www.aacinstitute.org
AAC Institute Update!
*** The AAC Institute is a 501c3 not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to the most effective communication for people who rely on AAC (augmentative and alternative communication). One service of the AAC Institute is to provide periodic announcements of interest to those involved in the field of AAC. Approximate average frequency of messages is one per one to two months. If you wish to be removed from the AAC Institute announcement list, simply reply with a message to that effect. ***
This update has nine (9) items. Please forward to others with an interest in AAC. Others can register for email updates at the AAC Institute web site. www.aacinstitute.org
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1) ASHA CEUs and AAC Institute at ATIA
The upcoming ATIA (Assistive Technology Industry Association)
Conference (January 19-22; Orlando, FL) has a number of program sessions of
interest to speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and others working in
AAC, language development, literacy, and related areas. Both the pre-conference
and the conference offer opportunities for obtaining ASHA CEUs at no cost. For
additional information on the conference, go to www.atia.org.
The pre-conference program is offered for up to 0.7 CEUs (Intermediate level; Professional area). The conference program is offered for up to 1.6 CEUs (Intermediate level; Professional area).
Please stop by the AAC Institute booth (#200) in the exhibit hall.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2) CSUN Assistive Technology Applications
Certificate Program (ATACP)
The Center on Disabilities at California State University - Northridge offers
the ATACP in two formats: Traditional and FastTrax. The first 2005 offering
is a FastTrax activity on January 18 & 19 in Orlando, immediately preceding
the ATIA Conference (see above). For additional information, go to www.csun.edu/cod.
The Traditional ATACP activity is offered for 3.0 CEUs (Intermediate level; Professional area). The FastTrax ATACP activity is offered for 1.5 CEUs (Intermediate level; Professional area).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3) ConnSENSE features AAC
The most recent issue of The ConnSENSE Bulletin (http://www.connsensebulletin.com)
includes a number of articles that feature AAC. At the home page, click on WHAT's
NEW. For an automatic reminder of updates, sign up for the email newsletter
at the home page.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
4) Request for research participants
An exciting, new project is examining the life experiences
of non-European Americans who use augmentative and alternative communication
(AAC). Non-European Americans who have used aided AAC (a light tech or high
tech device) for part of their communication needs for at least one year and
meet other criteria are being invited to participate. A $100 stipend is being
offered. For additional information, contact: Rhonda Davis at Penn State University.
rld196@psu.edu
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
5) Third Annual Symposium on AAC Evidence-Based
Practice
The Third annual Symposium on AAC Evidence-Based Practice will
be held Thursday August 4, 2005. The theme is Honoring the Values of Families
and People who use AAC. The venue is the School of Health and Rehabilitation
Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. For more information, visit the Symposium
page (http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/Symposium/2005/symposiumannouncement.html)
on the AAC Institute web site. The Symposium immediately precedes the 2005 Pittsburgh
Employment Conference (PEC) (see next item).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
6) Pittsburgh Employment Conference
for Augmented Communicators (PEC)
The Pittsburgh Employment Conference, considered by some to be
the most significant event in the field of AAC, is the largest gathering of
people who use AAC in the world. PEC will be August 5-7, 2005 at the Sheraton
Station Square in Pittsburgh. For additional information, go to http://www.minspeak.com/shout/index.html
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
7) 2004 ASHA AAC Student Paper Award
Winners
The 2004 recipients of the ASHA AAC
Student Scientific Paper Awards were Oliver Wendt (Purdue University), Heather
Hill (Edinboro University of Pennsylvania), and Amanda England (University of
Virginia). A photo and papers are available at http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/ASHAStudentAwards/2004/ashastudentawards2004.html.
Selection of recipients is made by a committee of the ASHA Division on Augmentative
Communication. Information on the awards program is available at http://www.aacinstitute.org/Resources/ASHAStudentAwards/ashastudentawards.html.
The awards are sponsored by AAC Institute.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
8) 2005 ASHA Division on Augmentative
Communication Conference
The sixth annual conference of the ASHA Division on Augmentative Communication
(DAC) is scheduled for January 28-31 in Palm Springs, CA. The topic is "Issues
Affecting Adults Who Use AAC". For additional information, visit http://www.asha.org/about/membership-certification/divs/div_12.htm.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
9) 2004 Corporate Sponsors
Many organizations, including AAC manufacturers and publishers,
are providing support to the AAC Institute. Gold and Silver level sponsors include
Dynavox, Prentke Romich Company, and Semantic Compaction Systems. For a complete
list of corporate sponsors, including links to their web sites, click on the
"Corporate Sponsors"
link on the AAC Institute home
page.
