FREEPORT, Ill. — The University of Illinois Department of Speech and Hearing is coming to Freeport and invites community members to attend an upcoming Open House designed to showcase the center's programs, services, research, and community outreach efforts while gathering valuable input on future educational offerings. The Open House will be held on Friday, November 6, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Senior Resource Center, 206 E. Stephenson Street, Freeport, IL.
The event will feature five interactive booths where visitors can engage with faculty, students, and staff, explore educational resources, and learn more about topics related to communication, hearing, and cognitive wellness.
Open House booth topics include:
- Learning About the Speech and Hearing Department – Discover the department's programs, clinical services, research initiatives, and community engagement activities.
- Hearing Health – Learn about hearing wellness, hearing loss prevention, available hearing services, and strategies for protecting hearing across the lifespan.
- Brain and Cognitive Health – Explore information about cognitive wellness and the connections between brain health, communication, and aging.
- Voice Health – Gain insights into voice care, communication, and clinical services that support healthy voice use.
- Tell Us What Matters to You – Participate in conversations about needs, interests, and future educational opportunities.
Educational materials and resources will be available at each booth, and attendees will have opportunities to interact directly with faculty members and students from the Center for Speech and Hearing.
A key goal of the event is to better understand the interests and needs of the community. As part of the "Tell Us What Matters to You" booth, attendees will be invited to share topics they would like to learn more about through future webinars, workshops, and community education programs. Feedback collected during the event will help guide future outreach efforts and ensure educational programming remains responsive to community interests.
In addition, visitors will learn about upcoming webinars focused on important topics such as hearing health and brain health. Community members will also have the opportunity to register for a Chat with a Specialist/Sign Up for a Screening session centered on hearing and cognitive health, providing access to expert guidance and valuable wellness resources.
The University of Illinois Department of Speech and Hearing is committed to supporting communication, hearing, and cognitive wellness through education, clinical services, research, and community engagement. The Open House offers a welcoming opportunity for community members to connect with specialists, learn about available resources, and help shape future educational initiatives.
For more information about the event, contact the University of Illinois Extension at (815) 235-4125. This event is offered in partnership with University of Illinois Extension, Senior Resource Center and University of Illinois Department of Speech and Hearing.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.