5 questions for … Judy Blackburn

Photo by Kanji Takeno

TU graduate students to participate in reading intervention project

Thanks to a TU Alumni Association grant, Judy Blackburn's speech-language pathology graduate students are providing reading therapy to children at Baltimore’s House of Ruth Maryland domestic violence shelter.

How would you describe your program?

It’s a reading intervention project for children exposed to domestic violence. Clinical graduate students in the speech-language pathology master’s program will meet weekly at the House of Ruth domestic violence shelter to provide reading instruction and training for children residing there.

How did the project come about?

My research area is in measuring reading and language skills in children exposed to domestic violence. Last fall I received funding and permission to conduct research at the House of Ruth Maryland shelter in Baltimore. While gathering data on how the children there were doing, I came to the realization I could do more—I wanted to apply my research. The people running the House of Ruth Maryland’s children’s’ program were enthusiastic about TU offering actual reading therapy to the children.

How does the program work?

Each Wednesday, three graduate students, under my supervision, provide one-on-one reading services to children residing at the House of Ruth for about ninety minutes. We conducted pre-testing for the first few weeks of the term. This week the graduate clinicians began teaching children in small groups. We read a book to the children and then addressed reading skills by breaking into individual sessions using research-based techniques, such as sounding out words, pointing out spelling patterns, explaining vocabulary words and teaching narrative structure. The clinicians and I are also collecting data throughout the term, and we plan on retesting the children over time.

How is the program funded?

We received a $1,000 Alumni Association community grant which supports community service projects or activities initiated and developed by TU faculty, staff and even students as well as alumni. Most of my project’s funds go toward books (which the children keep) and stationery supplies, such as binders and a whiteboard and easel.

Is this a one-time project?

I hope not. I’m grateful for the Alumni Association grant, which allowed us to secure many basic supplies that we can reuse. I’d like to continue the program in the same format in the future, ideally with additional funding to replace the books we’re giving away.

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