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Using Visual Scene Displays While Working with Young Children who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

adult and child with video vsd

This module provides information on strategies and tools professionals can use while using visual scene displays with young children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). These evidence-based strategies and tools have been shown to be effective in children and adults and across varying cognition and language levels and diagnoses, but we are focusing specifically on studies conducted with young children in this module. This module consists of readings and interactive material to support translation of research to practice.

To view this article bundle, please register and log in to the AAC Learning Center

Learning Outcomes
 You will be able to: 

  • Discuss how visual scene displays can support individuals in both participating in the activity and as a communication support. 
  • Describe the interventions using visual scene displays with young children who rely on AAC across diagnoses 
  • Explain how to incorporate visual scene displays into activities with individuals who rely on AAC 

Prerequisites 
None 

Assessment Type 
At the end of the module, you will complete a short quiz. You must achieve 80% accuracy to earn CE credit 

Accommodations  
If you need special accommodations, please contact Beth Frick Semmler at bfs5682@psu.edu or Kelly Webb at kdw5@psu.edu. 

Target Audience 
Speech-language pathologists looking for evidence-based strategies in AAC and who work with individuals with complex communication needs. 

More Information 
For more information about this program, please contact Beth Frick Semmler at bfs5682@psu.edu or Kelly Webb at kdw5@psu.edu. 

Grievances and Complaints 
If you have a complaint regarding registration, delivery process and procedures, facilities, access, service, or any other grievance about the program please submit your written complaint via email to Kelly Webb at kdw5@psu.edu within 30 days after program completion. Upon request, Kelly will provide a copy of how complaints are addressed for any continuing education program offered by the Penn State Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. 

Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination 
Please visit https://affirmativeaction.psu.edu/welcome/statements/ to view information regarding affirmative action and Penn State’s nondiscrimination policy. 

If you do not have an ASHA Member Number or are not an ASHA certificate holder, please review the following link which contains ASHA’s Eligibility to Earn ASHA CEUs Online Form. This should be completed as part the reporting process. 

Contents in This Course 
– Patenaude, D., McNaughton, D., & Liang, Z. (2024). Using visual scene displays with young children: An evidence-based practice synthesis. Journal of Special Education Technology, 0(0), 1-13, 
– Chapin, S.E., McNaughton, D., Light, J., McCoy, A., Caron, J., & Lee, D.L. (2022). The effects of AAC video visual scene display technology on the communicative turns of preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder. Assistive Technology, 34(5), 577-587. doi:10.1080/10400435.2021.1893235.  
– Laubscher, E., Barwise, A., & Light, J. (2022). Effect of video augmentative and alternative communication technology on communication during play with peers for children with autism spectrum disorder. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 53, 1101-1116. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_LSHSS-21-00136 
– Bhana, N., McNaughton, D., Raulston, T., & Ousley, C. (2020). Supporting communication and participation in shared storybook reading using visual scene displays. Teaching Exceptional Children, 52(6), 382-391. doi:10.1177/0040059920918609. 

Grievances and Complaints 

Text BoxIf you have a complaint regarding registration, delivery process and procedures, access, service, or any other grievance about the program please submit your written complaint via email to Kelly Webb at kdw5@psu.edu within 30 days after program completion. Upon request, Kelly will provide a copy of how complaints are addressed for any continuing education program offered by the Penn State Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. 

Time Ordered Agenda (based on word count and Moodle data) 
66 Minutes – Patenaude et al., (2024) Article and blog (63 + 3)  
78 Minutes – Chapin et al., (2021) Article and blog with videos (72 + 6)  
89 Minutes – Laubscher et al., (2022)  
43 Minutes – Bhana et al., (2020) 
TOTAL: 4.6 hours 

Disclosures and Author Information  
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (RERC on AAC) is a multi-site team of researchers, individuals with disabilities, clinicians, engineers, clinicians, educators, and professions who share the goal of researching and designing AAC that meets the communication and participation needs of individuals with disabilities. The contents included in this module were developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.   

None of the authors have a financial interest in the AAC applications discussed in this module. 
Emily Laubscher – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report 
Allison Barwise – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report 
Janice Light – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report 
David McNaughton – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report 
Shelley E. Chapin – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report 
Ashley McCoy – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report
Jessica Caron – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report 
David L. Lee – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report 
Dana Patenaude – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report
Zhigao Liang – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report   

Using Transition to Literacy (T2L) While Working with Preschoolers Who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

This module provides information on strategies and tools professionals can use in literacy intervention for sight words with preschoolers who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). These evidence-based strategies and tools have been shown to be effective in children and adults and across varying cognition and language levels and diagnoses, but we are focusing specifically on studies conducted with preschoolers in this module. This module consists of readings and interactive material to support translation of research to practice.

To view this article bundle, please register and log in to the AAC Learning Center

Learning Outcomes 
You will be able to: 

  • Discuss one aspect of literacy skills (i.e., sight words) which is critical for preschoolers who benefit from AAC 
  • Describe the interventions used to provide exposure to literacy skills to preschoolers who rely on AAC across diagnoses
  • Explain how to incorporate learning tools into activities with individuals who rely on AAC  

Time Ordered Agenda (based on word count and Moodle data) 

54 minutes: Boyle et al., (2017) 
59 minutes: Mandak et al., (2018) Article and blog (58 + 1) 
64 minutes: Boyle et al., (2021) Article and blog (60 + 4)
4 minutes: Learner Assessment  
TOTAL: 3 hours 

Prerequisites 
None 

Assessment Type
At the end of the module, you will complete a quiz. You must achieve 80% accuracy to earn CE credit 

Accommodations
If you need special accommodations, please contact Beth Frick Semmler at bfs5682@psu.edu or Kelly Webb at kdw5@psu.edu.

Target Audience
Speech-language pathologists looking for evidence-based strategies in AAC and who work with individuals with complex communication needs.

More Information
For more information about this program, please contact Beth Frick Semmler at bfs5682@psu.edu or Kelly Webb at kdw5@psu.edu.

Grievances and Complaints
If you have a complaint regarding registration, delivery process and procedures, facilities, access, service, or any other grievance about the program please submit your written complaint via email to Kelly Webb at kdw5@psu.edu within 30 days after program completion. Upon request, Kelly will provide a copy of how complaints are addressed for any continuing education program offered by the Penn State Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination
Please visit https://affirmativeaction.psu.edu/welcome/statements/ to view information regarding affirmative action and Penn State’s nondiscrimination policy.

If you do not have an ASHA Member Number or are not an ASHA certificate holder, please review the following link which contains ASHA’s Eligibility to Earn ASHA CEUs Online Form. This should be completed as part the reporting process.

Speaker Bios and Author Disclosures
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (RERC on AAC) is a multi-site team of researchers, individuals with disabilities, clinicians, engineers, clinicians, educators, and professions who share the goal of researching and designing AAC that meets the communication and participation needs of individuals with disabilities. The contents included in this module were developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

None of the authors have a financial interest in the AAC applications discussed in this module.
Selena Babb – Salena Babb was supported by the Penn State AAC Leadership Project, a doctoral training
grant funded by U.S. Department of Education grant #H325D110008 while this research was conducted.
David McNaughton – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report
Janice Light – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report
Kesley Mandak – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report
Susannah Boyle – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report.
Shelley E. Chapin – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report

AAC Colloquium – Autumn 2024

AAC Colloquium is a weekly series of informal presentations on AAC by (and for) the Penn State AAC community.  Both students and faculty are welcome to organize a session, please contact Beth Frick Semmler (bfs5682@psu.edu) if you would like to lead a session.  

Presentations on a range of topics, including planned projects, completed projects, clinical updates, clinical challenges, etc. are all welcome.  

AAC Colloquium will be held virtually on Mondays from 12 noon to 1 pm.    


September 2, 2024
Labor Day – No Colloquium


September 9, 2024
Courtney Johnson
Use of AAC in Higher Education


September 16, 2024
Leslie Kate
Guest Speaker


September 23, 2024
Mark Steidl
Guest Speaker


September 30, 2024
Tara McCarty
Short mobile training of peers in a strategy for structuring an opportunity to communicate choices for students with multiple disabilities including cortical visual impairment


October 7, 2024
Esther Klang
The loneliness of not being able to communicate


October 14, 2024
Karla Armendariz
Juntos Pudimos, Juntos Podemos: Learning from Hispanic Caregiver Perspectives on AAC Service Delivery


October 21, 2024
Kelsey Steffen
A Scoping Review of AAC User Involvement in Conducting Research Focused on Adults with Cerebral Palsy who use AAC


October 28, 2024
Dawn Sowers
Targeted Motion RERC Project


November 4, 2024
Krista Wilkinson; Syed Billah; Dawn Sowers; Sharon Redmon
AI Solutions for AAC Access


November 18, 2024
Ryan Klingensmith
AAC Clinic Update


November 25, 2024
Thanksgiving Week – No Colloquium


December 2, 2024
ASHA Convention Week – No Colloquium


December 9, 2024
Jess Caron
AAC & Literacy


Video Visual Scene Displays to Promote Communication Interactions with Adolescents and Young Adults with Complex Communication Needs

This module explores various applications of a relatively new augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tool, video visual scene displays (V-VSDs) to promote communication interaction across environments for different types of individuals who may have difficulty communicating. This evidence-based tool and associated strategies has been shown to promote peer interaction, community involvement, and learning.  It is effective in children and adults and across varying cognition and language levels and diagnoses. This module consists of readings and interactive material to support translation of research to practice.  

To view this article bundle, please register and log in to the AAC Learning Center

Learning Outcomes
You will be able to: 

  • Discuss at least 2 benefits of using video to support interaction 
  • Describe how to create meaningful V-VSD for use with a range of diagnoses
  • Explain how V-VSD can supplement a person’s existing communication methods 

Contents in this Course
This course contains three major topics and subsequent assessment and feedback:
1. Use of video VSDs in peer social interactions (approximately 69 minutes)
2. Use of video VSDs to increase participation and communication (approximately 84 minutes)
3. Use of video VSDs during volunteer activities (approximately 59 minutes)
4. Learner assessment and feedback (approximately 6 minutes)
Total: 3.65 hours (3 hours, 39 minutes)

Prerequisites 
None 

Assessment Type
At the end of the module, you will complete a quiz. You must achieve 80% accuracy to earn CE credit 

Accommodations
If you need special accommodations, please contact Beth Frick Semmler at bfs5682@psu.edu or Kelly Webb at kdw5@psu.edu.

Target Audience
Speech-language pathologists looking for evidence-based strategies in AAC and who work with individuals with complex communication needs.

More Information
For more information about this program, please contact Beth Frick Semmler at bfs5682@psu.edu or Kelly Webb at kdw5@psu.edu.

Grievances and Complaints
If you have a complaint regarding registration, delivery process and procedures, facilities, access, service, or any other grievance about the program please submit your written complaint via email to Kelly Webb at kdw5@psu.edu within 30 days after program completion. Upon request, Kelly will provide a copy of how complaints are addressed for any continuing education program offered by the Penn State Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination
Please visit https://affirmativeaction.psu.edu/welcome/statements/ to view information regarding affirmative action and Penn State’s nondiscrimination policy.

If you do not have an ASHA Member Number or are not an ASHA certificate holder, please review the following link which contains ASHA’s Eligibility to Earn ASHA CEUs Online Form. This should be completed as part the reporting process.

Speaker Bios and Author Disclosures
The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (RERC on AAC) is a multi-site team of researchers, individuals with disabilities, clinicians, engineers, clinicians, educators, and professions who share the goal of researching and designing AAC that meets the communication and participation needs of individuals with disabilities. The contents included in this module were developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

None of the authors have a financial interest in the AAC applications discussed in this module.
Selena Babb – Salena Babb was supported by the Penn State AAC Leadership Project, a doctoral training
grant funded by U.S. Department of Education grant #H325D110008 while this research was conducted.
David McNaughton – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report
Janice Light – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report
Jessica Caron – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report
Ciara Ousley – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report.
Sojung Jung – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report
Kirk Wydner – no financial or non-financial disclosures related to report

Recent Posts

  • AAC & technology: What’s communication equity got to do with it? (Williams, 2024)
  • Systemic social isolation of AAC users (Blasko, 2024)
  • Speech is Simpy Exhausting (corbin, 2024)
  • Future of AAC Technologies: Priorities for inclusive research and implementation (Williams & Holyfield, 2024)
  • Crossing the communication chasm (Crisp-Cooper, 2024)

The contents of this website are a joint offering of Penn State University and the RERC on AAC. They were developed, in part, under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90REGE0014) to the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (RERC on AAC). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this website do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.