SPOKANE, WashAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s disease,” is the unfortunately perfect disease uniting three healthcare programs on the Riverpoint Campus and the ALS Association Evergreen Chapter of Spokane. Washington State University Spokane and Eastern Washington University students and faculty from the areas of Speech and Hearing Science/ Communication Disorders, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy have joined forces with the Evergreen Chapter in an effort to improve the quality of life for those living with ALS.
WSU Spokane and EWU will host a free educational forum 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 21, on the Riverpoint Campus in the Academic Center Auditorium (room 20) at 600 N Riverpoint Blvd. A panel of patients, caregivers and surviving family members will share their stories and answer questions about the reality of living with this fatal disease.
“This forum enables students to learn more about ALS as it applies to their field of study, and on a personal level, students will better understand how this disease affects patients and families living with ALS on a daily basis,” said NaDean Watkins, patient care services coordinator. “By partnering with WSU and EWU, we will be able to better educate our future clinicians about ALS, and therefore expand our patient service programs throughout our communities.”
An estimated 500 people in the state of
“The typical duration of the disease from diagnosis to hospice is about two to four yearsthe same length of time students take to complete their studies,” said Nancy Potter, assistant professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences at WSU Spokane. “Over the course of the disease, all three disciplines will have a hand in supporting individuals with ALS.”
“This collaboration between the universities and the ALS Association Evergreen Chapter enables us to not only know about the ‘what’ of ALS but to truly relate to the ‘who’,” said Roberta Jackson, lecturer for Communication Disorders at EWU.
Event parking is available at the meters in the green parking lots, in the Pay and Display lot located just off of
https://www.spokane.wsu.edu/campusresources/Facilities/
documents/CampusMap2006.pdf.
NOTE TO MEDIA:
The following panelists and facilitators will be available for personal interviews at the conclusion of the forum. Panelists:
George Akers (surviving family member), Carole Asher (surviving family member), Dan Bourson (patient), Steve Browning (patient), Debbie Copstead (patient) and Chris Copstead (caregiver), Jenny Hoff (patient), Matt Nystul (surviving family member), Pat Tebo (surviving family member), Lara Tews (surviving family member), and Maegan Yapp (surviving family member).
Facilitators:
NaDean Watkins, Jennifer Hanson, Sonja Zimmer, Nancy Potter, and Roberta Jackson.
About the ALS Association Evergreen Chapter
The mission of the ALS Association is to lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global, cutting-edge research and to empower people with Lou Gehrig’s disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. The Evergreen Chapter services a large region that includes
Web sites:
WSU Spokane Speech and Hearing Sciences:
www.speech-hrg.spokane.wsu.edu
EWU Communication Disorders:
https://cshe.cslabs.ewu.edu/deptCD/x55890.html
EWU Occupational Therapy:
https://cshe.cslabs.ewu.edu/deptOT/x55897.html
EWU Physical Therapy:
https://cshe.cslabs.ewu.edu/deptPT/splash.html
ALS Association:
https://www.alsa.org
ALS Association Evergreen Chapter:
https://www.alsa-ec.org
