Kay Armstead Center for Communicative Disorders (KACCD)
The Kay Armstead Center for Communicative Disorders (KACCD) is a non-profit clinic that has been serving the needs of persons of all ages, demonstrating varied speech, language, hearing, cognitive-communicative, and swallowing disorders, for over fifty years.
Contact us for speech and/or hearing services
Give a monetary gift towards KACCD support services
The Kay Armstead Center for Communication Disorders is housed within the CDS Department and has a threefold purpose:
- to provide a quality clinical education for undergraduate CDS students and graduate Speech-Language Pathology students;
- to serve the needs of children and adults with communication and related disorders and differences in San José and the surrounding area; and,
- to anchor CDS faculty and students' innovative, clinical research in communication and related disorders.
To this end, the KACCD Clinic offers a full range of clinical services that address pressing community needs. Clinical services are available to people with developmental or acquired communication disorders.
At KACCD, graduate students evaluate and treat clients with various communication disorders under the direct supervision of nationally-certified and state-licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists, as well as expert faculty with doctoral degrees. Each semester, the clinic provides speech, language, hearing and some swallowing services to hundreds of children and adults from the Bay Area. Further, student clinicians and faculty participate in numerous community outreach activities, such as speech, language, and hearing screenings for preschool children; wellness fairs for adults; and advocacy activities. Student clinicians in KACCD provide services in specialty areas such as augmentative and alternative communication, aphasia, voice, fluency, and swallowing.
The Kay Armstead Center for Communicative Disorders (KACCD) is committed to providing accessible, equitable services. SJSU, the Lurie College, the CDS Department, and KACCD do not discriminate in the delivery of professional services or the conduct of research and scholarly activity based on age, citizenship, disability, race, ethnicity, gender or gender-identity, marital status, national origin, physical characteristics, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status.
Clinical Services
Clinical services are available to people with developmental or acquired communication disorders. We also offer our clinical services in the community for both private and public sectors and for non-profits.
Our faculty and supervisors conduct community service programs, such as our preschool hearing screening program. Faculty members are available for consultations, community presentations and advice in their respective areas of expertise.
Speech-Language Services
The Kay Armstead Center for Communication Disorders (KACCD) provides clinical services in speech, language and hearing evaluations, as well as treatment. The KACCD serves both the SJSU and Bay Area communities.
Therapy is provided by student clinicians in the field of communication disorders. These students are supervised by a member of our faculty in every phase of the therapeutic process; goal development and intervention planning, strategy use, direct intervention, and reflections regarding response to intervention to inform decision making. Faculty are certified by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association and licensed in the state of California.
On-Campus Speech and Language Services
Evaluation Services
This clinic allows anyone concerned with most aspects of communication to receive a comprehensive assessment with a detailed report. Most assessments take 2-3 hours. Areas assessed include accent modification, fluency, language, speech sound disorders, AAC, voice disorders, and voice feminization/masculinization.
Treatment Services
Child Clinic
The KACCD Child Speech and Language Clinic provides high quality clinical services to children from ages 2-18, presenting with a wide range of communication disorders. Our program offers individual and small group intervention for children with challenges which may include speech sound articulation, language understanding or use, social communication and the use of augmentative/alternative communication systems.
Intervention focuses on offering motivating and success-oriented activities to actively engage our clients in learning and demonstration of the identified target skills. Our students are supported in providing multiple and varied opportunities to address target skills, resulting in a systematic and thorough approach for supported learning and practice, building understanding and confidence.
Adult Clinic for Neurogenic Speech, Language, Cognitive, and Swallowing Disorders
This clinic serves adults who have had a stroke, traumatic brain injury, degenerative neurological disease, or other type of brain damage. Clients have access to clinical services for screening and evaluation of communication, cognitive and swallowing disorders; for individual therapy; and for group therapy as recommended by clinical faculty and supervisors. The adult clinic also features the Spartan Aphasia Research Clinic (SPARC) which uses a Life Participation model for aphasia therapy and provides individual or dyad therapy, conversation coaching groups, an aphasia-friendly book club, and an aphasia choir.
Adult Language Clinic
The adult language clinic at Kay Armstead Center for Communicative Disorders (KACCD) provides support to adult clients with communication delays resulting from autism, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities and various other developmental disorders. Sessions involve the clients in structured one to one and group activities focused on functional communication and social skills on campus and in the community.
Stuttering Clinic
This clinic provides therapeutic services for children, teens, and adults who stutter. Therapy addresses speech fluency along with the social, emotional, educational, and/or occupational impacts of stuttering. The clinic implements a variety of evidence-based contemporary therapy approaches and device-assisted therapy. Services may include individual and/or group therapy based on the client's needs.
Transgender Voice Clinic
This clinic provides gender affirmation voice and communication services, including feminizing or masculinizing voice, speech, and communication styles to match the individual's gender identity. The Voice Clinic is equipped with advanced technology to provide precise and timely biofeedback to support individual needs. Services are primarily individual sessions, with occasional group sessions as appropriate.
AAC Clinic
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes all forms of communication (other than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. Some individuals who have difficulty speaking may require an extensive evaluation to identify an appropriate AAC system that meets their communication needs. We evaluate and provide intervention to help individuals develop the ability to operate and access their AAC system, develop language through alternative means, and navigate conversations while using an alternative means of communication.
Clinic Applications and Referral Forms
Applications for both children and adult clients may be submitted at any time. In most circumstances, therapy appointments will begin at the start of an academic semester (Fall, Spring, or Summer). Graduate and undergraduate students provide services under the supervision of licensed and certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
Please use the following forms to apply or refer for services at the KACCD. These
documents require Adobe Reader. Once completed, email the forms to armstead-center@sjsu.edu or mail them to:
Kay Armstead Center for Communication Disorders
Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences
1 Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0079
New Client Applications
New Client Applications
English
- Child (0-17 years) Speech and Language Application [pdf]
- Adult (18+ years) Speech and Language Application [pdf]
Spanish (Español)
- Child (0-17 years) Speech and Language Application [pdf]
- Adult (18+ years) Speech and Language Application [pdf]
Contact Us
- Phone: 408-924-3679
- Email: armstead-center@sjsu.edu
The KACCD is located on the first floor of Sweeney Hall (SH) via Room 115. The entrance is located next to the 7th Street, South parking garage.
Donate to the KACCD
The KACCD is a non-profit center, funded through donations. Your tax-deductible donation will be put to work in our clinic.
You can use the KACCD Donations Page for direct gifts. You can also deliver a check or cash to KACCD made out to Tower Foundation of San José State University. Whether made online or via check, please indicate that your donation is for the Kay Armstead Center for Communicative Disorders.
