Durham College’s (DC) Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) graduate certificate program has once again received a generous donation of $2,500 from The Oshawa Horseless Carriagemen on behalf of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s Harmonize for Speech Fund.

“The Barbershop Harmony Society has supported the college’s CDA program for more than 10 years,” said Elizabeth Maga, a professor and co-ordinator of the CDA program. “We could not provide the high quality of learning we do without its continued support.”

The funds are used primarily to facilitate the purchase of items used in the CDA classroom. These resources are used to enhance students’ training and ensure they are prepared to serve the needs of clients during two different field placements and post-graduation when working with clients in the field.

Items purchased include a copy of The Baby Signing Book by Sara Bingham for each student; PLS-5 Preschool Language Scales, an assessment tool widely-used speech and language screening kit; and a TruTone Electrolarynx, a device used for people who have had their larynx removed.

In addition, the donation also enables students to attend a full-day Motor Speech Disorders and Therapy in Preschool Children workshop led by world-renowned speaker, Debra Goshulak from the Speech and Stuttering Institute in Toronto.

“The resources we purchase with this generous donation greatly benefit current and future CDA students, and through them, the community in general,” said Maga. “The skills and hands-on experience our students gain from these items will ultimately benefit so many individuals with communicative disorders in the future.”

The CDA program, which is recognized by the Communicative Disorders Assistant Association of Canada, is a one-year, three-semester graduate certificate program that prepares students to, provide speech and language therapy to clients of all ages under the guidance of qualified speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists.

The Harmonize for Speech fund was established nearly 40 years ago as a fundraising project of the Barbershop Harmony Society. It continues to provide support for numerous speech-related projects across Ontario. At this year’s cheque presentation ceremony, treasurer Greg Goodall was joined by Match Point, a quartet from the Oshawa Chapter who performed for the CDA students in their classroom. “It was a wonderful event which no one in attendance will soon forget,” said Maga.