RiteCare® Center for Communication Disorders
The RiteCare® Center for Communication Disorders at Georgia Southern University is the primary RiteCare facility in the Savannah area. The center is supported by an annual contribution from the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Savannah Valley in keeping with the national philanthropic program of the Scottish Rite Masons to support speech and hearing clinics.
The center is staffed by students pursuing their master’s degrees in speech-language pathology in the Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSDS) program at Georgia Southern. Supervision is provided by CSDS program faculty, all of whom are certified by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and licensed by the State Board of Examiners in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology.
Our Services
Services at the RiteCare® Center are provided by graduate students in the speech-language pathology program at Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus. These graduate students are supervised by experienced licensed and certified speech-language pathologists.
We provide assessment and intervention services for children and adults with communication delays or disorders. We serve individuals with:
- Hearing impairments
- Language and literacy delays or disorders
- Cognitive impairments
- Fluency disorders
- Speech sound disorders
- Social communication disorders
- Oral motor deficits
- Augmentative or alternative communication needs
We serve a variety of populations, including children and adults who have communication impairments resulting from
- Developmental delays
- Congenital disabilities such as Down Syndrome
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Cerebral Palsy
- Traumatic brain injury
- Stroke
We also provide elective services for those individuals who wish to improve their English communication skills, such as those who speak English as their second language.
Fees
We seek to provide an invaluable resource to the community by offering services in a cost-effective manner. While not required, your contribution will allow us to continue supporting our students and provide therapeutic and diagnostic services to improve the lives of others. Please note that these contributions are not tax deductible.
Please see the table of suggested contribution amounts below. Your support is crucial to our efforts to improve the world around us by improving communication!
| Evaluation | Treatment 1x a week for full semester | Treatment 2x a week for full semester | Treatment 3x a week for full semester | Treatment 4x a week for full semester | Treatment Half Semester | Hearing Screening | |
| Suggested Contribution | $20 – $60 | $40 – $150 | $50 – $200 | $60 – $250 | $70 – $300 | $20 – $75 | $3 – $5 |
Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated, and we are accepting contributions through our online Marketplace linked below. If you choose to contribute via check or money order, please make it payable to Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus. On memo line: RiteCare Center.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Maria Tippy at 912-344-2735 or mtippy@georgiasouthern.edu.
Need An Appointment? Contact Us!
Have hearing concerns? We are now accepting appointments for a free hearing screening! Dates and time are flexible and appointments are open to the public.
RiteCare® Center
Phone: 912-344-2735 or 912-344-2969
Location: Suite 25 of the Armstrong Center (13040 Abercorn Street), adjacent to the main campus of Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus.
Clinical Coordinator
Tory Candea, SLPD, CCC-SLP, CBIS, CDP
Office: Armstrong Campus-Armstrong Center Suite 25
Phone: 912-344-2788
Email: tcandea@georgiasouthern.edu
CSD Graduate Program
Location: Armstrong Campus-Armstrong Center
Phone: 912-344-2969
Email: csds@georgiasouthern.edu
Mission of the RiteCare® Center
As a teaching communication disorders center, our mission is two-fold:
- To enhance the lives of children and adults with communication impairments through excellence in client care, research and education.
- To provide knowledge, training and relevant practical experiences for developing clinical-fellowship-ready speech-language pathologists.
About RiteCare® and the Scottish Rite Masons
The RiteCare® Center at Georgia Southern University is supported by the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite – Savannah Valley, in keeping with the national philanthropic program of the Scottish Rite Masons to support speech and hearing clinics. Today there are numerous RiteCare® clinics, centers and special programs operating or planned throughout the United States. Through this philanthropic effort, RiteCare® Centers have significantly helped tens of thousands of children across the United States improve their communication skills in order to improve their lives.
RiteCare Center Case History Forms
Child Case History-Birth to 3 years of age
Looking for More Information?
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
SPEAK OUT! and LOUD Crowd Program
What is Parkinson’s Disease and how does it affect speech?
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain. Symptoms of PD vary from person to person and typically progress over the years. Some symptoms may include: tremor, muscle weakness and incoordination, difficulty with balance and mobility, difficulty with speech and swallowing, as well as a decline in cognition (memory) . Unfortunately, the cause of PD is still unknown and there is no known cure. However, there are a variety of treatment techniques ranging from medication, to surgeries, to therapy (speech, physical and/or occupational).
Individuals living with PD may experience weakness in the muscles of their face and throat. This weakness may result in difficulty making speech sounds precisely and speaking with a loud enough voice. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) or speech therapist is specially trained in helping you improve your speech and voice production, in order to be understood more clearly.
Weakness may also lead to difficulty swallowing food or liquids. A speech therapist is specially trained in how to make swallowing safer and more effective for you.
Cognitive decline may also impact an individual living with PD, due to the impaired brain activity. Again, speech therapists have special training to help you improve areas of cognition, such as memory, attention, and organization.
The Parkinson Voice Project
The Parkinson Voice Project, founded by Samantha Elandry, is a nonprofit organization based out of Richardson, TX. After pursuing a career in speech therapy and becoming a licensed SLP, Elandry began working with individuals living with PD. Her driving force behind The Parkinson Voice Project stemmed from her own personal experience with speech therapy, as well as the realization that there are limitations to obtaining affordable and easily accessible therapy. In an effort to improve her patients’ speech and swallowing, and indirectly improve their quality of life, she created both The LOUD Crowd® and SPEAK OUT!® programs.
SPEAK OUT!®
SPEAK OUT!® is a one on one speech therapy program designed to target “speaking with intent” throughout a variety of structured speech, voice, and cognitive exercises. The program was designed to be completed over 12 sessions, utilizing your own SPEAK OUT!® workbook, which is provided to you by The Parkinson Voice Project at no cost. Following completion of this program, patients then join The LOUD Crowd®.
The LOUD Crowd®
The LOUD Crowd® consists of weekly group meetings designed to promote generalization and continued home practice of the SPEAK OUT!® program. This program further promotes a sense of support, as other individuals living with PD are also present during The LOUD Crowd® meetings.
How Do I Begin?
To begin receiving services please call the RiteCare® Center at Georgia Southern University at 912-344-2735. A formal diagnosis of PD is required to participate in the program.
RiteCare® Childhood Language Program
The RiteCare® Center for Communication Disorders at Georgia Southern University adheres to a non-discrimination policy. Patrons will be served without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, participation restriction, veteran status, military obligations, marital status, or parental status.
Last updated: 3/25/2024