Dr. Martin Palmer founded Heartspring in 1934 in a single classroom on the fourth floor of Jardine Hall on the campus of the University of Wichita (Wichita State University). At the time of his death in 1965, the Institute of Logopedics (as it was then known) was the largest institute of speech and hearing rehabilitation in the world. He helped to spread knowledge of treatment for children with special needs around the globe. Dr. Palmer guided the organization as director, playing a major role in its growth and success and was rewarded with worldwide recognition.
Author of numerous scientific publications, Dr. Palmer was a pioneer in the field of special education and during his time, Heartspring was responsible for many of the breakthroughs in treatment of children with multiple disabilities. His vision enabled children from around the world to reach their full potential. He achieved many firsts during his tenure at Heartspring including founding the first center in the world to accept children with multiple disabilities for training, the first center in the world to set up a total rehabilitation program under one roof and he directed the organization that was the object of the first specific state legislative social welfare act for children with communication disorders. Also a first, Dr. Palmer proved mental retardation does not mean hopelessness; children with brain damage could raise their IQ scores as much as 20 points, and cerebral palsy patients, once considered non-learning, are in the normal intelligence range.
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Dr. Palmer conducts a hearing evaluation, 1956 |
Dr. Palmer received his B.A. from Olivet College in Michigan, and his M.A. and Sc.D. from the University of Michigan. He served as Professor of Logopedics and Director of the Logopedics Department at the University of Wichita in addition to being the Director of Heartspring.
A distinguished scholar, Dr. Palmer was a member of the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy, International Council for Exceptional Children, International Society for Rehabilitation of the Disabled, U.S. International Committee on Deafness, and was a member and president of the American Speech and Hearing Association and Kansas Speech and Hearing Association. Dr. Palmer was appointed to the President’s Committee on Employment of the Physically Handicapped in Washington D.C. in 1958. He also served as director and vice president of the American Board of Examiners in speech pathology and audiology and served as a consultant to the Ministry of Health of India. In 1960, Dr. Palmer was made a consultant to the government of Japan for the World Health Organization to survey needs for speech and hearing rehabilitation. His honorary national academic fraternity memberships included Pi Kappa Delta and Delta Epsilon. In addition to various memberships and consultation roles, Dr. Palmer was listed as Who’s Who in America, American Men of Science and Who’s Who in Education.
“During his humanitarian career, (Heartspring) attained a position of unequaled stature in the field of communications handicaps. History will list our own Dr. Palmer with Albert Schweitzer, Will Menninger and the other greats who lived for their fellow man.”
– James Vicker, board of trustees president, 1966
