Educational Audiology Awareness Week 2023

October 16, 2023

October 16-20 is Educational Audiology Awareness Week, a week dedicated to promoting advocacy and recognizing the important work of educational audiologists and the ways they support students and families.

At Lincoln Public Schools, we have two exceptional educational audiologists who work to ensure all students have full access to their learning environment by supporting students who may be deaf or hard of hearing and their families.  Educational audiologists collaborate with staff at the building and district level to provide input for services and accommodations for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and they also provide screenings and evaluations for students who are identified or are having concerns with hearing impacting their educational potential. Educational audiologists at Lincoln Public Schools work with students from birth to 21 years old. 

We asked our LPS educational audiologists to tell us more about their background, their services for students and families, and what they enjoy most about their professions. 

Kristin Jolkowski

Where did you attend college/what is your post-secondary training?
University of Nebraska - Lincoln in the Audiology Doctoral Program; I received my Doctorate in Audiology in 2009

How long have you been an educational audiologist?
I have been an educational audiologist since 2015.  I previously worked as a clinical audiologist prior to that serving the full age spectrum from infants to geriatrics.

What made you want to become an educational audiologist?
I have always enjoyed supporting preschoolers and early elementary students as well as counseling families about how they can support their children. Working within the schools allows me more opportunities to connect not only with families and children, but also with the school staff who support the development of these students.

What is one thing you wish people knew about educational audiology?
Completing hearing testing is a very small part of my role as an educational audiologist.  I spend a lot of my time collaborating with school staff, medical staff and families to support students' access to auditory information at school.

What is your favorite part of your job - what is your "why?
I love collaboration!  I enjoy learning from staff, families and students and partnering with them to problem solve auditory access for each student's education.

 

Cara Frost

Where did you attend college/what is your post-secondary training?
I received my Bachelor's and Master's of Science degrees from UNL

How long have you been an educational audiologist?
This is the start of my 9th year.

What made you want to become an educational audiologist?
One of my placements during graduate school was with LPS.  I really enjoyed it! It was without a doubt my favorite placement, so I knew that it would be an area of audiology that I would really enjoy working in if I ever had the opportunity. 

What is one thing you wish people knew about educational audiology?
Educational Audiology is so much more than testing hearing!  We work to provide equal auditory access to all students and to bridge the gap between the medical and educational worlds.

What is your favorite part of your job - what is your "why?
100% the kids!!!

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