Third Usher Syndrome in Louisiana Symposium

The UL Lafayette Biology Department co-hosted the third Usher Syndrome in Louisiana Symposium on Saturday, 10 March 2018. Usher Syndrome is a genetic form of deaf-blindness that came with the Acadians who migrated to Louisiana and created the largest population of deaf-blind citizens in the United States. The symposium was organized by geneticist Dr. Jennifer Lentz from the LSU Health Sciences Center, several UL Lafayette alumni who are parents of children with Usher Syndrome and have launched nonprofits, and Dr. Phyllis Baudoin Griffard of our Biology department. The symposium, held at the Cecil J. Picard Center for Child Development & Lifelong Learning, was attended by over 100 deaf-blind citizens, their interpreters, and families. A team of undergraduate and graduate students were on hand to help.