Education by the numbers 2025
Academic year 2025 highlights
-
2,920
Total student enrollment -
1,775
Undergraduate student enrollment -
395
Master’s student enrollment -
717
Doctorate student enrollment -
27
Academic programs of study -
181
Faculty -
98.53%
Undergraduate 4-year graduation rate -
3
Student-run equal access clinics
For children with communication disorders, a UF group offers promise
UF Health speech language pathologist Jaime Miale, top center, and student clinicians work with a child at UF Health
Rehab Center for Kids
– Magnolia Parke. Photo courtesy of Kristen Lewandowski
By Erin Jester
Assistive technology for children with communication disorders has grown exponentially in recent decades, but a learning curve remains, both educational and social, for children with limited verbal abilities.
A collaboration between the College of Public Health and Health Professions and UF Health Rehab Center for Kids – Magnolia Parke is filling that gap.
Children and families meet in a group setting with clinicians and student mentors to learn how to use augmentative and alternative communication devices. Their medical diagnoses include autism, cerebral palsy, and genetic conditions and neurological disorders that affect their speech. It’s the only group of its kind in the Alachua County area.
The group is the brainchild of Jaime Miale, M.A., CCC-SLP, a UF Health speech-language pathologist specializing in assistive technology, and Kristen Lewandowski, M.A., CCC-SLP, an instructional assistant professor in PHHP’s Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.
Students from Lewandowski’s augmentative and alternative communication class volunteer to work with the children.
“It was a great experience to work on (the devices) with patients and see how they’d use them in real-life settings,” said Fiona Fulling, a recent graduate of the master’s program in communication sciences and disorders. “Being able to adapt to what doesn’t work and change course is important.”
Rafy, 5, was born with a rare genetic disorder that affects his speech. He was recommended to the group by his speech therapist, Miale.
Rafy and his parents have been learning to use an assistive toy with big buttons he can hit to indicate when he needs something.
In isolation, progress can feel slow, and children and families can get discouraged. But in a group setting, children benefit from learning alongside their peers, and parents can find community.
“It helps the parents to see that there is a good future ahead. If you keep at it, you can see the progress,” Rafy’s father, Edgar, said. “That helps you emotionally and helps you keep at it.”