Towson University's 12th Annual

Speech-Language Pathology Conference & Employment Fair

Friday, March 17, 2023 

Towson University, University Union Towson, MD

The Department of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology is proud to offer this conference, in partnership with Towson University's NSSLHA chapter. You are invited to join current students, alumni, faculty, and area professionals for a day of learning and reunion. 

Coffee & Lunch

Coffee and tea will be available in the morning. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate by checking the appropriate box on the registration form.

Employment Fair

An Employment Fair will also be held at the conference. If you are interested in reserving a table, please complete the registration form below, or you can email [email protected].

Keynote Speaker Yvette D. Hyter, Ph.D., CCC-SLP 

will present 

Complex Trauma and Child Language Development 

Yvette D. Hyter, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is Professor Emeritus of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, USA and a Fellow of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association. Dr. Hyter’s clinical research focuses on social pragmatic communication in children who speak African American English and children with histories of maltreatment. She is a founding member of the Children's Trauma Assessment Center of Southwest Michigan and has developed a social pragmatic communication assessment battery for young children. 

 Currently, Dr. Hyter serves as co-director of the Resiliency Center for Families and Children. Dr. Hyter has expertise in culturally responsive and globally sustainable practices. As Co-Director of a nonprofit, Cultural Connections: Transnational Research and Education Laboratory, she co-taught study-abroad courses for students and community members in West Africa and in the U.S. Midwest about the causes and consequences of globalization on systems, policies, and practices. 

 She has published articles underscoring the need for different conceptual frameworks guiding practice in culturally responsive and globally sustainable ways, a coauthored textbook on culturally responsive practices, articles on the impact of childhood trauma on language and communication and served in national and international leadership positions regarding global practice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dr. Hyter is editing a text about language research in PTSD, co-writing a text about health disparities in aging populations, and is serving as a co-managing editor of the Journal of Critical Study of Communication and Disability. 

Disclosures—Non-Financial Disclosure: Dr. Hyter was a co-founder of the Southwest Michigan Children’s Trauma Assessment Center, currently serves as a codirector of the WMU Resiliency Center for Families and Children and offers a trauma institute through her consulting practice. Financial Disclosures: Dr. Hyter is receiving an honorarium for this presentation. 

Course description: In this current stage of globalization, more than ever before, children and their families have been exposed to adverse situations including (a) forcible displacement from their homes due to physical and symbolic violence; (b) increased maltreatment and feelings of loss resulting from the stresses that the global pandemic (COVID-19) has engendered for families, particularly for families that are vulnerable; (c) increased fear and isolation caused by gun violence, racism, and other forms of systemic exclusion, exploitation, and domination that are now all too commonly perpetrated by U. S. citizens and government officials; and (d) increased trauma for individuals with disabilities including those with communication disabilities. Trauma can impact all areas of development and toxic stress affects all developmental systems. Speech, language, and hearing professionals are uniquely situated to engage effectively with individuals and families with trauma histories. In this course the instructor will define trauma, discuss the causes of trauma, and discuss the impact that complex trauma has on the development and functioning of the brain, language, communication, and educational outcomes. Culturally responsive trauma-informed practice, as well as assessment and intervention will be included.  

Course Agenda

7:30 a.m.—8:15 a.m. Check in and Employment Fair/Coffee 
8:15 a.m. Welcome
8:30 a.m.—10:00 a.m. Session 1—Defining trauma and the impact of trauma on brain development and functioning
10:00 a.m.—10:15 a.m. Morning Break
10:15 a.m.—11:45 a.m. Session 2—The impact of trauma on language, literacy, social pragmatic communication, and academic outcome
11:45 a.m. 12:45 p.m.Lunch (included) & Employment Fair
12:45 a.m. 2:15 p.m.Session 3—Culturally responsive trauma-informed practices and assessment strategies
2:15 p.m.—2:30 p.m. Afternoon Break & Employment Fair
2:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Session 4—Intervention strategies and how to support resilience 


Learner Outcomes:   

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to: 

    Define trauma and name various causes and types of traumas. 

    Discuss the relationship between trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES). 

    Explain the impact that trauma has on brain structure and functioning. 

    Explain the impact that trauma has on language, social pragmatic communication development and academic outcomes. 

    Explain the components of culturally responsive trauma-informed practice from the perspective of speech, language, and hearing sciences. 

    Identify ways to incorporate culturally responsive trauma-informed practices into clinical engagement.   


To go green and save trees we will not be

distributing paper handouts; we will make them available in an electronic format prior

to the conference.


The following registration options are available:

Individual Registration:

$55 for TU faculty, or on- or off-campus supervisor (current or past)

$65 for TU alumni

$0 for TU graduate speech-language pathology students

$20 for Non-TU graduate speech-language pathology students

$80 for Other professional

Vendor Registration:

$300 (includes attendance and CEUs for up to two people)

THE REGISTRATION FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE

Coffee and tea will be available in the morning; lunch will also be provided. If you have special dietary needs, please select the appropriate option when you register.

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