I give because the scholarship developed for Disabilities Studies and the Disability History Archive needed to get to the $25,000 level to create an endowment. We need to support the extraordinary students with disabilities who have been invited, finally, to the higher education party and those students without disabilities who wish to explore the richness and depth of the human experience of disability.

I am continuing in our family tradition of supporting higher education, especially of gifted individuals who may not have the financial means to attend college. My graduate studies were supported by a teaching assistant grant from the State of Ohio; therefore, I am paying forward by providing scholarship funding for those in financial need.

Someone once wrote that “Giving is not just about making a donation. It’s about making a difference.” My entire career has focused on helping others with speech challenges—getting adults back on their feet with the confidence they need and offering children the tools they need to communicate effectively. My graduate students leave UT with the knowledge they have accumulated to accomplish these goals. Why would I not want to pay this forward to enable others to benefit from our clinic and our knowledge? More... Communication should be the backbone of our lives. Speaking fluently and clearly is not always a given for children or adults. Our clinic addresses these challenges and offers tools to augment deficits, if need be. I am proud to be a part of this clinic and a part of The University of Toledo.