AAC Institute Update!
12 November 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 ten (10) 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) New AAC Institute web site!
Based on the many positive comments received, many have already discovered
our new face at www.aacinstitute.org
. If you are not among those routinely accessing the many resources available,
please visit. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.
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2) Free CEUs!
Free CEUs can be earned by taking the free Self-Study
Program courses available at the web site. Also, see items below.
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3) Upcoming Events
The many conferences and other training opportunities where AAC Institute
provides CEUs without cost include the upcoming
Assistive Technology Industry Association
(ATIA) January 30 - February 2, 2008 in Orlando, Florida
For others, go to www.aacinstitute.org/CEUs.
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4) Attending the ASHA Convention?
Plan to attend the 11th annual Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecture given this
year by Robert O'Gurek. Friday 16 Nov. at 11:00 AM in BCEC Room 210C.
ASHA student paper awards will be presented at the annual DAAC meeting on
Thursday 15 Nov. from 5-6 pm at the BCEC in room 52B.
Come by the AAC Institute exhibit (booth number 1138). See the new products
and materials available, including "Considering
AAC Language Representation Methods"
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5) Sixth International Symposium on
AAC Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
Literacy, Language and AAC
This Sixth Symposium will be held on June 13 & 14, 2008 at the Sheraton
Station Square in Pittsburgh, PA. Speakers include: Janet Sturm, Rose-Marie
Gallagher and Gretchen Hanser. Learn how evidence-based practice can help
optimize and document results, meet educational standards and achieve success
for children and adults who use AAC. The agenda and registration form can
be found at http://www.aacinstitute.org/Symposium.
CEUs are available to attendees through the AAC Institute at no cost.
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6) Clinical AAC Research Conference
The first annual Clinical AAC Research Conference was held at the University
of Kentucky in Lexington at the end of September. The conference presentations
are available in the Archives area of the web site: www.aacinstitute.org/CAAC.
The 2008 CAAC will be 25 - 27 September hosted by University of Virginia in
Charlottesville. The Call for Papers deadline is May 1, 2008. Conference participation
is limited to authors of accepted proposals plus graduate students of accepted
authors.
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7) 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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8) Consumer AACtion Point
The AAC Institute has received various inquiries regarding visual scene displays
and AAC assistive technology. Visual scene displays represent various contexts
that may personalize environments, activities, events, people, objects, actions,
etc. Therefore, the stored vocabulary or messages are accessed within a background
in which they may occur. Consumers should know that the use of visual scene
displays on AAC devices is non-propriety or non-exclusive. Visual scenes may
be created and personalized for a range of low to high AAC technology interventions.
Consequently, many, if not most, AAC manufacturers support visual scenes.
Visual scene displays typically are identified as a single-meaning picture language representation method. However, alternative configurations of a visual scene approach may be designed and available that provide access to alphabet-based and semantic compaction language representation methods. Consumers investigating visual scene displays are advised to explore the various available options, and ask for the evidence to support any claims in order to make fully-informed, evidence-based decisions.
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9) Hall of Honor
JoAnn Hill has been memorialized in the AAC Institute Hall
of Honor. JoAnn was the mother of Katya Hill, Co-Founder and
Executive Director of the AAC Institute. The legacy of JoAnn is being preserved
through AAC Institute programs that benefit people with disabilities.
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10) 2007 Sponsors
Twenty six organizations are now AAC Institute sponsors. They include AAC
manufacturers, continuing education activity organizers, publishers and others.
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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