(Three Rivers, MI - November 12, 2007) Nickola Wolf Nelson, PhD, Professor of Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Western Michigan University will receive the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation's Frank R. Kleffner Life Clinical Career Award during the 2007 Convention of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), November 15-17 in Boston, Massachusetts.
The honor recognizes exemplary contributions to science and practice.
Dr. Wolf Nelson is being recognized for her visionary leadership, clinical excellence, and passionate advocacy for students with language-learning disabilities. From her early work on the relationship between oral and written language processing by children with reading problems, which led to the first study of classroom discourse, Nelson has built a strong history of participatory field research upon which to base interventions. Her pioneering work has resulted in linkages between language research and clinical practice in authentic classroom settings. Through system theory and ethnographic principles of investigation, she has explored the interactive influences of context and created innovative approaches to assessing and treating children with language disorders across listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. She also developed the writing laboratory approach to addressing children's written and oral expression. Her collective work bridges the mission of the speech-language pathologist to meet the needs of the student struggling in the classroom with collaboration between the classroom teacher and special educator. She is known nationally and internationally for translating these concepts into practical applications for working clinicians and students, also reflected through her numerous textbooks, journal publications, and clinical materials.
The annual ASHA convention is the most comprehensive development conference for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language and hearing scientists. It features more than 1,500 educational sessions that highlight the latest developments in research and clinical practices for professionals who provide services in schools, hospitals, health care centers, rehabilitation clinics, and other practice settings.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation is a charitable organization that promotes a better quality of life for children and adults with communication disorders. Its mission is to advance knowledge about the causes and treatment of hearing, speech, and language problems. The ASHFoundation also raises funds from individuals, corporations, and organizations to support research, graduate education, and special projects that foster discovery and innovation in the field of communication sciences.
The ASHFoundation is affiliated with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 127,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.
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