Ronit Needitz Rosen | Communication Disorders (B.A), 2004

The clinical training I got at Hadassah College gave me the courage to get involved in therapy for individuals with severe disabilities.

I had a very difficult time deciding what I wanted to study. I was looking for a profession where I would be able to work with people, in therapy or guidance. I wanted to find an interdisciplinary field that would bring together elements of different areas which interest me, like medicine and psychology. Speech therapy perfectly fits what I was looking for.

The Department of Communications Disorders is a unique place- very professional but also small and close-knit, like a family. There is always someone available to speak with students and provide one-on-one attention. That is really what distinguishes Hadassah College from other academic institutions.

I got a lot out of my studies. Above and beyond the excellent clinical and classroom education, I learned to always challenge myself both academically and in my profession. My studies taught me that learning is a process which never stops; you are always learning from your colleagues and your environment. The clinical component of my training was very broad and helped prepare me to work and learn in the field during the course of my profession. That firm grounding is what gave me the courage to get involved in therapy for individuals with severe disabilities.

Today I am a speech therapist working with a diverse population of young children from two to nine years old who suffer from severe disabilities. My patients include children with developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, children with impaired language and speech and more. Because my patients are so young, my work also involves working with their parents and families. This aspect of my job is particularly challenging, but essential to the success of the children's treatment. I am happy that Hadassah College gave me the tools and knowledge to do my job well.