Constance Fay Kuffel

KUFFEL (HARE), Constance Fay "Connie," of Tampa, died on Sunday, August 5, 2012. Born in 1942 in Washington, DC, Connie received her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University. She received her master's degree in Audiology and Speech Pathology from the University of South Florida. Connie was an assistant professor at USF and, more recently, a speech therapist with the Hillsborough County School System. She valued her time spent with her family and especially enjoyed time with her four grandchildren. She was always concerned with the comfort and wellbeing of others. Connie is survived by her husband of 38 years, Curt Hare; her father, Lorne Kuffel; her brother, Lorne Kuffel, Jr., and his wife, Mani; her son, Daryl Hare, and his wife, Katherine; her son, Daniel Hare, and his wife, Catherine; her daughter, Dawn Hare; and her grandchildren, Joseph Kizmann, Jordan Kizmann, Ryan Hare, and Ivy Hare.

Creating a United, Global Voice for Aphasia

Globalization affects health care research and health services for over one billion people living with disabilities around the world. International societies are a recommended way to address the growing global needs of researchers, consumers, and clinicians. Aphasia United is a newly formed organization that aims to bring these groups together to forge best practices, an international research agenda, and capacity building to address issues of living with the communication impairment - aphasia. Jackie Hinckley, Associate Professor Emeritus in the CSD Department, is a member of the Executive Committee of this new organization.  Aphasia United's first Summit Meeting was held October 15, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia, where goals and organizational structure were addressed.  Aphasia United aims to  1) increase the visibility of people living with aphasia and the clinicians and researchers who work to support them 2) represent the aphasia community globally 3) create formal global networks that connect people living with aphasia, clinicians and researchers, 4) set a global research agenda and 5) encourage best standards of practice in aphasia care.  More information about Aphasia United, including a white paper describing its goals, is available at www.aphasiaunited.org.

An article describing this work will appear in the ASHA Leader, January, 2013.

Family Abilities Information Rally (FAIR)

The Family Abilities Information Rally (FAIR) on Saturday. October 6, 2012 was a huge success!  Our faculty and students were able to share information about USF-SLHC services (Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology clinics), the USF-Bolesta center, as well as upcoming special events for Hands On, Cued Speech, the Selective Mutism Group (SMG) conference, and Stuttering support! Many of our students volunteered for SLHC and CARD and helped entertain the children with face painting and games.  Special thanks to Michelle Hite, M.S., CCC-SLP for all of her help and CARD for sharing their space with us so we could be neighbors at the event.

Audiology Events

On May 17^th the USF Au.D. program teamed with the Greater Tampa Sertoma Club for a SafeEars presentation at Turner Elementary in Tampa. A total of 150 5^th grade students participated in the event. The students entered the auditorium to the song “Turn It to the Left” playing in the background. Four Au.D. students, assisted by Dr. Lisa Hansel, presented a Hearing Conservation slideshow and conducted a rousing question-and-answer session. The 5^th graders were then divided into smaller groups and provided with goodie bags containing ear plugs, a hearing terminology word-search puzzle, and basic instructions for protecting their hearing. They practiced proper ear plug insertion and were rewarded with stickers. (left to right) Lisa Hansel, Au.D.; Brooke Worthington; Nada Hanna; Katie Austin; Darby Blake

LT COL ROBERT A. SHULL

A graduate of the USF Audiology Program, Lt Col Robert A. Shull is the Senior Military Advisor for the Warfighter Interface Division at the 711^th Human Performace Wing at Wright Patterson AFB, OH.  He is the senior advisor to the Division Chief and four Branch chiefs, helping guide the professional developmemt of 35 military members.  Lt Col Shull also acts in an advisory role to the DoD/HA, USAF/SG, HQ/VA, Director DoD/HCE, service laboratorys, industry and academia regarding auditory issues/research. Lt Col Shull provides audiological cousel to the Directorate and is the Analyst Test Bed (ATB) advisor to the Division Chief.  Lt Col Shull is also the Air Force Surgeon General’s Associate Corps Chief and military consultant for the Audiology and Speech Pathology career fields, responsible for 47 healthcare providers world-wide. 

"I can't say enough about USF's Speech Clinic"

Wow, as a mother I can't say enough about USF's Speech Clinic.  At a time when I felt hopeless, they gave me hope! And how do you put that into words... We'd been to multiple programs in the area and really didn't feel like my son was getting the help he needed. But, the day I met Kathleen Sills and the USF students that changed.  Their level of expertise was superb but it was their level of "heart" that was unmatched.  My son is part of their "family" and as a mom it is comforting to know there are people who care as much as you do.  Not only do they meet his needs and continue to challenge him, but they have taught me important lessons, too.  Now, Nick and I have new ways to communicate and everyday it gets better. I see excitement in his eyes now, instead of frustration... It's like a whole new World has opened up to him thanks to our time at USF's Speech Clinic.  "Thank you" just doesn't seem to say enough...   

Kellie Lightbourn

Darla Freeman-LeVay's NSDA Update

Since 1999, the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association (NSDA) takes great pleasure in bestowing The Midge Kovacs Annual Awareness Award.  In doing so, we honor the outstanding work of an SD support group. 

For their work in 2011, this award this year is given to Co-Leaders, Ron Langdon and James Anderson, of the Tampa Bay SD Support Group.  They follow in the footsteps of the late pioneering SD advocate, Midge Kovacs.  Midge encouraged all of us with SD to think beyond our individual voice problems. 

In December, 2011, the Tampa Bay SD Support Group conducted a three-mile walk to benefit the NSDA which raised over $ 6,000.  Support Group Co-Leader, Ron Langdon, commented:  “Our group in Tampa greatly appreciates all that the NSDA does, and we are thrilled to make this contribution!”  Advocacy Leader, Emma Mattes, described it this way:  “This was one of the best things that our group ever did, and we are so fortunate to have the most phenomenal members in Florida.  It started out as such a simple premise of ‘let’s give something back’. We cannot express our amazement at the support that we received from our families, friends, and co-workers.  We raised more money than we ever dreamed possible, and we didn’t even have corporate sponsors.  I say, ‘let’s take this national next year’.”

Tom Hofmann will accept the award for this support group since the Tampa co-leaders can’t be with us.  Tom participated in Tampa Bay’s fundraising walk.  Thank you, Tampa Bay SD Support Group, for your inspiring work which encourages all of us to “speak out for spasmodic dysphonia”.