ACU’s Center for Speech and Language Disorders has moved to the Duncum Center, at the corner of East North 16th Street and Judge Ely Boulevard, and is now called the Center for Speech, Language and Learning at the Duncum Center.
The conflict resolution graduate programs once housed in the facility, previously known as the Duncum Center for Conflict Resolution, have moved to ACU’s Dallas campus as part of Duncum Center Solutions.
“This beautiful and functional building is well-suited to house the Speech, Language and Learning Center, and the location is much easier for members of our community to locate and access than the previous location in McKinzie Hall,” said vice provost Dr. Susan Lewis.
The center, open Monday through Friday, provides evaluation and treatment services to individuals with suspected communication and swallowing disorders. Clients range from 18 months to more than 90 years of age. Additionally, the clinic provides special programs for adults with Parkinson’s disease, and an aphasia (post-stroke) recovery group.
“We’re excited about this move to the Duncum Center and the expansion and enhancement of our program and the services we are able to offer,” said Dr. Lynette Austin, acting chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. “We also are thankful to better serve individuals who have mobility problems or who use wheelchairs because the Duncum Center is an accessible facility with on-site parking.”
Each semester, about 50 graduate students in the Master of Science in speech-language pathology program are placed into a local clinical practicum. Around 10 of those students are placed each semester in ACU’s Center for Speech, Language and Learning. Three part-time clinical supervisors, one full-time supervisor/instructor, and the clinic director oversee their work.
“In the Duncum Center, we plan to expand our efforts to provide services to the community while continuing our policy of charging only a nominal fee,” Austin said. “It is our goal to make high quality speech-language therapy programs financially accessible to as many community members as we can.”
The Duncum family is supportive of the change in the use of the building.
“Although the occupants of the facility have changed, the Duncum family is excited the facility will continue to serve the needs of individuals and the community in meaningful ways,” said Jim Orr, vice president for advancement. “The Duncum Center will remain a place where lives are impacted and made better.”
The Center for Speech, Language and Learning will host an open house at the Duncum Center from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 18.