Ainsley P. Vergara

The “Unlocking Communication Potential After Graduation: Speech Pathology for Young Adults with Disabilities” initiative aims to increase visibility and awareness of specialized services provided by the UGA Speech and Hearing Clinic to adults with disabilities as they navigate transitions beyond secondary schooling.

This initiative aims to enhance language and literacy development in young children across Athens, GA, by providing low-income families with resources that leverage reading to its fullest potential. Each kit includes 2 grade-level books, low-tech AAC boards, and guides to help caregivers use reading as a tool for teaching vocabulary, comprehension, and conversational skills. The workshops equip caregivers with strategies to foster meaningful interactions and make reading an engaging family activity. By integrating these resources into the community, we seek to empower caregivers to play an active role in their child’s language development, laying a strong foundation for lifelong learning.