 12th Street Clinic and Rev. Gwen Fry of St. Mathew’s Episcopal Church
Friend of the School of Counseling, Human Performance, and Rehabilitation: Barrett Allen, director of University District
Friend of the School of Education: Terese Oliver and Joy Thompson, instructional specialists at Pulaski Heights Middle School
Friend of the Department of Nursing: Becky Russell of Baptist Health Systems
Friend of the School of Social Work: Laura Generou
Friend of the Advising and Support Center: Arkansas Chapter Board and volunteers of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Friend of the Center for Literacy: Dr. Karen Scott, director of elementary learning and federal programs for Ozark Public Schools
Friend of EAST Scholars: Ryan Davis of Children International
Friend of the Jodie Mahony Center: David Hendricks, school performance specialist and legislative advocate, and Empowering and Energizing Education in North Little Rock
Friend of MidSOUTH: Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane
Friend of STEM Education Center: Jane Hurley of Central Arkansas Water

Dr. Greg Robinson served as chairperson of the College of Education and Health Professions Awards Committee. Drs. Catherine Crisp, Bill Garner, Melissa Reeves, Ann Robinson, Linda Dorn, and Heather Reed also served on the committee.

Just Communities of Arkansas honors Anderson with Humanitarian Award

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 18 May 2018 13:58:10 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock professor and advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing has been recognized by Just Communities of Arkansas as a recipient of the 2018 Humanitarian Award. Dr. Glenn Anderson, associate professor in the American Sign Language and English Interpreter Education program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, received the award May 8 at the Jack Stephens Center. Since 1964, the has honored one or more individuals who have demonstrated a significant commitment to building inclusive communities. These honorees have had a meaningful impact in improving social justice and human rights efforts through their work and community service. Fellow honorees included Rhonda Aaron, founder and president of Sister Friends United, and Sherman Tate, community leader and mentor. Dr. Robert Johnston received the award posthumously in recognition of his lifetime of public service and commitment to social justice. Anderson was also the recipient of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s 2018 Faculty Excellence Award for Public Service and a $5,000 prize. His significant contributions to the black deaf community are undeniable. Anderson often guest lectures, makes presentations, and writes journal articles on black deaf history and linguistic variations among black American Sign Language users. He was a keynote speaker during a at the Arkansas State Capitol building kicking off Deaf History Month. Anderson said the ceremony was an important way to remember the accomplishments of those who are deaf and hard of hearing in Arkansas. “Many deaf people have many accomplishments that the public might not be aware of,” he said. “This is an opportunity for us to come together to celebrate, recognize, and honor deaf people for their achievements and accomplishments.” In 2017, Gallaudet University, the world’s only university in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students, awarded Anderson the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during Gallaudet’s 147th commencement. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Anderson became deaf at the age of seven. Encountering barriers and obstacles during his childhood, his parents told him, “You have to be twice as good as anyone else to be successful.” He received a Ph.D. in rehabilitation counseling from New York University, a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Arizona, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gallaudet College. Anderson also lays claim to several pioneering roles. He is the first deaf person hired by Michigan Rehabilitation Services to work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor (1970), the first African-American alumnus of Gallaudet to earn a doctoral degree (New York University, 1982), and the first African-American deaf person to serve as chair of the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees (1994 to 2005). His career has included coordinating a referral and counseling center in New York City and helping to establish a continuing education program to benefit deaf adults interested in returning to school and completing their college degrees. In 2008, he joined the Interpreter Education faculty within the Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation and Adult Education at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. From 1982 to 2008, he served as director of training at the University of Arkansas Rehabilitation Research and Training Center for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. He was also a professor in the University of Arkansas’s Department of Rehabilitation, Human Resources, and Communication Disorders and served as coordinator of the master’s degree program in rehabilitation counseling with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. He published numerous articles in professional journals and books, including the 2006 book/DVD entitled, “Still I Rise! The Enduring Legacy of Black Deaf Arkansans Before & After Integration.” Anderson was appointed by President George W. Bush as a member of the National Council on Disability from 2002 to 2005. Anderson served on the Board of Directors for the National Black Deaf Advocates from 2012 to 2015. During Gallaudet University’s 150th anniversary celebration in 2014, Anderson was named one of the university’s 15 visionary leaders. In 2016, he was appointed to the Commission on Collegiate Interpreter Education, the national accrediting board for interpreter education programs.

Jazz and Juleps will celebrate Brooks Gibson Wolfe May 24

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 17 May 2018 13:56:46 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will raise money for audiology and speech pathology students at the ninth annual Jazz and Juleps event, presented by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Development Council of the Audiology and Speech Pathology Department, on Thursday, May 24, at the Clinton Presidential Center. The evening, which celebrates Better Hearing and Speech Month, will begin with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, a silent auction, and live music by Mojo de Jazz at 6 p.m. The night’s emcee, Ashlen Batson Thomasen, 2008 Miss Arkansas and an adjunct faculty member at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, will begin the program at 7 p.m. The event will also celebrate Brooks Gibson Wolfe, senior audiologist at the Arkansas School for the Deaf, as the 2018 Jazz and Juleps honoree. All proceeds from the event will be used to create an endowed scholarship fund in Wolfe’s name to assist future students in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology. “Brooks Gibson Wolfe was chosen for this honor to highlight her work with children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their parents, and with a focus on those who are underprivileged and underserved,” said Nan Ellen East, retired executive director of Disability Rights Arkansas. “Her passion for helping individuals with hearing loss is truly inspirational.” Wolfe was born in Dermott, Arkansas, in 1957. She graduated from St. Mary’s Hall in San Antonio, Texas, in 1975, and graduated from Millsaps College with a degree in history. With an avid interest in public health, Wolfe later earned a Master of Science from the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock/University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences joint audiology program and a Doctor of Audiology from the University of Florida. Wolfe worked as the photo editor for Norman Vincent Peale’s Guideposts Magazine in New York. She also was the infant hearing supervisor at the Arkansas Department of Health and has worked at the Arkansas School for the Deaf for the past 24 years. She is a member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and is the widow of Townsend Durant Wolfe III, former executive director and chief curator of the Arkansas Arts Center. In 2017, Wolfe began a foundation in honor of her late husband – Townsend and Brooks Wolfe Charitable Hearing Fund, through the Arkansas Community Foundation. The 2018 Jazz and Juleps scholarship winners will be recognized, including Meredith Birginske, Shavari Bharambe, Maddie Droke, Dayton Hendricks, Jared Holt, Beverly McDowell, Alexa Milam, Anna Norwood, Emily Pankey, Danielle Peterson, Megan Stuckey, Kristyn Wethington, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock would like to thank the following sponsors. Gold sponsors – KLRE/K��Vlog��ýR Public Radio, Lost Forty Brewing, Magna IV Communications, Remmell Dickinson, Nan Ellen and Jack Easter, Beth and Paul Eaton, and Polly and Jeff Yant. Silver sponsors – Arkansas Arts Center, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Big Red, Regions Trust, James Rippy, Cathy and Jeff Shaneyfelt, and Loris and Jay Fullerton. Bronze sponsors – Arkansas School for the Death, Bailey Foundation, Tri-Lakes Liquor in Hot Springs, Ann and Jim Bain, Derek Boyce, Charlotte and Curt Bradbury, Peggy and Haskell Dickinson, Merritt Dyke, Jennifer and Tim Fisk, Delda Hoaglan, Blake Jackson, Edward Jackson, Pam and Lee Butler Jackson, Hope Keiser, Elizabeth and Arnold Mayersohn, Mary Moore, and Brooks Gibson Wolfe. Tickets for Jazz and Juleps are $50, of which $25 is tax deductible, and will be available at the door. Tickets also can be ordered online. For more information, contact Derek Boyce, director of development for the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences, at 501-683-7355 or dcboyce@ualr.edu.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees, student part of “A Christmas Carol”

Janea Snyder — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 21:25:05 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock faculty member, staff member, and student are in “A Christmas Carol” opening Wednesday, Dec. 13, at Argenta Community Theater in North Little Rock. Dr. Greg Robinson, associate professor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, plays the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge. He also serves as the cast’s dialect coach and has helped the actors perfect accents suitable for 1843 London. This is Robinson’s third show at where he previously appeared as Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar” and as Archibald Craven in “The Secret Garden.” He has performed extensively in central Arkansas, including performances at The Arkansas Repertory Theater, Arkansas Shakespeare Theater, Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, The Weekend Theater, and The Studio Theater. In “A Christmas Carol,” Robinson portrays Scrooge, an old miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. What the ghosts reveal helps transform Scrooge into a kinder, gentler man. “To me, Scrooge is fighting a battle that a lot of us fight at this time of year. It’s getting colder. The daylight hours are getting shorter, and many of us may have sad memories that become even more painful during this season,” Robinson said. “Like Scrooge, we all have to accept that those memories of the past are a part of who we are now. In the present, we can reach out to others who are in need and maybe make ourselves feel a little better, too. Those actions of compassion will, in turn, create a future that is brighter for everyone, even in the darkest time of the year.”

Greg Robinson as Scrooge and Tracy Courage as Belle

Tracy Courage, news director in the Office of Communications and Marketing, plays multiple ensemble roles, including that of Belle, a love interest of the young Scrooge. She has performed at The Weekend Theater, the Benton Royal Theater, and Community Theater of Little Rock. Jacksonville High School student Sabrena Kertz, who takes classes at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a concurrent student, is part of the crew and works behind the scenes as a costume dresser.

Sabrena Kertz

She has studied stagecraft and also assists with set pieces at Argenta Community Theater. She will graduate in May and has applied for admission to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in fall 2018. “A Christmas Carol” is produced by Judy Tenenbaum and directed by Vincent Insalaco from an adaptation of the Charles Dickens holiday classic by Little Rock playwright Judy Goss. The show runs through Dec. 23. Tickets In the top right photo, Dr. Greg Robinson gets into character for his role as Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol.”

Event raises nearly $55k for audiology and speech pathology students; recent grad gets unexpected surprise

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 15:27:34 +0000

The eighth annual Jazz and Juleps event raised more than $54,000 for audiology and speech pathology students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The May 25 event, which was held at the Clinton Presidential Center, honored Cassandra Steele, director of special programs for the and a 1988 graduate of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. All funds raised from the event will go toward an endowed scholarship fund in Steele’s name. In her role at Little Rock School District, Steele oversees nearly 60 speech pathologists and more than 200 special education teachers. They provide services to about 2,700 students who receive special education lessons within the district. During her speech, Steele gave one recent graduate of the joint ��Vlog��ý Little Rock-University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences audiology and speech pathology graduate program the surprise of a lifetime.

Cassandra Steele (left) celebrates Madison White’s (right) acceptance of a job offer as a speech-language pathologist with the Little Rock School District. Photo by Nelson Cheanault.

During the 2016-17 academic year, Steele helped establish a partnership in which 10 audiology and speech pathology graduate students from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and ��Vlog��ýMS earned professional experience and stipends by serving as interns with Little Rock School District. Steele asked one of the interns, Madison White, to come to the stage during Jazz and Juleps. Believing that she was there to tell the crowd about her experiences as an intern, White was quite surprised when Steele offered her a job as a speech-language pathologist with Little Rock School District. “As I walked to the front and stood next to her, I was thinking about what I would say about my intern experience,” White said. “So I was completely caught off guard when she offered me a job. I was overwhelmed by the immediate amount of support and encouragement I received from everyone at the event, and I was so flattered that she would honor me in that way during her speech as the event honoree.” After congratulating White, Steele encouraged ��Vlog��ý Little Rock alumni to find ways to give back. “When you graduate from the department, you know that you are equipped to be the best in the profession,” Steele said. “As you delve into life after school, never pass on an opportunity to teach, mentor, or to serve. Together, we can accomplish so much for those with speech and hearing difficulties.” In the upper right photo, celebrity auctioneer Craig O’Neill takes pictures with the upbeat crowd at the 8th annual Jazz and Juleps event at the Clinton Presidential Center. Photo by Nelson Chenault.

Cassandra Steele to be honored at 2017 Jazz & Juleps

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 08:28:40 +0000

An educator devoted to improving the lives of special education students in Little Rock will be the guest of honor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock eighth annual Jazz & Juleps event. The Thursday, May 25, event, which celebrates Better Speech and Hearing Month, will be held at the Clinton Presidential Library in downtown Little Rock. Doors open at 6 p.m. There will be a silent auction and a live auction will begin at 7:30 p.m. Craig O’Neill of KTHV will serve as the special guest auctioneer. The honoree, Cassandra Steele, is the director of special programs for the, where she previously held the position of coordinator of speech and hearing services for 14 years. “It’s exciting to be honored, but I consider myself more of a behind-the-scenes person,” Steele said. “The things I have accomplished for children with hearing and speech-language disorders are very rewarding, but it’s not something for which I seek credit out front. I enjoy seeing the improvement in communicative skills and partnering with parents and individuals in the community to better lives for children with hearing and speech disorders.” In her role at Little Rock School District, Steele oversees nearly 60 speech pathologists and more than 200 special education teachers who work with the more than 2,700 students who receive special education lessons within the district. “My job is one of those jobs that touches the lives of so many different people from all backgrounds,” she said. “It just crosses all cultures, all socioeconomic backgrounds. Serving children and serving people with disabilities is one of those things that you just love.” Among her accomplishments is the formation of a parent advisory committee to help guide professional development for teachers and to serve as a resource for parents of children with disabilities. She also formed a partnership with educators from Japan to facilitate a learning environment for Japanese students with disabilities. In the higher education arena, she helped establish a partnership that started during the 2016-17 school year that allows 10 audiology and speech pathology graduate students from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to earn practical experience and stipends by working with students in Little Rock School District. All proceeds from the event will be used to create an endowed scholarship fund in Steele’s name to assist future students in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology. Steele, who graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1988, was previously recognized as the 2014 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni of the Year for the College of Education and Health Professions for her outstanding service on the Audiology and Speech Pathology Development Council. She is the first graduate of the audiology and speech pathology department to be named the Jazz & Juleps honoree. Tickets are $50, of which $30 is tax deductible, and will be available at the door. Tickets also can be ordered online. Sponsorships are available. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Kristi Smith, senior director of development for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Office of Alumni and Development, at klsmith4@ualr.edu or 501.569.8739. More about Cassandra Steele: Steele graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 1984. She next earned a master’s degree in audiology and speech pathology from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 1988. Steele is currently working toward the education specialist certificate in educational administration and supervision. Steele and her husband, former state Sen. Tracy Steele, live in North Little Rock and have two children. Their daughter, Sumone, is a sophomore at Tennessee State University and their son, Tracy, is an eighth-grader at North Little Rock Middle School. She belongs to multiple organizations whose missions encourage quality of life and leadership, including the local chapter of the American Heart Association, Greater Little Rock Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the American Speech-Language & Hearing Association.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock professor investigates transparent face mask to help deaf and hard of hearing patients better communicate with healthcare providers