Lori Eggers has recently been elected to the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Chapter of AG Bell, the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.  This affiliation compliments Lake Drive’s professional and parent support programs.  We would like to congratulate Lori for her continued dedication and enthusiasm for working with deaf and hard of hearing students and her recent distinction of being elected to this organization.   

The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is a lifelong resource, support network and advocate for listening, learning, talking and living independently with hearing loss. Through publications, advocacy, training, scholarships and financial aid, AG Bell promotes the use of spoken language and hearing technology. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with chapters located throughout the United States and a network of international affiliates, AG Bell's global presence provides its members and the public with the support they need close to home. With over a century of service, AG Bell supports its mission: Advocating Independence through Listening and Talking! 

A graduate of William Paterson University, Lori received a Master of Arts degree from Montclair University in Speech/Language Pathology.  Professional affiliations include ASHA, NJSHA and AG Bell. With experience in a variety of settings, including hospital and nursing home, Lori was initially employed by the Essex County Special Services Commission working with students within private school settings, throughout the West Essex area.  She joined the Lake Drive Program in 1996. 

For the past ten years, Lori has provided speech, language and auditory training to deaf and hard of hearing students, preschool through high school.  During that time she was instrumental in organizing “The Fairy Tale Festival,” a Lake Drive Foundation fundraising event, which benefited the Sound Start Early Intervention program. 

During the past several years, advances in digital hearing aid and cochlear implant technology have allowed students with hearing loss improved opportunity to develop listening skills. Lori has demonstrated great interest in becoming more knowledgeable in amplification technology as well as therapeutic intervention techniques related to helping children develop improved listening, speech and language ability.  She organized workshops with prominent guest speakers, such as Mary Koch, Pam Talbot, Ellen Rhodes and Nancy Schumann, for continued professional development in the area of audition, which has been valuable for the entire Lake Drive staff.

Three years ago, Lori researched, organized and proposed the initiation of a mentorship program to allow Lake Drive staff members to become certified as an Auditory-Verbal Therapists.  The Lake Drive administration supported Lori’s proposal and she along with two additional speech/language pathologists are currently being mentored toward certification.   During this process, Lori has and continues to receive advanced, specialized instruction and practical experience through coursework and working with certified auditory-verbal clinicians.  The Auditory-Verbal Approach has an emphasis on early detection of hearing loss, early fitting of appropriate hearing devices, ongoing diagnostic therapy and a partnership between the family and the professionals.

Congratulations, Lori, on this important achievement.

Posted 12/06