Catching up with WSU’s Steve Gleason Institute
The Steve Gleason Institute has become a leading treatment center for neurodegenerative diseases in the Pacific Northwest. Named after former Washington State University and New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, the center averages over 100 visitors a month and has provided over $200,000 in seed grant funding for the development of adaptive technologies and research.
A significant amount of its 4,900 square foot headquarters is occupied by its Adaptive Technology Center, which utilizes assistive technology to support and build independence for individuals with neurogenerative disease and their families. Theresa Whitlock-Wild, the institute’s program manager, stated, “If you think about losing your voice, it’s part of your personality, so we’re helping families understand that as (clients) lose these functions, we can help supplement alternatives.”