By Dave DeFusco
The Katz School鈥檚 M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology has secured a specialized training grant from the Parkinson Voice Project鈥檚 acclaimed SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program. This national training initiative will equip Katz School students across the United States with the knowledge, tools and clinical certification to treat hypokinetic dysarthria鈥攁 neuromotor speech disorder commonly associated with Parkinson鈥檚 disease that robs individuals of their voice, clarity and connection to the world.
The grant will allow the Katz School Virtual Clinic to offer SPEAK OUT! services free of charge to individuals diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 and related disorders. These services are now available via telehealth to patients in New York, removing many of the common barriers to care鈥攊ncluding cost, transportation and mobility issues鈥攁t a time when evidence-based, accessible treatment is needed more than ever.
鈥淭his is incredibly specialized training鈥攕omething that typically only comes post-professionally,鈥 said Katie Threlkeld, a clinical assistant professor and Virtual Clinic coordinator who led the effort to secure the grant. 鈥淭o offer it to graduate students is rare, and to offer it to patients for free will be transformative.鈥
The grant announcement comes during April鈥檚 National Parkinson鈥檚 Disease Awareness Month, a poignant reminder of the pressing need for effective interventions. An estimated 1.5 million Americans are currently living with Parkinson鈥檚 disease, with approximately 60,000 new diagnoses each year. Speech and swallowing difficulties affect the majority of those with Parkinson鈥檚, often worsening over time and diminishing quality of life.
The SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program offers a proven, research-based approach to combating these symptoms by helping individuals 鈥渟peak with intent.鈥 This method transforms speech from an automatic behavior into a conscious, deliberate act鈥攁n especially critical shift for those whose neurological disease affects motor planning and control.
The training program blends education, one-on-one and group therapy, daily home practice and ongoing follow-up, empowering patients with tools to maintain their communication and swallowing functions throughout the progression of the disease.
At the heart of this initiative is a commitment to bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world application. The 10.5-hour certification, typically reserved for licensed professionals, is now available to Katz students鈥13 of whom have already completed the training.
鈥淭his allows our students to approach a diagnosis like Parkinson鈥檚 with confidence and compassion,鈥 said Threlkeld. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e learning not only the theory, but how to apply it through clinical interventions鈥攐ften before they even begin their adult externships.鈥
Students participating in the SPEAK OUT! training are embedded in diverse clinical placements nationwide, from Florida to Texas to California, allowing the program to scale its impact far beyond New York.
The hallmark of the SPEAK OUT! program鈥攕peaking with intent鈥攊s more than a clinical cue. It鈥檚 a transformative mindset that addresses one of the root motor challenges of Parkinson鈥檚: bradykinesia, or the gradual reduction in movement amplitude.
鈥淲ith Parkinson鈥檚, we see shuffling in walking, small handwriting, and the same thing happens with speech,鈥 said Threlkeld. 鈥淭he muscles that control the mouth and voice make smaller, less forceful movements. That鈥檚 why we get reduced vocal volume and slurred speech.鈥
By intentionally engaging these muscles and retraining the brain鈥檚 motor pathways, patients begin to regain control鈥攎oving from structured practice into spontaneous, real-life communication.
鈥淭he goal is always generalization,鈥 she said. 鈥淲e want patients to speak this way in their homes, in restaurants, with their grandchildren鈥攏ot just in the therapy room.鈥
For students, the program provides not only training but hands-on experience with patients under the supervision of licensed speech-language pathologists. Each therapy plan includes individualized treatment, a home exercise regime and weekly telehealth check-ins, creating a comprehensive and supportive care model. These real-world applications also prepare students to advocate for patients, work in interdisciplinary medical settings and build their resumes with highly marketable certifications.
鈥淔or a student to say they鈥檝e already been trained in an evidence-based program for Parkinson鈥檚 disease鈥攖hat鈥檚 huge,鈥 she said.
At its core, this initiative reflects the mission of the Katz School鈥檚 Speech-Language Pathology program: to blend rigorous academic preparation with deeply human clinical practice.
鈥淲e鈥檙e training speech-language pathologists who are prepared to meet the most complex clinical needs,鈥 said Dr. Marissa Barrera, director of the M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology and assistant dean of health sciences. 鈥淭hat includes patients with Parkinson鈥檚, traumatic brain injury and other neurological disorders.鈥
