Krista Davidson, a clinical professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, hosts the ALS Communication and Assistive Technology Learning Lab every fall and spring.
Monday, December 23, 2024

By Will Bower

The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Clinic hosted the biannual ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) Communication and Assistive Technology Learning Lab in collaboration with the ALS Association of Iowa on Nov. 8. Krista Davidson, a clinical professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), coordinates the lab. 

“I hold the ALS lab every spring and fall,” Davidson said. “I’ve been doing this since 2019.” 

The intention of the lab is to provide an individual introduction to communication and assistive technology interventions for individuals living with ALS and their caregivers. The lab also provides opportunities for CSD graduate students to gain hands-on experience. 

ALS lab leaders and attendees working in a classroom setting.

In a 2020 blog post, Davidson wrote 100% of participants and students said they would recommend the lab to others in the future. Four years later, the lab is going strong. 
Kylan Straight, a second-year Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) student, participated in the lab. 

“I was responsible for educating participants and their loved ones about voice and message banking, and various communication apps available to them,” Straight said. 

Though she is undecided about what she specifically wants to do after she graduates, Straight said, her experience working with ALS patients was positive. 

“Participating in this lab helped me see that we are in a position to reinforce what our clients can do,” Straight said. “We get to focus on improving their quality of life and participation in meaningful life activities by providing various ways they can continue accessing communication.”