On April 5, 2022, Professor Eusebia Mont led a panel discussion on Global Issues in communication sciences and disorders in HESP 204: Multicultural Issues in Communication and Communication Disorders, a new course offered in spring. She was joined by Professor Eliza Thompson and panelists, Dionna Latimer-Hearn, Ellen Hickey, and Faith Gealey.

Topics discussed include:

  • "Voluntourism" versus effective volunteering
  • The state of disability services in your country/location
  • Cultural views of disability, family, and aging

Dionna Latimer-Hearn

Dionna Latimer-Hearn received her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in French Studies from Northwestern University. Following the completion of her degree she worked for the French Embassy as an English Language Instructor in Montargis, France.  She completed her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology at The George Washington University. She completed her Ph.D. with distinction in Educational Leadership at Notre Dame of Maryland University.  Dr. Latimer-Hearn has served as a multilingual speech-language pathologist and educational consultant since 2002, holding positions in France, Illinois, Japan, Maryland, and Texas.  She currently works as an educational consultant and continuing education provider in support of a number of organizations globally.  She is the founder and director of REACT Initiative, Inc., a nonprofit organization advocating for equity in education.  She is the inaugural recipient of NBASLH’s Clinician of the Year Award. 

Ellen Hickey

Ellen Hickey, Ph.D., SLP-Reg., SLP(C), CCC-SLP is an Associate Professor of speech-language pathology at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada. She has been a speech-language pathologist for over 30 years, with degrees from SUNY Geneseo College, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Washington. She specializes in neurological communication disorders and has published three books on person-centered care for persons with dementia. She also has experience working in Malawi, Tanzania & Zanzibar, Kenya, and Belize. She continues to collaborate with colleagues in Kenya and has published several papers on ethical issues in global SLP engagement.
 

Faith Gealey

Faith Gealey joined the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority (H.S.A.) in 2008 as the resident Speech Language Pathologist and is the first Caymanian to hold this position within the health care system in the Cayman Islands. She is an alumnus of Florida State University and holds both a B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.  Faith has clinical experiences with a wide variety of populations and diagnoses across the life span. She is currently the Team Lead for Speech and Occupational Therapies at the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority and is also a Senior Speech and Language Therapist with the Cayman Islands Public Sector.  Faith provides services across a broad range of clinical settings including acute, inpatient, outpatient, and home health.

 
Panel discussion on Global Issues in CSD in HESP204: Multicultural Issues in Communication and Communication Disorders