By HAWKINS TEAGUE
Staff Writer
While most people take it for granted that they can talk to others every
day, Ritchie Freeman isn't one of them.

But thanks to a student organization at Murray State University, he will now
be able to say exactly what is on his mind.

Freeman, 44, has a severe communication impairment and can communicate with
others using hand gestures and sounds, but could not use words ...
until Friday.
That's when members of the MSU chapter of the National Student
Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) had a small party to present
him with a new communication device.
NSSLHA (usually pronounced "Nissla" for short by members) is an organization
for students studying to be speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
The local chapter recently raised about $2,700 to buy a Springboard Lite
"alternative augmentative communications" device made the Prentke Romich
Company for Freeman.

Jessica Stinson, a graduate student speech clinician at MSU's Speech
Language Hearing Clinic, said the clinic has several clients like Freeman
from around the region.
Freeman is part of the "Communication for Self Determination" group, also
called the "Friday Friends," which meets at Alexander Hall each week. The
group gathered yesterday to watch Freeman receive his gift.

Jen Nowak, the president of the local NSSLHA chapter, said the club had
worked hard to raise the money, throwing a few bake sales, a barbecue,
rebate nights at local restaurants and sold cutlery. She said she was also
grateful to the people who had made sizable donations, which were especially
generous because they weren't tax deductible.

"Ritchie had so much more to say than he had ability," she said.

Freeman, who lives in Paducah, was visibly excited as Stinson handed him the
device. He immediately pushed a button that had been programmed to say
"Hello. My name is Ritchie Freeman." He then pressed several buttons
displaying pictures of NSSLHA members to make the device say each of their
names.

Speaking with the device, Freeman said he had been president of the CSD
group for about one month. He also proudly referred to his attire, saying
"I'm wearing a suit!"

He still was taking the time, though, to learn all the complexities of the
machine.
Freeman then began doing one of his favorite things, which he had never been
able to do as effectively before - flirting with the women in NSSLHA. As the
cake was put away and some of the students hugged him and said good-bye,
Freeman repeatedly pushed the button on the machine that had been programmed
to say, "Call! Call!"

Kelly Kleinhans, a clinical supervisor and lecturer, said that although she
advises the NSSLHA chapter, the students run it and decide which projects to
support. Members decided to raise the money for Freeman in fall 2007.

She said that health insurance sometimes won't pay for AAC devices or will
only pay for one over a certain timespan if it breaks. She said Freeman had
owned a less expensive device but that it no longer met his needs and he was
ready to use more advanced verbal skills.

"With this device, he will be able to fill social roles, participate in his
community and make more choices in his life," she said.