Interview with Martha Coen-Cummings, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Co-Chair of OSLHA's Public Relations Committee
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Linda Schreiber: Good afternoon Martha. Thank you for agreeing to spend time chatting with me this afternoon. I interviewed you back in 2007 about the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Sponsored Silence program, which was the association's activity to highlight the importance of communicati
Linda Schreiber: Good afternoon Martha. Thank you for agreeing to spend time chatting with me this afternoon. I interviewed you back in 2007 about the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Sponsored Silence program, which was the association's activity to highlight the importance of communication during "May Is Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM)." You are a co-chair of the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association's (OSLHA) Public Relations Committee.
Martha Coen-Cummings:Yes.
Linda:I recently learned of OSLHA's December, 2008, public relations activity that will be used in 2009 on YouTube to launch May Is Better Hearing and Speech Month and once again it is noteworthyunique, creative, and an event our readers should know of.
Martha:This year's activity actually occurred during a University of Cincinnati Bearcats basketball game vs. the University of Alabama (and the Bearcats won I'm happy to report).
Linda:Go Bearcats!
Martha:What we did was so exciting and different from any previous Sponsored Silence Event to date. It allowed us to reach a unique audience (of sports fans!) that would likely not have had previous experience with individuals who have communication disorders. First, an extremely talented individualSara Pyska, a Wright State University college studentcame to the University of Cincinnati Bearcats game to sing the National Anthem by programming her AAC device, which is an extremely difficult thing to do given the timing of the words to the musical composition.
Sara
Linda:That must have had tremendous impact.
Martha:It was a wonderful and meaningful way to introduce the game and the Sponsored Silence event! Sara's performance got the fans engaged and prepared for what was to come at halftime. Sara is a very, very talented individual, and she writes music as well as being able to transpose music for her personal AAC device. She has worked with the Pittsburgh Symphony and has performed the National Anthem at a Pittsburgh Pirates game and a Steelers game. She is really going to be a force to contend with when it comes to public awareness of the power of communication using AAC devices.
Linda:And then you also had an event at halftime?
Martha:Yes. We also used halftime at this college basketball game to illustrate the importance of communication.
Linda:How did you manage that?
Martha:Prior to the game itself one of the co-chairs, Sandra Grether, contacted some of her current and former AAC clients who could provide testimonials about the importance of augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) devices. We videotaped a gentleman named Richard Humphries and a student named Timmy Clawson who provided wonderful testimonials. In addition, we videotaped the University of Cincinnati president, Dr. Nancy Zimpher. She provided a testimonial about the importance the Sponsored Silence event in which she participated last year, meant to her personally. In that 2007 event, Dr. Zimpher introduced a research conference at the university using an AAC device to deliver her opening address.
Linda:And somehow you used these videos during the basketball game?
Martha:Yes. We hired a professional videographer who then edited the testimonials to be short snippets, about 30-to-40 seconds apiece. And these were shown on the center-court Big Screen at halftime so everyone in that stadium could view them.
Timmy Clawson
Linda:And what was the purpose of showing these snippets?
Martha:They were a means to demonstrate the importance of communication and communication devices.
Linda:So the goal was to focus on the importance of communication and to demonstrate that there are devices to help those who are nonverbal.
Martha:Yes. In addition, we used the Cincinnati Bearcats radio announcersChuck Machock and Jeff Piecoroto deliver their halftime synopsis of the game and the team using an AAC device. They used the devices on the court for all to see. For Chuck, communicating with an AAC device was a very new experience (although we gave him some training before the game). Communicating with the device in front of such a large crowd was a very bold and courageous move, and he did wonderfully. For Jeff, the experience was not new as he has a son with autism who used an AAC device.
Linda:And had you known that prior to the event?
Martha:No, we didn't. Up until a week before the event a different radio announcer was going to participate but was pulled away by another sports-coverage commitment. Needless to say, Jeff was familiar with using a device but I can tell you he had never delivered a halftime synopsis using one. It turned out so perfectly. So these two individuals were in front of the entire stadiumwhich reached THOUSANDSdelivering their synopses, and it was absolutely fantastic!
Linda:How did you make the audience aware of why this was going on?
Martha:My co-chairKatrina Zeitand I delivered introductory and conclusive statements explaining how important AAC devices are in empowering individuals who need them to communicate. We also pointed out that AAC devices are not covered fully by insurance.
Linda:You mentioned earlier to me that in honor of Better Hearing and Speech Month, OSLHA (www.oslha.org) has designated funds for scholarships that can be used to help offset the cost of therapy, once an AAC device has been acquired.
Martha:Yes OSLHA's at the initial development stage of establishing an AAC therapy scholarship fund to allow more people to have access to the necessary training involved to achieve the goal of being a competent communicator using an AAC device.
Linda:Martha, how can readers get more information about how to start their own awareness event in their state or community?
Martha:OSLHA has a videoclip of the entire event at their website (www.oslha.org) with additional information about the scholarship fund. The videoclip will also be shown on YouTube in May in an effort to highlight May Is Better Hearing and Speech Month to a wide and varied audience. We are hoping that other speech-language pathologists across the country might see this and consider implementing something similar in their own state associations.
In an effort to "spread the word" about Sponsored Silence, Katrina and I presented a "how to" seminar at the Chicago 2008 ASHA convention and I can be contacted to present similar sessions at any state association that would like to learn more! In addition, a proposal has also been submitted to present this information at the 2009 Council of State Association Presidents Meeting (which occurs immediately before the ASHA convention in November) and at the 2009 ASHA convention in New Orleans.
Linda:You must feel very content that this event met the goal of your PR committee.
Martha:My co-chairs and I felt very proud about the entire event. We believe it was one of our best, although very different from all the others, so it's hard to compare from one year to the next. The scope of the most recent event using the half-time period at the U.C. Bearcats game was the largest to date, and required us to obtain corporate sponsorship beyond OSLHA's fiscal support, to cover the promotional costs, fan give-a-aways, T-shirts won by students and participants, and the videographer fees. We are indebted to our very generous sponsors, which included Cincinnati Children's Hospital's Division of Speech Pathology, DynaVox, and Prentke-Romich companies. The event would not have taken place without the support efforts of ALL involved, working as a team (which has been a common thread across all of the Sponsored Silence events, both large and small).
Linda:And your other events were also very masterful.
Martha:Thank You! Those other events are discussed on OSHLA's website and included an event with an elementary school principal and another with Ohio Senator Goodman, in addition to the event mentioned earlier with University of Cincinnati President Dr. Nancy Zimpher. We hope to develop a library of these events so other associations can have access and get ideas of future events that could be implemented in their own states. We have procedural information, timelines, suggestions, and recommendations of how to set up the events. And anyone, anywhere, can feel free to contact me at: Martha.Coen-Cummings@cchmc.org
Linda:Martha, you and the committee are so creative.
Martha Coen-Cummings, Katrina Zeit & Sandi Grether
Martha:As stated in the 2007 SpeechPathology.com interview, the originators of Sponsored Silence was the organization Speech Pathology Australia, who were very generous in giving us their blessing to produce a similar event in the U.S. Therefore, when OSLHA heard of this idea, it became obvious of the tremendous impact it would have as a public relations tool, and therefore OSLHA launched the first events in the United States with great confidence!
Linda: I appreciate you sharing your ideas and I hope our readers will get events like this going in their own states. In fact, they have a year to plan for May 2010. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me today.
Martha Coen-Cummings:Yes.
Linda:I recently learned of OSLHA's December, 2008, public relations activity that will be used in 2009 on YouTube to launch May Is Better Hearing and Speech Month and once again it is noteworthyunique, creative, and an event our readers should know of.
Martha:This year's activity actually occurred during a University of Cincinnati Bearcats basketball game vs. the University of Alabama (and the Bearcats won I'm happy to report).
Linda:Go Bearcats!
Martha:What we did was so exciting and different from any previous Sponsored Silence Event to date. It allowed us to reach a unique audience (of sports fans!) that would likely not have had previous experience with individuals who have communication disorders. First, an extremely talented individualSara Pyska, a Wright State University college studentcame to the University of Cincinnati Bearcats game to sing the National Anthem by programming her AAC device, which is an extremely difficult thing to do given the timing of the words to the musical composition.
Sara
Linda:That must have had tremendous impact.
Martha:It was a wonderful and meaningful way to introduce the game and the Sponsored Silence event! Sara's performance got the fans engaged and prepared for what was to come at halftime. Sara is a very, very talented individual, and she writes music as well as being able to transpose music for her personal AAC device. She has worked with the Pittsburgh Symphony and has performed the National Anthem at a Pittsburgh Pirates game and a Steelers game. She is really going to be a force to contend with when it comes to public awareness of the power of communication using AAC devices.
Linda:And then you also had an event at halftime?
Martha:Yes. We also used halftime at this college basketball game to illustrate the importance of communication.
Linda:How did you manage that?
Martha:Prior to the game itself one of the co-chairs, Sandra Grether, contacted some of her current and former AAC clients who could provide testimonials about the importance of augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) devices. We videotaped a gentleman named Richard Humphries and a student named Timmy Clawson who provided wonderful testimonials. In addition, we videotaped the University of Cincinnati president, Dr. Nancy Zimpher. She provided a testimonial about the importance the Sponsored Silence event in which she participated last year, meant to her personally. In that 2007 event, Dr. Zimpher introduced a research conference at the university using an AAC device to deliver her opening address.
Linda:And somehow you used these videos during the basketball game?
Martha:Yes. We hired a professional videographer who then edited the testimonials to be short snippets, about 30-to-40 seconds apiece. And these were shown on the center-court Big Screen at halftime so everyone in that stadium could view them.
Timmy Clawson
Linda:And what was the purpose of showing these snippets?
Martha:They were a means to demonstrate the importance of communication and communication devices.
Linda:So the goal was to focus on the importance of communication and to demonstrate that there are devices to help those who are nonverbal.
Martha:Yes. In addition, we used the Cincinnati Bearcats radio announcersChuck Machock and Jeff Piecoroto deliver their halftime synopsis of the game and the team using an AAC device. They used the devices on the court for all to see. For Chuck, communicating with an AAC device was a very new experience (although we gave him some training before the game). Communicating with the device in front of such a large crowd was a very bold and courageous move, and he did wonderfully. For Jeff, the experience was not new as he has a son with autism who used an AAC device.
Linda:And had you known that prior to the event?
Martha:No, we didn't. Up until a week before the event a different radio announcer was going to participate but was pulled away by another sports-coverage commitment. Needless to say, Jeff was familiar with using a device but I can tell you he had never delivered a halftime synopsis using one. It turned out so perfectly. So these two individuals were in front of the entire stadiumwhich reached THOUSANDSdelivering their synopses, and it was absolutely fantastic!
Linda:How did you make the audience aware of why this was going on?
Martha:My co-chairKatrina Zeitand I delivered introductory and conclusive statements explaining how important AAC devices are in empowering individuals who need them to communicate. We also pointed out that AAC devices are not covered fully by insurance.
Linda:You mentioned earlier to me that in honor of Better Hearing and Speech Month, OSLHA (www.oslha.org) has designated funds for scholarships that can be used to help offset the cost of therapy, once an AAC device has been acquired.
Martha:Yes OSLHA's at the initial development stage of establishing an AAC therapy scholarship fund to allow more people to have access to the necessary training involved to achieve the goal of being a competent communicator using an AAC device.
Linda:Martha, how can readers get more information about how to start their own awareness event in their state or community?
Martha:OSLHA has a videoclip of the entire event at their website (www.oslha.org) with additional information about the scholarship fund. The videoclip will also be shown on YouTube in May in an effort to highlight May Is Better Hearing and Speech Month to a wide and varied audience. We are hoping that other speech-language pathologists across the country might see this and consider implementing something similar in their own state associations.
In an effort to "spread the word" about Sponsored Silence, Katrina and I presented a "how to" seminar at the Chicago 2008 ASHA convention and I can be contacted to present similar sessions at any state association that would like to learn more! In addition, a proposal has also been submitted to present this information at the 2009 Council of State Association Presidents Meeting (which occurs immediately before the ASHA convention in November) and at the 2009 ASHA convention in New Orleans.
Linda:You must feel very content that this event met the goal of your PR committee.
Martha:My co-chairs and I felt very proud about the entire event. We believe it was one of our best, although very different from all the others, so it's hard to compare from one year to the next. The scope of the most recent event using the half-time period at the U.C. Bearcats game was the largest to date, and required us to obtain corporate sponsorship beyond OSLHA's fiscal support, to cover the promotional costs, fan give-a-aways, T-shirts won by students and participants, and the videographer fees. We are indebted to our very generous sponsors, which included Cincinnati Children's Hospital's Division of Speech Pathology, DynaVox, and Prentke-Romich companies. The event would not have taken place without the support efforts of ALL involved, working as a team (which has been a common thread across all of the Sponsored Silence events, both large and small).
Linda:And your other events were also very masterful.
Martha:Thank You! Those other events are discussed on OSHLA's website and included an event with an elementary school principal and another with Ohio Senator Goodman, in addition to the event mentioned earlier with University of Cincinnati President Dr. Nancy Zimpher. We hope to develop a library of these events so other associations can have access and get ideas of future events that could be implemented in their own states. We have procedural information, timelines, suggestions, and recommendations of how to set up the events. And anyone, anywhere, can feel free to contact me at: Martha.Coen-Cummings@cchmc.org
Linda:Martha, you and the committee are so creative.
Martha Coen-Cummings, Katrina Zeit & Sandi Grether
Martha:As stated in the 2007 SpeechPathology.com interview, the originators of Sponsored Silence was the organization Speech Pathology Australia, who were very generous in giving us their blessing to produce a similar event in the U.S. Therefore, when OSLHA heard of this idea, it became obvious of the tremendous impact it would have as a public relations tool, and therefore OSLHA launched the first events in the United States with great confidence!
Linda: I appreciate you sharing your ideas and I hope our readers will get events like this going in their own states. In fact, they have a year to plan for May 2010. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me today.