AAC Institute Update!
2 July 2007
*** 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 AAC Institute is to provide periodic announcements of interest to those involved in the field of AAC. Approximate average frequency of messages is one every two months. Archived past announcements can be found at the web site. If you wish to be removed from the AAC Institute announcement list, simply reply with a message to that effect. ***
This update has six (6) items. Please forward to others with an interest in AAC. Others can register for email updates at the AAC Institute web site.
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1) Fifth International Symposium on
AAC Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
At the Intersection of AAC and Education: Evidence Based Practice,
Language and Learning
This Fifth Symposium will be held
on August 2, 2007 at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh, immediately
preceding the Pittsburgh Employment Conference (PEC). Keynote speaker: Tracy
Kovach, Ph.D. Learn how evidence-based practice can help optimize
and document results, meet educational standards and achieve success for children
and adults who use AAC. Other speakers: Gail
VanTatenhove, Robin Hurd, David Chapple, Filip Loncke. The
agenda and registration form can be found at http://www.aacinstitute.org/Symposium.
Both the symposium and PEC are being held at the Sheraton Station Square.
CEUs are available to attendees through the AAC Institute at no cost.
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2) Pittsburgh Employment
Conference for Augmented Communicators (PEC)
The
Pittsburgh Employment
Conference (PEC) is the largest gathering in the world of people
who use AAC and they actively participate in presentations and discussions.
This demonstration of communication performance is an inspiration to all who
are involved in the field of AAC. CEUs are available to attendees through
the AAC Institute at no cost.
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3) Parents' Corner Celebrates 3rd
Birthday!
The monthly Parents'
Corner column begins the fourth year this month, July 2007. This
popular resource at the AAC Institute web site offers information that is
valued by families of individuals who use AAC. Robin Hurd is the regular author
of Parents' Corner, although she occasionally welcomes guest writers. The
Parents' Corner area of the site also provides entry into the AAC
Parents discussion group. This resource is available only
to parents and has become an active and valuable resource. If you are or know
parents of individuals who use AAC, please do them the favor of assuring that
they are aware of both Parents' Corner and the AAC Parents discussion group.
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4) AAC Day/Month: (1)
October
USSAAC,
the United States Chapter of ISAAC (International Society for Augmentative
and Alternative Communication), has designated October 1st as AAC Day. In
an effort to keep things simple for the inaugural event, USSAAC has provided
a model for schools to work from. 1) Follow a 20 minute lesson plan where
all students discuss a topic using a light tech communication board or any
means other than their voice. 2) Have individuals who use AAC take a leadership
role during the session. 3) Have the students visually express their thoughts
after the session. Include the use of artwork, writing or other media which
can be shared with others around the world. 4) Publicize the event in your
community. A simply powerful plan. For more information about the event or
if you want to sign up to be a participating school, please contact Tom Reed,
Manager of USSAAC’s International AAC Awareness Committee at treed@tjreed.com.
Correspondingly, ISAAC has designated October as International AAC Awareness Month. Sarah Lever (sarahlever@carolina.rr.com) is seeking volunteers to help plan initiatives that will contribute to AAC Awareness..
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5) i-CREATe 2008
The
2nd International Convention on Rehabilitation
Engineering & Assistive Technology will be held in Bangkok,
Thailand 13-15 May 2008. This follows on the 1st event that was held in Singapore
earlier this year. This event will showcase and enhance the rapidly growing
interest in technology for people with disabilities in this region of the
world. Additional information can be found at http://www.start-centre.com/i-create2008/index.php.
CEUs are available to attendees through the AAC Institute at no cost.
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6) 2007 Sponsors
Over twenty organizations, AAC manufacturers,
publishers and others provide support to the AAC Institute and the list is
growing. Gold level sponsors include Assistive Technology Industry
Association (ATIA), California State
University – Northridge, Closing
The Gap, Prentke Romich Company
and Semantic Compaction Systems.
Silver level sponsors include Mayer-Johnson, Inc. For a complete
list of sponsors, including links to their web sites, click on the "Sponsors"
link on the AAC Institute home page.
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