Center for Communicative Disorders

Graduate students have the opportunity to work with clients across the lifespan and with a variety of communicative disorders in the UW-Whitewater Center for Communicative Disorders (UWW-CCD). Located in the Roseman building in the middle of the UW-Whitewater campus, the UWW-CCD provides services to members of the community, faculty/staff, the UW-Whitewater Children’s Center, and students on campus. Besides the UWW-CCD, there are numerous opportunities for students to meet career interests and certification requirements in rural and urban off-campus practicum sites. These include various hospital, rehabilitation, acute care, and nursing home environments. Additionally, we partner with numerous Birth-3, PreK-12 placements, and specialty pediatric sites.

The UWW Center for Communicative Disorders supports equitable treatment of clients. No individual shall be discriminated against based upon race or ethnicity, religion, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. We provide all services in a manner consistent with the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) Code of Ethics.

The clinic treatment programs start at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters; however, referrals are accepted throughout the year. Most sessions are scheduled one to two times per week, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Scheduling is dependent on clinical training needs, course schedule, and hours of availability. The UWW-CCD maintains a schedule consistent with the university calendar. At this time, we do not offer services during the summer.

To request more information about our services, please contact the UWW Center for Communicative Disorders at 262-472-1464.

Aphasia is a disorder that results from damage to language centers of the brain. As a result, individuals who were previously able to communicate through speaking, listening, reading, and writing become limited in their ability to do so. The most common cause of aphasia is stroke, but traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, and other sources of brain damage can also cause aphasia.

Research has proven that although much recovery happens immediately following a stroke, many people with aphasia continue to improve over a period of years and even decades. The focus of the aphasia clinic is to provide meaningful opportunities for socialization and functional use of compensatory communication strategies for generalization into activities of daily living.

Education and Training
Individual and group treatment sessions are scheduled throughout the academic year (fall and spring semesters). The group treatment model at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Center for Communicative Disorders (UWW-CCD) embraces a positive quality of life and promotes opportunities for social interaction. Our graduate students have been instrumental in contributing to significant changes in the ability of group members to communicate and to develop, regain, and enhance social relationships, and improve quality of life. Graduate students provide individualized therapy services addressing expressive and receptive language skills, written language, reading, and speech and are supervised on-site by a licensed speech-language pathologist.

Aphasia Clinic is scheduled on Mondays but additional treatment sessions are offered throughout the week.

For more information on our Aphasia Clinic please call us at 262-472-1464 or e-mail us at comdis@uww.edu.

Diagnostic Services: Clients enrolled in the Center for Communicative Disorders (CCD) are eligible to receive a comprehensive assessment of their oral and written communication skills (i.e., speech, language, literacy, etc.) as part of their semester’s programming. The results of an assessment are used to determine a client’s profile of strengths and challenges and utilized as one source of information to drive intervention programming.

Individual & Small Group Therapy Sessions: Individual and small group speech, language, and literacy therapy sessions are scheduled for pediatric clients, ranging in age from approximately 18 months to approximately 18 years of age. Intervention can address: speech sound disorders (articulation), phonology, oral and written language, fluency, social skills, executive functioning, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). In addition, the clinic can provide preventative and/or strategy based intervention for children and adolescents who are at risk of developing, or already have, academic difficulties in relation to their communication deficits.

Hearing Screenings: Graduate students from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater’s Center for Communicative Disorders conduct hearing screenings for children enrolled in public and private schools throughout southeastern Wisconsin, in collaboration with school professionals.

Education and Training
Individual and group treatment sessions are scheduled throughout the academic year (fall and spring semesters). Graduate students provide individualized therapy services and are supervised on-site by a licensed speech-language pathologist.

The Pediatric Speech and Language Clinic is scheduled throughout the week and is based on client/clinician/supervisor/room schedules.

For more information call us at 262-472-1464 or e-mail us at comdis@uww.edu.

The infant/toddler playgroup is for children up to 5 years old with hearing differences and/or a speech-language delay along with their parent/caregiver. Each week has themed multimodal activities with a focus on language and vocabulary. During the playgroup, parents and caregivers learn strategies to promote speech-language and social-emotional development with their children. Playgroup occurs weekly during the fall, spring, and summer academic terms for an hour and 15 minutes.

For more information on our infant/toddler playgroup please call us at 262-472-1464 or e-mail us at comdis@uww.edu.

The way a person sounds can play an important role in how they express themselves. Voice/communication training can be helpful when aspects of a person's voice and/or the way they speak do not match their gender identity or gender expression. Individuals seeking gender-affirming voice services or voice affirming services include those who identify as transgender, gender fluid, gender non-binary, gender diverse, gender nonconforming, or other gender identities. We engage in shared goal setting for individuals to safely and effectively use voice/communication aspects that align with their identity.

Education and Training
Graduate students provide individual sessions (scheduled throughout the academic year - fall and spring semesters) to individuals seeking assistance with voice. Individualized therapy services focus on pitch, intonation, resonance, rhythm, rate, volume, language, and nonverbal communication. Graduate students are supervised on-site by a licensed speech-language pathologist.

For more information call us at 262-472-1464 or e-mail us at comdis@uww.edu.

In partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Communication Sciences and Disorders Department, the CARES Early Intervention Team collaborates with the Wisconsin Birth to 3 Program to provide specialized early intervention to help children build strong language, communication, and social skills.

Our team’s purpose is to support babies and toddlers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) and their families across Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Sound Beginnings (WSB) is the state’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) program, operating within the newborn screening system to ensure every Wisconsin infant receives hearing loss screening, timely diagnosis, and quality early intervention.

What is the CARES Program?
CARES stands for Coordination, Assistance, Resources & Evaluation Services. We partner directly with county Birth to 3 Program teams across the state to provide specialized early intervention support tailored for infants and toddlers (ages 0 to 3) who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH).

While the local Birth to 3 Program team brings comprehensive early childhood expertise, our CARES specialists bring focused experience and insights specific to children with hearing differences. Together, we build a foundation for long-term language, social, and academic success.

How We Partner with Birth to 3 Teams
CARES Team members are considered participating members of the child’s local Birth to 3 Program team. CARES can participate in all aspects of the Birth to 3 Program for that family, including:

• Initial Intake, Evaluation, Assessments and Eligibility: Evaluating the child's strengths and communication needs.
• IFSP Development & Progress: Helping create and support the Individualized Family Service Plan.
• Home Visits & Coaching: Sharing hands-on strategies with parents, caregivers, and providers.
• Transition Planning: Supporting the child’s move to preschool services at age 3.

When you partner with CARES, you get access to professionals specializing in hearing differences:

• Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TODHH)
• Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)
• American Sign Language (ASL) Specialists
• Audiologists

Why Enroll in Early Intervention?
Early intervention connects babies and toddlers with hearing differences to vital language opportunities that support development. It is much easier to nurture language growth right from the beginning than to try to catch up later.

• No Delay Required: Children with any degree of permanent hearing loss are eligible for support. A child does not need to show a developmental delay to qualify.
• Never Too Young: Starting in infancy—even before a child speaks or signs—builds stronger language, communication, and emotional bonds.
• Family-Centered: Services fit each child’s and family's unique goals. Supports can include Deaf and Hard of Hearing services, speech therapy, physical/occupational therapy, and service coordination.
• Gain Confidence: Learn how to support a child's hearing levels during daily routines. Build skills to be your child's best teacher and advocate.
• Prepare for Appointments: Get clear guidance on what to expect during hearing tests and clinic visits as your child grows.
• Explore Communication Options: Learn about spoken language, American Sign Language (ASL), hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other technology.
• Parent-to-Parent Connections: Connect with other families navigating similar journeys.

Meet Our CARES Early Intervention Team
Our team participates in all aspects of the Birth to 3 Program to ensure families receive coordinated, compassionate, and expert care state-wide.

WSB CARES Coordinator & Teacher for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing
Chris Kometer, M.Ed, LSLS Cert. AVEd
Email: Kometercl24@uww.edu
Phone: 262-472-1008
Chris brings 40 years of experience across public schools, university clinics, and early intervention programs. She holds an Advanced ASL skill rating, certification as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS Cert AVEd), and a certificate in Infant, Early Childhood, and Family Mental Health.

Communication Specialist – Listening and Spoken Language
Lauren Burke, MS/CCC-SLP
Email: Burkela01@uww.edu
Lauren is a speech-language pathologist who has worked in early childhood special education and early intervention for 20 years, specializing in working with infants and toddlers who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH). Lauren supports and coaches families and professionals across the state. Her work focuses on supporting auditory development and spoken speech and language skills.

Communication Specialist – American Sign Language (ASL)
Christina “Chrissy” Vorreyer-Davis, MS
Email: vorreyec@uww.edu
Chrissy brings personal lived experience as a Deaf individual alongside deep professional leadership in early intervention. She focuses on communication access, ASL development, and empowering DHH children and their families.

Campus partners

• Children's Center
• Music Department
• Pride Center
• UW-Whitewater Life Program

Community partners

• Fairhaven
• Flourishing Next Steps
• St. Coletta
• Whitewater Unified School District
• Wisconsin Sound Beginnings