Graduate student clinicians in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders Master’s program recently earned supervised clinical hours at a day camp for children who are Deaf and hard-of-hearing and their siblings.
“Camp We Sign” is a partnership that Linda I. Rosa-Lugo, director of the UCF Listening Center, began fostering five years ago. Rosa-Lugo, along with Whitney Haas, clinical educator for the Listening Center, served as mentors for the graduate clinicians during the camp, which lasted from July 12 to July 16.
Marilu Santos is the director of Camp We Sign. She says she was thrilled to have UCF student clinicians work with the campers through the structured activities they designed to facilitate language – both utilizing sign language, and listening and spoken language skills.
Several graduate clinicians participated in the camp, who included Alexis Alfonso, Yitzella Camargo, Destiny Lile, Megan Simons and Zaray Sosa.
By using friendship bracelet-making kits, board games, art supplies and other creative activities, the students enhanced the children’s access to language, and had fun at the same time.
The students, along with Rosa-Lugo and Haas, found the experience to be rewarding and fun, Haas says. “I feel so fortunate to be able to supervise our graduate clinicians outside of the ‘typical’ therapy session like we are able to do at Camp We Sign.”
