Centers Serving the Community

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Department of Physical Therapy – both part of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences – have established clinical centers on the Institute's campus in Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, to provide pro bono services to our local communities.

Clients at all the centers are seen by graduate students who are mentored by certified and licensed faculty members.

Speech, Language and Literacy Center

The Speech, Language and Literacy Center, part of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, strengthens the Institute's commitment to the convergence of science and practice by involving faculty and students in providing free or low-cost speech, language, and reading services to children and adults from the Greater Boston area.

The Center offers specialty services in the areas of aphasia, autism, preschool speech and language disorders, and dyslexia. During FY 2011, the Center provided an average of 200 patient visits each week. Families from the Charlestown community are given preference for available openings.

For Inquiries:

Lesley Maxwell, MS, CCC-SLP

Coordinator, Speech, Language and Literacy Center

(617) 643-5195 (please, leave a message)

Aphasia Center

The Aphasia Center assists adults who have partial or total inability to produce or understand speech due to brain damage caused by injury or disease, such as people who have had a stroke.

It is part of the Speech, Language, and Literacy Center in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

For Inquiries:

  • Marjorie Nicholas, PhD, CCC-SLP

    Associate Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

  • Eileen Hunsaker, MS, CCC-SLP

    Clinical Instructor, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

  • Aphasia Center: (617) 724-6314

Physical Therapy Center for Clinical Education and Health Promotion

The Physical Therapy Center for Clinical Education and Health Promotion, part of the Department of Physical Therapy, opened in May 2010.

The clinicians are graduate students enrolled in our Doctor of Physical Therapy and Master of Science in Physical Therapy programs. Clinicians are mentored by certified and licensed faculty members of the Department of Physical Therapy.

The clinicians in the Center provide pro bono services to individuals in the local community who may not otherwise have access to such care. The students care for clients with a range of orthopedic, neurological and multi-system impairments.

For Inquiries:

Clinical Assistant Professor Jane Baldwin, DPT, NCS

Associate Director of Clinical Education

Coordinator, Physical Therapy Center for Clinical Education and Health Promotion