The AAC-RERC is a Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center that functions as a collaborative research group dedicated to the development of effective AAC technology. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) refers to ways (other than speech) that are used to send a message from one person to another.

 Recent activities ...

aac devices

Speech Generating Device Funding for Children

In this reprint from the September 2009 issue of  Exceptional Parent magazine, Lew Golinker (Attorney and AAC Funding Advocate) describes funding sources for AAC technology. Additional resources are available at www.aacfundinghelp.com

Woman with AAC display

AAC for Persons with Neurodegenerative Diseases

Chris Gibbons, and Melanie Fried-Oken presented on AAC clinical pathways for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases at Oregon Health and Science University (handout)

Sarah Blackstone

Augmentative Communication News

For over twenty years (1988-2009), Sarah Blackstone wrote and published Augmentative Communication News (ACN). All issues of ACN are now available as free downloads, and can be searched by topic or keyword.  

 Janice with child

Early intervention for young children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other disabilities

This website provides guidelines for early intervention to maximize the language and communication development of young children with complex communication needs. 

Michael WIlliams

 Alternatively Speaking

For fifteen years (1994-2009), Michael B. Williams, a gifted writer who himself relies on augmentative communication tools and strategies, wrote and published Alternatively Speaking. All issues of Alternatively Speaking are now available as free downloads, and can be searched by topic or keyword.

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 AAC-RERC at ASHA 2009

AAC-RERC personnel presented at ASHA 2009, in New Orleans, LA (November 19-21).

 

World Congress

World Congress on Disability

Tom Jakobs (InvoTek) and Susan Fager (University of Nebraska) presented at the World Congress on Disability on State-of-the-art technology for people with minimal movement ability (handout

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Speech and Language Processing for Assistive Technologies

Melanie Fried-Oken, Kathleen McCoy, and Brian Roark are helping to organize a workshop on speech and language processing for assistive technologies, to be held as part of NAACL HLT 2010.  Details, including a call for papers, can be found here.

Recent Presentations and Publications

McNaughton, D. & Light, J. (September, 2009). Literacy program produces exciting results for children who struggle with speech. Exceptional Parent - OnLine  (Article).

Gibbons, C., & Fried-Oken, M. (October, 2009). AAC Clinical pathways for Neurodegenerative diseases. Presentation at the 2009 Oregon Speech-Language-Hearing Association Annual Convention, Bend, OR (Handout)

Pressman, H. & Blackstone, S. (November, 2009). Overcoming Patient-Provider Communication Breakdowns in Health Care Settings. Presentation at the American Speech and Hearing Association, New Orleans, LA. (Newsletter)

Blackstone, S. (November, 2009). The AAC-RERC Writers Brigade, 2004-2008. Presentation at the American Speech and Hearing Association, New Orleans, LA.  (Newsletter)

Nordness, A., Beukelman, D., &  Ullman, C. (November, 2009). Impact of Alphabet Supplementation on Speech and Pause Durations. Presentation at the American Speech and Hearing Association, New Orleans, LA. (Poster)

Wallace, S., Hux, K., Beukelman, D., & Snell, J. (November, 2009). AAC Navigation by Brain Injury Survivors: Prompt & Contextualization Effects. Presentation at the American Speech and Hearing Association, New Orleans, LA. (Poster)

Fager, S., & Jakobs, T. (November, 2009). State of the Art Technology for People with Minimal Movement Ability. Presentation at World Congress on Disabilities, Jacksonville, FL. (Handout)

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