April M. Yorke, Ph.D.
Cleveland State University
2121 Euclid
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216) 687-6994
a.yorke@csuohio.edu

Education

Ph.D.

Communication Sciences and Disorders
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Doctoral Advisor: Janice Light, PhD

Doctoral Committee:
David McNaughton, PhD
Katherine D.R. Drager, PhD
Carol Miller, PhD

2017

M.S.

Communication Sciences and Disorders
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

2003

B.S.

Communication Sciences and Disorders
University of Texas at Austin

2001

ASHA Certification Status

CCC-SLP

2004 – present

Licensure

TX SLP License # 101473

2003 – present

Professional Membership

American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) Special Interest Division 12: Augmentative & Alternative Communication Special Interest Division 2: Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech & Language Disorders

2003 – present

International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC)

2003 – present

Employment

Graduate Teaching Assistant Ph.D. Fellowship

Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA

8/2013 – present

Speech-Lang. Pathologist / AAC Specialist

Transitional Learning Center
Galveston, TX

6/2005 – 7/2012

Speech-Lang. Pathologist / AAC Specialist

Clear Lake Independent School District
League City, TX

8/2003 – 5/2005

Speech-Lang. Pathologist / AAC Specialist

Bay Area Speech-Lang. Learning Associates
League City, TX

6/2003 – 5/2005

Augmentative & Alternative Communication Leadership Grant
Pennsylvania State University
Funding for Ph.D. program

Augmentative & Alternative Communication Personnel Preparation Grant
Pennsylvania State University
Funding for M.S. program

Publications

Yorke, A., Caron, J., Light, J., Drager, K., McNaughton, D., Miller, C. (accepted with revisions for publication). The effects of explicit instruction in vocabulary during shared book reading on the receptive vocabulary of children with complex communication needs. Augmentative and Alternative Communication. (Procedural Integrity Checklist).

Yorke A., et al. (in preparation). Reading-related Phonological Processing Interventions for Individuals who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): A Systematic Review of the Research.

Yorke, A., Therrien, M., and Light (in preparation). A Meta-analysis of storybook reading with individuals with Complex Communication Needs who require AAC.

Presentations

Yorke, A. & Light, J. (2015). Effects of Explicit Instruction During Shared Book Reading on Receptive Vocabulary of Children with CCN. Submitted for presentation at the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Convention: Denver, Colorado.

Yorke, A. (2014) Understanding Newborn Screenings and Treatable Metabolic Disorders: Helping to Prevent disabilities and improve outcomes, “One Foot at a Time.” Accepted for presentation at International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Conference: Lisbon, Portugal.

Drager, K., Fecich, S., Muttiah, N., Na, J., Richardson, L., Smith, V., Therrien, M., Thistle, J., & Yorke, A. (2014, July). A Conversation on Global Issues in Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Paper presented at the International Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC), Lisbon, Portugal.

Light, J., Drager, K., Finke, E., McNaughton, D., Wilkinson, K., Currall, J., Roberts, B., Birmingham, J., Breakstone, B., Caron, J., Na, J., Richardson, L., Therrien, M., Thistle, J., Yorke, A. (2014). The Penn State AAC Leadership Project: Doctoral Training in AAC.

Yorke, A., Therrien, M. & Light, J. (2013). A Meta-analysis of storybook reading with individuals with Complex Communication Needs who require AAC. Poster presented at American Speech-Language Hearing Association Conference: Chicago, IL.

Yorke, A. (2013). Newborn Screenings: Helping to prevent disabilities: “One Foot at a Time.” Poster presented at American Speech-Language Hearing Association Conference: Chicago, IL.

Yorke, A. (2013). Reading-Related Phonological Processing Interventions for Individuals who use AAC. Presented at AAC Colloquium. Pennsylvania State University: University Park, PA.

Yorke, A. (2013). Newborn Screenings: Helping to prevent disabilities: “One Foot at a Time.” Presented at Pennsylvania Speech-Language Hearing Association Conference: Harrisburg, PA.

Yorke, A. (2013). Acquired Brain Injury and AAC: A Cognitive-Linguistic Clinical Perspective. Presented at AAC Colloquium. Pennsylvania State University: University Park, PA.

Light, J., Drager, K., Wilkinson, K., Finke, E., Currall, J., Roberts, B., Na, J., Richardson, L., Therrien, M., Thistle, J., & Yorke, A. (2012). The Penn State AAC Leadership Project: Doctoral Training in AAC. Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, Atlanta, GA.

Saterbak, R. & Yorke, A. (2010) Evaluation and treatment of individuals with TBI in a Post-Acute Setting. A presentation at the Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association (TSHA) conference. Houston, Texas.

Saterbak, R. & Yorke, A. (2006) Accessing the Community through the use of technology. A presentation at the Texas Brain Injury Association Conference. Austin, Texas.

Theses and Dissertations

Yorke, A. (2017). The Effects of Explicit Instruction in Letter-sound correspondences with Children with Complex Communication Needs in Pairs with Peers. Ph.D. Dissertation. Pennsylvania State University.

Yorke, A. (2003). The contribution of rate reduction and linguistic information to the benefits of first letter alphabet cue supplementation. M.S. Thesis. Pennsylvania State University.

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Pennsylvania State University

Courses Taught

CSD 300: Developmental Considerations in the Assessment and Treatment of Language Disorders
Student rating of teaching effectiveness
Semester Students Quality of Course Quality of Instructor
Spring 2015 45 5.9 5.6
Fall 2015 45 Pending Pending
Spring 2016 90
CSD 296: Independent Studies (Mentoring Undergraduate Teaching Assistant)
Student rating of teaching effectiveness
Semester Students Quality of Course Quality of Instructor
Spring 2015 1 N/A N/A
Fall 2015 1 N/A N/A

Teaching Assistantships

CSD 300: Developmental Considerations in the Assessment and Treatment of Language Disorders (95 students)

Fall 2013

CSD 595A: Speech and Language Intervention (1 student)

Fall 2012

CSD 230: Introduction to Audiology (~45 students)

Fall 2002