Speech-Language Pathology students advocate for Huntington's disease

Two undergraduate Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPPA) students from Western Michigan University recently volunteered at a fundraiser to support Huntington’s disease. Hannah Cluley and Cassidy Eastman attended the Battle Creek/Kalamazoo Team Hope Walk on October 6th. This event serves as the Huntington Disease Society of America’s signature grassroots fundraising campaign. Hannah and Cassidy provided information about the WMU Charles Van Riper Language, Speech and Hearing Clinic and educated passersby about some of the clinical programs offered through WMU that may benefit those with HD. In addition to being a community resource for speech-language pathology, Hannah and Cassidy were there to support their former client and his family from the WMU Unified Clinics.

Pictured are Cassidy and Hannah with a former client, his mother and sister. 

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disorder that causes the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. It deteriorates a person's physical and mental abilities usually during their prime working years and has no cure. The symptoms of HD are described by some as having ALS, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases – simultaneously. For more information on Huntington's disease, go to: https://hdsa.org/.