On Thursday, April 27, 2017, the United States Senate’s Special Committee on Aging conducting a hearing on Aging Without Community: The Consequences of Isolation and Loneliness.
The hearing was live-streamed on the Committee’s website, and was an insightful look into one of the biggest challenges facing an aging population.
Among those testifying was Rick Creech. Rick, an educational consultant with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), is the 2004 recipient of the Edwin and Esther Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecture award, given by the American Speech-Hearing Association (ASHA) – and an AAC user.
Rick spoke eloquently on the consequences of not empowering those who, while they may need physical assistance, are capable of becoming productive members of society, and the pitfalls they face in merely navigating daily life - and things most of us take for granted.
Watch Rick's testimony on YouTube:
About Rick Creech
Rick has been an educational consultant for PaTTAN for over 20 years. Most of his time is spent on PaTTAN's Short Term Loans of assistive technology program, loaning assistive technology devices to schools, therapists and teachers so that they can try devices with their students before purchasing.
Rick is married with three grown sons and a 15 year-old granddaughter.
About PaTTAN
PaTTAN offers continuing education opportunities to educational professionals in the field of Special Education. Their educational consultants work with intermediate unit and school district staff to provide the most current, effective instructional strategies available to meet the needs of each student.
About the Special Committee on Aging
Established in 1961 as a temporary committee, the Special Committee on Aging was given permanent status on February 1, 1977. While special committees have no legislative authority, they can study issues, conduct oversight of programs, and investigate reports of fraud and waste.
News and Updates
