MMI for the record

Therese Willkomm, Ph.D.

Registration open for ‘Creating Assistive Technologies’ workshop

The Munroe-Meyer Institute will host a continuing education seminar, “Creating Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes: A Make and Take Workshop,” on Sept. 21 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Registration for the workshop is $125. Register here.

Everyone is born to create, discover, make, and build solutions for everyday challenges. Hundreds of new tools, specialty tapes, fasteners and plastics have emerged that enable all individuals to become assistive technology (AT) makers without the need for power tools, glue or nails. This “hands-on” interactive workshop introduces participants to new methods, materials, tools and resources for making hundreds of solutions in minutes. Speaker Therese Willkomm, Ph.D., is nationally and internationally known for her innovative strategies for creating solutions in minutes. She has designed and fabricated over two thousand solutions for individuals with disabilities including her patented AT Pad Stand, a multiuse assistive technology mounting device.

Participants (including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, assistive technology specialists and special education teachers) will learn new innovative ways to use InstaMorph, Coroplast, Corner Guard, Expanded PVC, Loc-Line, Transparency Film, and 10 specialty tapes to make hundreds of solutions in minutes. Each participant will make five different assistive technology solutions to take home with them.

See more information about the workshop.

New faculty positions at MMI

Brandy Clarke, Ph.D., UNMC Department of Psychology, and Jennifer Sanmann, Ph.D., director of the Human Genetics Laboratory at MMI, were both promoted from assistant professors to associate professors at the Munroe-Meyer Institute for the 2019-2020 academic year.

The institute also welcomed Brenda Bassingthwaite, Ph.D., who joined the Department of Psychology this summer as an associate professor. Dr. Bassingthwaite comes to MMI from the University of Iowa Center for Disabilities and Development.

New faculty also joined or will shortly be joining MMI as assistant professors:

  • Erika Franta, Ph.D., psychology;
  • Lisa Neitzke, Ph.D., psychology;;
  • Whitney Strong-Bak, Ph.D., psychology;
  • Christian Klepper, Psy.D., psychology;
  • Jamie Gehringer, Ph.D., physical therapy; and
  • Jessica Gormley, Ph.D., speech-language pathology.

In addition, Dan Miteer, severe behavior, was named an instructor.