Towson University opens Institute for Well-Being in new location
By Daniel Admasu, Contributing Writer
The Towson University Institute for Well-Being received a new home Wednesday at 7400 York Road, commemorated with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The Institute provides wellness programs and services to the Towson community, and houses the Hearing & Balance Center, Hussman Center for Adults with Autism, Occupational Therapy Center and the Speech & Language Center.
“It provides tremendous experiential learning opportunities for our students,” interim-President Melanie Perrault said of the Institute. “That’s why it is so important to move this facility to our campus, where we can increase the center’s accessibility to our students, our faculty, staff and clients alike.”
The Institute moved from its previous location at 1 Olympic Place in downtown Towson.
Occupational Therapy Center Director Daniel Hollern said the new location allows the Institute to be more integrated into the University.
Towson students can be mentored and trained by staff at the centers within the Institute for hands-on learning experiences, its webpage states. The Hearing & Balance Center provides clinical training for students of the Applied Doctor of Audiology program.
Director of the Towson Foundation Douglas Erdman and his wife Therese donated to establish the Center for Adults with Autism in 2007, and contributed to the new Autism Studies doctorate program. They have a 32-year-old son with Autism.
“We’ve taken just an idea of ours, a concept, and it made it come to life. A new, unparalleled doctorate program in Autism Studies that we’re just so pleased to be part of,” Douglas Erdman said. “The program will enhance and enrich the university and the lives of those in the Autism community now.”
Hollern said there will be a new program at the Institute, Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, starting at the end of the month focused on Parkinson’s disease and managing subsequent disability.
“LVST: Big for Life program is a research-proven program to help individuals maintain their gross motor strength, endurance,” he said. “So there will be an exercise component as well as some activities of daily living training.”
There is a sensory motor gym for children as well.
Elizabeth Gosnell works as a clinical faculty member with the Occupational Therapy Department, specifically in pediatric programming with the Children’s Therapy Program.
“[The sensory motor gym is] a place where kiddos can work on advancing their motor skills and get sensory input and develop social connections with their peers,” she said.
Others at the ceremony included Sen. Guy J. Guzzone and Lisa Plowfield, dean of the College of Health Professions.
