We are thrilled to recognize Ashley Beck as our Partner of the Month for August. Her unwavering dedication to Special Olympics Kansas (SOKS) athletes and her commitment to ensuring they receive quality hearing screenings have made a profound impact on our community. Here is her inspiring journey and contribution to SOKS Healthy Hearing.
Ashley Beck’s path to audiology was unexpected yet deeply personal. When she started college, she initially thought she wanted to be a psychologist or a teacher. However, her life took a significant turn when she had a child while obtaining her bachelor’s degree. When her son was approaching the age of 2, he wasn’t talking as expected, which led them to an audiologist at Wesley Medical Center for an evaluation. “The instant I went through the process, I knew I wanted to change my major and work in audiology, and I never questioned it from that point on,” Ashley recalls. This pivotal moment not only redirected her career but also ignited a passion that has driven her ever since.
Ashley’s involvement with Special Olympics Kansas began through volunteering at the Special Olympics summer games in Wichita. She was inspired by the athletes’ spirit and the community’s energy. It was an email from SOKS looking for Healthy Hearing Clinical Directors that truly sparked her interest. “I felt like it was a great opportunity to get involved and make a difference in our community, so I decided to join up!” she explains. Since then, Ashley has been an integral part of the SOKS Healthy Hearing program.
Ashley has been serving as the Healthy Hearing Clinical Director for six years. She finds excitement in the program’s constant evolution and the challenges it presents. “It seems like the program changes and evolves each year, which keeps it exciting. As volunteers, we only get to help with athlete screenings, but it’s a great first step to getting athletes access to the services they need. Starkey Cares is helping us to get athletes fit with much-needed hearing aids, and that is an amazing program!” Her dedication to the program and the athletes is evident in her commitment to improving their access to essential hearing services.
While no single experience stands out, Ashley cherishes the consistent positivity and energy of the athletes. “All the athletes are super nice, excited to be there, and are always happy to tell us what events they are participating in. I think it’s incredible to be a part of that excitement and energy! Athletes will often tell us they saw us at the previous event, and they are hearing better, or they got their ears cleaned out. We’re excited to see how Starkey Cares increases that success as more time passes.” Her joy in seeing athletes benefit from the program is a testament to her dedication and the positive impact of her work.
Working with limited space and resources has not deterred Ashley from ensuring the athletes receive the best care possible. “We work hard with limited space and sometimes resources to make sure we can put together a great hearing screen. If you’re going to take the time to do something, you should do it right! Athletes deserve access to great healthcare.” Balancing her full-time job at Hutchinson Clinic, Ashley manages to attend SOKS meetings during lunch hours or after work. “Unfortunately, I can only attend Saturday events as my work needs me during the week. My work has been very supportive of allowing us to use our in-house equipment for screenings if we need extra equipment,” she adds. Her commitment to the athletes is unwavering, and her efforts to ensure they receive quality care are commendable.
One of the largest challenges is maintaining a quiet environment for screenings. “The largest challenge with screenings is having tables and chairs for setup and keeping the room quiet enough for the screenings. We often have athletes come in with their coaches or an entire team, and it can be challenging to keep the room quiet. To combat some of that, we have tried putting up signs around the screening area to remind people to be quiet. If we are screening at a new location, one of us tries to get there the night before to let someone know what items we will need to be supported for the screening.” Despite these challenges, Ashley and her team continue to provide excellent service to the athletes.
Ashley’s role has evolved to include more frequent planning meetings, ensuring smoother event operations. “Our largest collaboration is with Starkey Cares, and it is still a very new program, so we’re anxious to see how it will benefit SO athletes,” she says. The potential for this partnership to enhance the lives of athletes is something Ashley is particularly excited about.
Looking ahead, Ashley hopes for better integration of Starkey Cares and more volunteers to enhance the screening experience for athletes. “I would like to see better integration of Starkey Cares and more volunteers so we could offer more options at screenings. This would enhance the experience for SO athletes.” Her vision for the future of the program is one of growth and increased support for the athletes.
The most rewarding aspect for Ashley is guiding athletes towards the care they need. “Participating in screenings helps them to know whether they have great hearing or need to follow up with an audiologist near them to get a larger battery of hearing testing accomplished. If a deficit is found, then getting them fit with hearing aids so they can more easily access the world around them is the greatest outcome.” Working with SOKS athletes has also influenced her personally and professionally. “The athletes have influenced my personal and professional life by showing how hard they work to participate and their excitement towards life.” The athletes’ determination and enthusiasm inspire Ashley and reaffirm the importance of her work.
Ashley encourages others to get involved. “JOIN! We can always use more professionals that are excited about helping SO athletes, and it’s a great way to give back to your community. My advice to athletes: Keep playing hard and make sure you take the time to go through all of the Healthy Athlete stations…we’re all here for YOU!” For those interested in volunteering with Healthy Hearing, Ashley can be contacted directly at ashley.beck75@gmail.com, or you can reach out to Erin McDaniel at mcdaniele@soks.org or Svea Knight at knights@soks.org. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with Special Olympics!
Thank you, Ashley, for your incredible dedication and impact on SOKS athletes. We are grateful for your commitment and look forward to many more years of partnership!
