By Samuel Charles Sennott
The poster board sessions at ASHA 2007 on AAC, literacy, and special education for individuals with communication disorders were a terrific chance to speak with the presenters and actively engage in learning about the subject presented. I will try to briefly summarize an impression of a few of the excellent mini-lessons, I experienced.
- Susan Fager, Madonna Rehab Hosp, Lincoln, NE
- David Beukelman, U of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
- Tom Jakobs, Invotek, Alma, AR
This session showed an amazing new way to help people with under 20% intelligibility use speech recognition by triangulating between trained voice, initial letter cueing, and an innovative optimization of voice recognition. Definitely check this research out and I really can’t wait to see this in the market!
2. Implementation of Eye Tracking SGD Access: Profiling for Success
- Laura Ball, Munroe-Meyer Inst, Omaha, NE
- Susan Fager, Madonna Rehab Hosp, Lincoln, NE
- David Beukelman , U of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
- Katrina Kersch , U of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
- Brianne Mohr, U of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Terrific to see research emerging to complement the amazing work of this new technology. If you have not tried this, it is amazing to type and control a computer with your eyes. This research work was focused on adults and simply was focused on how to best implement this technology.
- Susan Fager, Madonna Rehab Hosp, Lincoln, NE
- David Beukelman, U of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
- Tom Jakobs, Invotek, Alma, AR
Using direct selection is powerful for AAC users and head tracking systems are a great form of direct selection. Yet, have you ever been using a head tracking system and it gets off its calibration, like when the pointer is off the screen? This new technology uses a series of mirrors to create what they call, absolute head tracking. The technology looks promising and it seems as if this emergence will push the envelope. Nice! : )
4. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC):
Preservice Training for AAC Team Members
- F. Aileen Costigan, Pennsylvania St U, University Park, PA
- Janice C. Light, Pennsylvania St U, University Park, PA
This meta-analysis of the research confirmed what we know: that in special education, speech language pathology, and related fields there is an average of zero to one courses in AAC. After attending this session and hearing that it has a chance for publication, I feel off the hook about doing the survey of the special education teacher training programs. Although it still would be valuable, we know the unfortunate state of affairs. As we look to the organizations optimized to change this, we must consider a sustainable system. I feel so strongly about this issue and think it is one of the keys to helping the learners we serve! Nice work by the researcher!
As a wonderful contrast to the reasearch Aileen Costigan reported on regarding the lack of AAC training for SLP’s and teachers in training, Elizabeth Bagley reported on the terrific success of Ithaca College’s method of training their future SLPs in AAC work. She highlighted the student created and taught modules and the excellent feedback they have been getting regarding the program. This presentation was a terrific example of the concept of you learn best what you teach. I tried to walk away with the excellent binder the last class had created! : ) I look forward to finding out more about how this project progresses, as the researcher mentioned they would like to expand the process from design, create, and teach to include teaching to local school districts. That epitomizes what I believe we should be doing and was floored when I heard how close they are to making it happen. Right on Ithaca College!
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[...] Poster Boards of Interest at ASHA 2007 [...]
very interesting.
i’m adding in RSS Reader