AAC-RERC Awarded Communication Enhancement Grant by National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

The AAC-RERC, hosted by Duke University, was recently awarded a $4.75 million grant by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) for the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) for Communication Enhancement. The AAC-RERC is a partnership between Duke University Medical Center; Children’s Hospital, Boston; InvoTek, Inc.; Oregon Health and Sciences University; Penn State University; State University of New York-Buffalo and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

This is the third five-year award that the AAC-RERC has received, extending its work through September 2013. There are more than 3.5 million Americans with significant communication disabilities who are unable to rely on their natural speech to communicate. The development of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies have significantly changed the lives of these individuals, allowing them greater independence and opportunities to participate in society.

The AAC-RERC is involved in a comprehensive program of research, development, training and knowledge transfer activities that seek to improve technologies for individuals with complex communication needs. It serves as a dynamic focal point for advanced research involved in the development and deployment of electronic devices used by children and adults with communication impairments caused by conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, stroke, Lou Gehrig’s disease and traumatic brain injury. Many of the developments in AAC are the direct result of previous work conducted by this group. The mission of the AAC-RERC is to assist those who use AAC technologies in achieving their goals across environments.

Contact: Frank DeRuyter, Ph.D. (919) 684-6271 frank.deruyter@duke.edu