Community Engagement
KU students have opportunities to work with people in our community to both apply their clinical training to individuals with hearing and speech needs, and also to learn from them and promote their well-being. Read about the impact our Jayhawks are making in the community!
JaySTART Clinic
A KU student provides clinical guidance via telehealth under
the supervision of KU faculty.
KU Medical Center's Student Teaching and Rehabilitation Training – or JaySTART – Clinic provides free occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language services to the Kansas City community. Its mission is to address the barriers to health care access in the Kansas City area by providing services to meet the needs of underserved patient populations.
Students in training, under the direct supervision of licensed speech-language pathologists, provide services to patients. Learn more.
National Hearing Aid Project
The National Hearing Aid Project is a unique model and one-of-a-kind collaboration created by Hearing Charities of America. It addresses the increased demand for hearing aids by providing hearing aids to low-income individuals on a national scale.
The project brings organizations together so that each fulfills a specific role in providing hearing aids to the individuals that need them.
Hearing Charities of America has partnered with the Department of Hearing of Speech at the University of Kansas Medical Center to maintain and track all of the hearing aids in the program.
Learn more at hearingaiddonations.org.
Local Hearing Screenings
During Police Officer Appreciation Week in Kansas City, KU audiology students offer free hearing screenings and custom-made ear piece for more than 100 local officers.
Appropriate hearing pieces are essential for comfort and safety while on the job. Watch a local news report about it.
Helping KU's Marching Band
In an effort to educate musicians on the impact of noise-induced hearing loss, KU's Student Academy of Audiology visited with the KU Marching Jayhawks during the annual band camp in fall 2022. They provided 159 hearing screenings, and thanks to a donation from Westone, each band member also received a set of ETY ear plugs. Additionally, 17 lucky winners received custom hearing protection for musicians in a drawing.
Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities
The University of Kansas is a member of this national program from the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, a network of university-based interdisciplinary programs servings as a bridge between the university and the community, bringing together the resources of both to achieve meaningful change.
Funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration and Maternal and Child Health Bureau, this training provides graduate and post-graduate level professionals from a variety of disciplines the necessary preparation for becoming future leaders in the field of developmental disabilities for the improvement of the health of infants, children and adolescents with disabilities.
Trainees participate in 12 areas of leadership competency, ensuring a high level of interdisciplinary clinical competence in providing health and related services for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. Medium and short-term training opportunities are available. Learn more about LEND at KU Medical Center.
Fundraising Events
Our students participate in many fundraising events, held both on- and off-campus, to help raise awareness, support and financial help for individuals with hearing and speech impairments.
Jessie Kingrey and Molly Whiteley participated in the "Hear to Move"
Aud Lifestyle 5K Fun-Run/Walk on March 31, 2022, in St. Louis. They
raised $3,200 of the $10,000 total to support Student Audiology
Association chapters at the University of Kansas Medical Center,
Washington University in St Louis, and Missouri State University.