APDA Northwest is proud to present a series of free virtual workshops designed to give you practical tools and techniques to help you improve your quality of life with PD.

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Next Session

📣 PD Voice Lab: Building the Ultimate Voice & Speech Home Practice Program

This is a structured 4‑week series, not a drop‑in program. Each session builds on the one before it.
Session will be recorded and posted on the APDA Northwest YouTube channel

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ABOUT

Communication changes are common in Parkinson’s — but they don’t have to limit connection, confidence, or participation in daily life.

In this hands-on, highly interactive four-week workshop, Sarah Awde will guide participants in building their own personalized Parkinson’s voice and speech home practice program — step by step, together as a group.

Each session focuses on doing, not just learning. Participants will practice simple, evidence-informed exercises in real time, try out practical tools, and share experiences in a supportive environment. Every week builds on the last so that, by the end of the series, each person leaves with a realistic, motivating routine they can actually keep up with at home.

What we’ll work on (across the 4 weeks):

• The Power of the Breath — breath as the engine for strong, clear speech (including EMST)
• Let’s Get LOUD! — core voice exercises for louder, steadier communication
• SPEAK Clearly — strategies to be better understood in everyday conversations
• Fight Against Facial Masking — gentle exercises to boost expression and connection

Participants will also discuss how to stay motivated, consistent, and confident with their home practice long after the workshop ends.

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Cognitive Fitness

People with Parkinson’s disease may experience cognitive changes. The importance of maintaining brain health and understanding modifiable factors that impact brain function is the key to cognitive fitness. Learning strategies to improve cognitive functioning in everyday life will be the focus of this seminar. This will be an interactive seminar with tasks and activities that will be assigned after each session and discussed the following week.

Topics Covered: Lifestyle Factors that Impact Brain Function, Executive Functioning, Mood and Brain Function, Cognitive Training

Facilitated By: Karen Torres, Psy.D.
Neuropsychologist
UW Medicine

Held May of 2025

Caregiving Considerations: Positioning and Transfers – a focus on mobility & safety

In this session we will focus on practical tools for the Care Partner. We welcome back Occupational Therapist, Heidi Huynh from Ascend Therapy Services who will share practical skills and tools that will help you safely assist a loved one a loved one in a variety of areas.

It is often something small that can make a big difference, and you will come away from this 4-week series having learned the small things that will help you to feel more confident, safe, and relaxed while caring for your loved one.

Facilitated By Heidi Huynh, OTR, CTRS
Occupational Therapist
Ascend Therapy Services

Held March of 2025

4 Weeks to PD-PRO: Optimizing Your Diet with Parkinson’s Disease

Description:
In this four-week course, you will learn about the PD-PRO diet and its connection improved quality of life with Parkinson’s disease, how to manage common Parkinson’s symptoms, transitioning to a plant-based diet, and the role of diet in reducing inflammation and supporting brain health. Acquire the knowledge and tools to integrate brain-protective foods into your daily meals, all while optimizing nutrition and flavor.

Facilitated by Kelly Morrow, MS, RDN, FAND
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Seattle Integrative Medicine

Held in Jan-Feb 2024

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Hand On Helpful Caregiving

Description

Throughout these workshops you will learn how to help the one you care for help themselves, using a variety of techniques including adaptive tools, simple modifications to the environment, and adjusting positioning / using proper ergonomics. You will come away with the tools needed to put these techniques into action and the understanding of how big changes can result from even little adjustments. This will allow you and those you care for to work as a team throughout the day.

Facilitated By Heidi Huynh, OTR, CTRS
Occupational Therapist
Ascend Therapy Services

Held in March of 2024

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Finessing Fine Motor Skills

Description

We use our hands and our fine motor skills throughout many tasks on a daily basis. During this workshop series you will not only learn about tools and techniques to maximize your fine motor skills at home, but also participate in exercises and activities as a group together. Work alongside each other as we strengthen, stretch, and coordinate these precise muscles to maximize independence and accuracy throughout daily activity.

Facilitated By Heidi Huynh, OTR, CTRS
Occupational Therapist
Ascend Therapy Services

Held in May of 2024

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Beat the Freeze

Description

Freezing of gait can cause people with Parkinson’s Disease to feel stuck in their tracks.  During this workshop series, we will discuss the complexities of why freezing occurs.  You will learn practical tools that physical therapists utilize to help manage freezing episodes.

Facilitated by Dr. Jennie Allex & Dr. Nate Coomer
Physical Therapists
Parkinson’s Fitness Project

Held in August of 2024

SERIES #5

Power Up Your Voice

Description

Take control of your voice and fight back against the changes Parkinson’s can bring. In this 4-week series you’ll learn techniques and tools to keep your voice strong, clear, and confident.  With expert guidance and practical exercises, you’ll gain the skills to maintain your vocal strength and communication abilities for the long haul. Don’t wait for changes – be proactive in preserving your voice! 

Facilitated by Jessica Aubin, MS CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Aubin Speech & Language Center

Held in November 2024