In recognition of the Center’s 70th anniversary, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry signs a proclamation declaring the Center’s April 19th birthday as “Jacksonville Speech & Hearing Day.”
The day serves as an opportunity to recognize the positive community impact the Center has had throughout the decades.
The Center dedicates its new facilities to Haskell and rooms in honor of the Joseph and Gertrude LaRose Foundation, former Board Chair, Bill Shelton, 35-year SLP, Sharon Kesler, and volunteer Director of Operations, Cathy Howland.
After being housed on Laura St. for more than 50 years, the Center moves to a new location at 1010 N. Davis St. The new space is more accessible to patients and includes expanded areas for speech pathology and audiology services, as well as technological upgrades.
At the invitation of Jessie Ball duPont Fund CEO Sherry Magill, the Center’s CEO, controller, and fundraising staff relocate to the Jessie Ball duPont Center, which exclusively houses local nonprofits. This move marks the beginning of the Center’s transition from its Laura Street location.
Dr. Mattson receives further accolades when she is recognized by the Jacksonville Business Journal as one of their 2015 Health-Care Heroes. This award honors Northeast Florida professionals who improve health care and save lives.
Center staff go through training to receive certification of autism care from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). From these efforts, the Center becomes the first healthcare provider in North Florida to earn credentials as a Certified Autism Center.
The Center begins a new volunteer program. Volunteers are recruited to help with driving the Center’s mobile unit, fundraising, event planning, newsletter coordination, and outreach.
One of the Center’s audiologists, Dr. Fenja Mattson, receives recognition by winning the Mapes/Snodgrass Clinical Excellence Award.
Extremely low on capital, the Center reaches a pivotal crossroads. As part of efforts to save the Center, much of the staff is laid off. Remaining staff take severe cuts in pay and benefits. In tangent, the Executive Director and the Board of Directors mount a major restructuring campaign.
The Center begins following policies about how to treat patients with AIDS and/or communicable diseases. The Center equips therapists with gloves to wear when working in patients’ mouths, purchases antiseptic soap, and schedules a workshop about protection against communicable diseases.
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