Volunteer credits KU service for speech recovery after stroke

Audio-Reader volunteer Donna Laushman gives her final broadcast of the Topeka Capital-Journal on Friday, Aug. 27. Laushman retired last week after nearly 30 years with the service for blind, visually impaired and print-disabled individuals. Doug Koch/University Relations

Laushman retires after 28 years with Audio-Reader

Audio-Reader volunteer Donna Laushman broadcast her final story from the Topeka Capital-Journal Aug. 27, ending nearly 30 years with the reading and information service for blind, visually impaired and print-disabled individuals.

Audio-Reader administrators, employees and volunteers, as well as family members and friends, thanked Laushman for her service with a surprise party following her final show, but Laushman said it was she who owed the debt to Audio-Reader.

Laushman came to Audio-Reader in 1976 after the death of her son. She had spent hours reading to him and was seeking diversion from her grief. Audio-Reader gave Laushman the opportunity to continue reading to an audience in need.

She eventually took on the Capital-Journal on Tuesday and Friday mornings. She also recorded a cooking show as well as numerous books.

But in October 1991 Laushman suffered a stroke. Surgery repaired some of the damage but left Laushman with a halting pattern to her speech. However, she found that she was still able to read and returned to her Audio-Reader assignments in January 1992.

Slowly, the reading helped Laushman regain her faculties, and today she shows no sign of impairment.

“I always say Audio-Reader saved my life twice,” she said.

Gary Clark, professor of special education and one of Laushman’s former reading partners, said he enjoyed working with Laushman as she fought her way through stories during her recovery.

“It’s such a tribute to Audio-Reader that they let her keep on reading,” Clark said. “But her listeners understood. They were pulling for her.”

Audio-Reader Director Janet Campbell called Laushman “pretty amazing” and said the service would miss her unwavering dependability, sense of humor and baked goods.

“She’s been the model volunteer for almost 30 years,” Campbell said. “We’ve received countless calls and letters over the years from listeners thanking Donna and expressing their pleasure when hearing her easy reading style.”

Clark said he would cherish memories of laughing with Laushman as the two broadcast stories while wearing pajamas, coats and mittens in freezing studios at former Audio-Reader facilities.

“She and I had more fun,” he said. “We’d start giggling over something and then just crack up. Those were some of our best times.”