The Stillwater CANe (Communication, Arts, Nutrition, Exercise) Project is aimed to provide community-based multidisciplinary programs to people with Parkinson disease (PD) and their families based in and around Stillwater. Our project aligns with the land grant mission of Oklahoma State University (OSU) of providing services and improving the lives of people living in Oklahoma.
The project came into existence back in 2019 based on inputs and feedback from local community members with PD who often did not receive information and opportunities to engage in different multidisciplinary programs locally.
Our program involves collaborations between multiple departments (including Communication Sciences and Disorders, School of Kinesiology, Applied Health, and Recreation, and Nutritional Sciences) and partnerships with local organizations (including the Stillwater Prairie Arts Center and the Stillwater Public Library). Our project currently offers six different programs:
1. Monthly PD Support Group
2. Weekly PD Exercise Group
3. Weekly LOUD Crowd Groups
4. Monthly Nutrition Education Group
5. Monthly PD Social Group
6. PD Arts Group
Our program has been successful in receiving funds from the Community Grants Program of Parkinson's Foundation since 2019. We are the only program in Oklahoma to be funded through this grants program. Although we receive small tier grants (ranging between $5000-$13000) each year, we would not have been able to continue and expand our efforts without the generosity, time, and involvement of our group members with PD and their families.
We have been fundraising here in the community for the past few years and these community donations go a long way in our continued efforts to provide educational programs and meaningful services for the local PD community.
Our team includes faculty members from three different programs as well as undergraduate and graduate students.
Sabiha Parveen, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders) https://cdis.okstate.edu/people/390-parveen
Tim Passmore, Ed.D., CTRS/L, FDRT (School of Kinesiology, Applied Health, and Recreation) https://directory.okstate.edu/index.php/module/Default/action/ViewPerson?dirkey=98276&campus=1
Gena Wollenberg, Ph.D., RDN, CSSD (Department of Nutritional Sciences) https://experts.okstate.edu/gena.wollenberg/grants
For more information about our programs please visit:
https://stillwaterpdsupport.weebly.com/stillwater-cane-project.html
For details about our past initiatives and achievements, please visit:
https://cdis.okstate.edu/people/390-parveen#stillwater-cane-project
You can contribute towards purchase of art supplies for PD Arts group where anyone with PD and his/her family member can join and be part of a socially interactive and creative gathering.
You can contribute to purchase of bottled water for our weekly and monthly group meetings attended by participants with Parkinson disease and their families.
You can contribute to purchase of cognitive workbooks, sound level meters, Ipads, and other therapy materials that can be used for the ongoing LOUD Crowd groups.
You can help with purchase of new exercise equipment, accessories, and tools for our ongoing weekly physical exercise program.
You can help cover the SPEAK OUT! therapy services of a newly diagnosed person with Parkinson disease (PD) and/or someone who may not have insurance coverage to cover the speech therapy program
You can contribute towards multi-day or short term training and rehabilitation programs aimed to improve the mobility, independence, and overall daily functioning of people with PD.
You can contribute towards expanding our efforts to reach newly diagnosed people with PD and provide services in underserved regions in and around Stillwater.