Honoring World Parkinson’s Day April 11 and Parkinson’s Awareness Month with Advocacy and Speech Therapy
We honored World Parkinson’s Day (April 22, 2025) and Parkinson’s Awareness Month with this episode focused on Parkinson’s Advocacy and Speech Therapy. We also got an update on the Whispp app which provides AI Assistive Voice Technology but is not specifically intended for Parkinson’s patients.
Follow PD Avengers on their social media links to learn the latest in what is going on in the world of Parkinson’s: X, IG, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook @PDAvengers; Linkedin.com/company/pd-avengers
The Speak Out!® Therapy Program, developed by Parkinson Voice Project (PVP), helps people with Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders regain and retain their speech and swallowing. PVP has provided free training in the Speak Out! Therapy Program to more than 5,300 speech-language pathologists and 15,000 graduate students. Parkinson Voice Project is replicating its no-charge, online speech therapy program across America. One university speech therapy clinic in every state will be named a “Speak Out! Therapy and Research Center.” These Centers will treat patients, train graduate students, and conduct Speak Out! Therapy efficacy research. Currently, there are 28 Centers! The goal is to make the Speak Out! Therapy Program accessible to patients and families everywhere.
Recognized by Time Magazine and CES for their innovation, The Whispp app is a product to watch. We sincerely hope that Whispp will become part of the operating system of at least one smart phone manufacturer to bring another level of accessibility directly to users.
Recorded on April 10, 2025, this episode is part of our Parkinson’s Series. Speakers are listed in their order of appearance.
Larry Gifford, President and Co-Founder, PD Avengers
Hilary Byatt, Chief Operating Officer, Parkinson Voice Project; Speech-Language Pathologist
Joris Castermans, Founder and CEO, Whispp – AI Assistive Voice Technology but not specific to Parkinson’s
An AgeTech Collaborative from AARP portfolio company
Debbie Howard’s summary of this show.
RESOURCES:
April 26, 2025 Michael J Fox Parkinson’s Unity Walk in NYC
The Balancing Act – Effective Parkinson’s Speech Therapy 11-16-24 for Parkinson Voice Project
Healthy Debate Jan 2025 for PD Avengers by Indu Subramanian
Time Magazine for Whispp January 2025
Carol Chiang’s LinkedIn post and video of Joris Castermans May 2025
Rethinking Aging Club Parkinson’s Podcasts 4-11-24 and 4-18-24
2-8-24 CES 2024 Highlights Rethinking Aging Club Podcast with Joris Castermans
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Music: Solemnity written and performed by Richard Sherman
