Conservatory event helps spread word on Parkinson's

World Parkinson’s Disease Day is April 11, and what better way to bring awareness than tulips, the official symbol of Parkinson’s disease?

Richard May is doing just that with the Fort Wayne Parkinson’s Tulips Awareness Bloomfest at the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory from 12:30- 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Those who attend Sunday’s event will have the opportunity to see the Dr. James Parkinson tulip in bloom, as well as learn more about Parkinson’s disease and treatment options.

PFW’s Communication Disorders Clinic provides free assessment and treatment opportunities to individuals in the area, including those who have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. These services encompass skills affected by Parkinson’s such as communication, voice, cognition and swallowing.

Lydia Steffen, a first-year graduate student studying to be a speech language pathologist in the College of Science’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Purdue University Fort Wayne, contributed this story to The Journal Gazette (subscription required).