of $20 million raised.
Since 2005, Parkinson Voice Project has helped people with Parkinson’s and related movement disorders regain and retain their speech and minimize swallowing complications.
We have treated patients in our Texas clinic for free since 2008. We have awarded more than 800 grants to train speech-language pathologists across the globe in hospitals, universities, and rehabilitation clinics… but it isn’t enough.
The Problem
Hundreds of thousands of people with Parkinson’s-related disorders are losing their ability to speak and swallow because they do not have access to our SPEAK OUT! program. Their voices are disappearing. They are requiring feeding tubes and developing life-threatening complications like aspiration pneumonia.
What are the barriers?
The primary barrier is that most hospitals and clinics rely on insurance and Medicare reimbursement. Unfortunately, this often prevents these patients from receiving the continuous speech therapy they need to battle a progressive, degenerative condition, like Parkinson’s. In addition, transportation issues and physical limitations make it impossible for some patients to travel to their local clinics for treatment.
Parkinson Voice Project wishes we could provide treatment from our clinic to patients everywhere. Unfortunately, speech pathology licensing regulations prevent us from treating patients outside of Texas.
A Surprising Solution
During the pandemic, the world became more “tech-savvy.” Parkinson Voice Project quickly recognized that online speech therapy was not only effective, it was convenient for the Parkinson’s population. Transportation challenges have been eliminated! The homebound can now be treated! And since our Texas clinic doesn’t rely on insurance or Medicare, there are no billing or financial limitations when patients are treated at our clinic. This is great news for people with Parkinson’s in Texas, but what about those who live in other parts of the U.S. or abroad?
Our Campaign to Reach America
Parkinson Voice Project is replicating our free, online speech therapy program across America. One university communication disorders clinic in every state will be named a “SPEAK OUT! Therapy & Research Center.” From this one clinic, every person with Parkinson’s or a related movement disorder will have access to SPEAK OUT!
These Centers will also design and conduct SPEAK OUT! efficacy research with the goal of publishing their findings in a peer-reviewed scientific journal within 3-5 years. This will help save the speech and swallowing of people with Parkinson’s. More neurologists and healthcare providers will know that effective treatment exists and is available.
We need your help!
In December 2021, Parkinson Voice Project launched Our $20 Million Campaign To Reach America. This project will financially secure the many speech therapy services and training opportunities we already provide at no cost from our Richardson clinic: SPEAK OUT! Workbooks, SPEAK OUT! Therapy, Online SPEAK OUT! Home Practice Sessions, Online Sing-Alongs, SPEAK OUT! training grants. In addition, this campaign will enable Parkinson Voice Project to help support each SPEAK OUT! Therapy & Research Center with up to $50,000 in funding.
Our Board of Directors, staff, and long-time supporters contributed the first $8,226,550 to the campaign.
Fiscally Responsible
Parkinson Voice Project has never been in debt. Since our inception in 2005, we have been fiscally responsible. We have a score of 100 on Charity Navigator.
Will you help us reach out goal?
Please Donate Today!
