The Activity and Recreation Center (ARC), located on East Willow Street in Normal, Illinois, offers a wide variety of services to the adult community. The audiology program at Illinois State University has been utilizing the ARC since August 2016 to provide hearing testing and other audiological services to our adult patients. This facility has been an amazing resource to students clinicians and clinical educators at ISU and has also been very beneficial to the patients we serve. It provides accessible parking, community involvement and social interactions for our patients.
Much was done to furnish the new space at the ARC when first moving there two years ago, however it was soon realized more seating was needed, which resulted in mismatched chairs around our table. The Student Academy of Audiology graciously donated money to purchase two new chairs for the patients and their family members to use during the counseling, evaluation or treatment process. The older chairs were not equipped with wheels making it difficult for some patients to get in and out of the chairs. The newer wheeled chairs now allow easier mobility for the patients seen at the ARC. The new chairs are also wipeable, which aids in cleanliness and infection control for our patients. We, Audiology at Illinois State University, are very excited to be able to continue our relationship with the ARC and to see our patients at this wonderful facility!