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December 5, 2000
SIOUX FALLS - Augustana seniors Alison Bloedow, Redwood Falls, Minn., and Stacey Hesse, Morris, Minn., recently presented a poster at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association national conference in Washington, D.C. The group celebrated its 75th anniversary.
Their presentation, "Family Travels: A Voyage to Accepting Disability," was developed during an independent study with Dr. Mary Friehe, Associate Professor of Education at Augustana.
Bloedow and Hesse designed a brochure containing information for families who have been told that one of their children has a disability. The brochure features the poem "Welcome to Holland" written by Emily Perl Kingsley, and likens a family's experience with disability to a change in travel itinerary.
Pullout sections describe the reactions families often encounter ranging from denial to anger to acceptance. It provides tips for how to recognize feelings and deal with them in a constructive manner. Additional information is available for parents concerning other family members, including grandparents and siblings.
After graduation in the spring of 2001, Bloedow plans to pursue a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology, while Hesse will pursue a degree in Audiology.