Communication Center of Excellence

Susan Fager is the Director of the Communication Center of Excellence in the Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals. Susan has more than 18 years of experience in the area of assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and completed her doctoral training in AAC and motor speech disorders at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research focuses on assistive technology options for persons with severe physical and/or cognitive impairments due to acquired neurological or degenerative conditions, such as traumatic brain injury, brainstem stroke, spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, or chronic Guillain Barre syndrome.

Tabatha Sorenson is an Occupational Therapist and Lead Assistive Technology Specialist at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals. She provides inpatient and outpatient services for individuals of all ages after illness or injury. Tabatha has 10 years of experience helping individuals regain access to computers, phones (landline, flip phone, and smart phone), environmental controls, and assisting speech language pathologists identify reliable access methods for patients to access alternative and augmented communication devices. Tabatha received her Certified Aging in Place Specialist certification from the National Home Builder’s Association in 2014.  She analyzes home environments and provides accessibility recommendations to ensure our patients transition home safely, and as independent as possible.  Tabatha has knowledge and experience with specialty equipment and mobility devices (such as power wheelchairs, specialty commodes/shower chairs, transfer lifts, etc) and the space needs of this equipment in the home environment, helping patients and families prepare space to accommodate new equipment. Tabatha completed her clinical doctorate training at Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, completing her doctoral component in the area of Assistive Technology across the life span. Tabatha is the Rehabilitation Engineering Clinical Program Leader.  She assists in connecting patients/clinicians with our Rehabilitation Engineer to develop customized solutions to solve unmet needs. Tabatha informs the rehabilitation team on the clinical application and use of newly developed products from the Rehabilitation Engineering Center.