University Park, Pa. -- The Cleveland Cavalier's Lance Allred, the NBA's first legally deaf player, will present "Lance Allred: NBA Player, Author, Scholar, Advocate for the Deaf" at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in the Founders Lounge, Bryce Jordan Center, University Park. Both Allred and his mother, Tana, will speak at the event. The presentation will be followed by a half-hour, question-and-answer session.
Severely hearing impaired since birth, Allred's journey to the NBA is an unlikely one. As a child Allred grew up in a rural community in Montana with limited resources to accommodate his hearing disability. At age 6, his family moved to Salt lake City, Utah, where his large, visible hearing aids made him a ready target for bullying. It was only at the age of 13 that Allred picked up basketball, and, in playing the game, found he was able to overcome his feelings of depression, alienation, and later, obsessive compulsive disorder.
Allred graduated from high school as a top player in the western United States. He played two years for the University of Utah and transferred to Weber State University, where he was named an academic All-American and was on the honor roll every semester he attended school. Despite finishing third in the nation in rebounding at 12.0 rebounds a game along with 18 points a game, Allred was not drafted into the NBA. He spent a year overseas playing in Turkey, France and Spain, followed by two years in the NBA development league. On March 12, he was called up by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In addition to excelling on the court, Allred is an accomplished writer. As a child going through speech therapy for many years, Allred was encouraged by his parents to communicate through writing, and he received many awards in school. In May, Allred signed his first book contract with Harper Collins Publishing.
The event is co-sponsored by Library Services for Persons with Disabilities, the Penn State Athletic Department/Athletic Council for Diversity and Inclusion and Information Technology Services. For information, contact Susan Hayya at (814) 863-1102.
Parking enforcement will be in effect in the lots surrounding the Bryce Jordan Center. Orange parking lots are available to University employees with a valid core parking permit. Commuter permits are not valid in orange lots. To purchase parking permits or for information, contact the University Parking Office at (814) 865-1436.