Adults – Page 2

The First Word in Accessibility is ACCESS (Regan, 2024)

November 16, 2024 by David McNaughton

by Patrick Regan

Patrick Regan

Patrick Regan has been an AAC user for more than 27 years. He experiences Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2, and he received his first speech-generating device a few months after his second birthday. Patrick is USSAAC’s President Elect. He is also a member of ISAAC’s LEAD committee. He is employed as a Media Tech Coordinator, and a Senior Media Tech for St. John United Methodist Church in Anchorage, Alaska. And he serves as the Coordinator of Activities and Events, and Co-President for Bridging Communities Through Alternative Communication (“BCTAC”), an adult outreach program of The Bridge School, in Hillsborough, California.

Webcast Description

Patrick describes his experiences in acquiring and using AAC technology. This presentation was first made at the Future of AAC Research Summit on May 14, 2024.

Cite as

Regan, P. (2024, May 14). The first word in accessibility is ACCESS [Conference session]. Future of AAC Research Summit, Arlington, VA. https://tinyurl.com/AAC-Regan-2024

(Transcript as pdf)

Video production by Patrick Regan

Additional Resources

Regan, P. (2023, June 6). Introducing Speak Up! and AACT.

Literacy and AAC (Williams, 2024)

August 19, 2024 by David McNaughton

Bob Williams

Bob Williams is the Policy Director of CommunicationFIRST, and has advanced the rights and opportunities of children, working age persons and older adults with disabilities for over 40 years by creating community living services, helping to pass the ADA, and administering the federally funded developmental disabilities and independent living networks.

Webcast Description

Bob describes barriers to literacy for people who need and use AAC, and needed actions to address “a nationwide disgrace”.

This presentation was first made at the Future of AAC Research Summit on May 14, 2024.

Please cite as

Williams, B. (2024, May 14). Literacy and AAC. [Conference session]. Future of AAC Research Summit, Arlington, VA. https://tinyurl.com/AAC-Williams-literacy-2024

(Transcript as PDF)

Video production by Dana Patenaude (Penn State University)

Additional Resources

Williams, B. (2024). See us – Hear us. [YouTube video].

Williams, B. (2021). Spelling it out: The ADA and the right to community. [Blogpost]

Williams, B. (2023). Unjustly isolated, silenced, and deprived of literacy and freedom of expression… Remarks to the Office for Civil Rights, US Department of Education by CommunicationFIRST Policy Director Bob Williams.

How ableism impacts people who need and use AAC (Wong, 2024)

June 1, 2024 by David McNaughton

Alice Wong

Alice Wong (she/her) is a disabled activist, writer, media maker, and consultant. She is a relatively new AAC user and nonspeaking person. Alice is the founder and director of the Disability Visibility Project, an online community dedicated to creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture. Alice is the editor of Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century, an anthology of essays by disabled people and Disability Visibility: 17 First-Person Stories for Today, an adapted version for young adults. Her debut memoir, Year of the Tiger: An Activist’s Life, is available now from Vintage Books. Her most recent anthology, Disability Intimacy, has now been published. Twitter: @SFdirewolf.

Webcast Description

Alice describes the impact of ableism on her communication and life experiences. This presentation was first made at the Future of AAC Research Summit on May 13, 2024.
(Transcript as pdf)

Cite as
Wong, A. (2024, May 13). How ableism impacts people who need and use AAC [Conference session]. Future of AAC Research Summit, Arlington, VA. https://tinyurl.com/AAC-Wong-2024

Additional Resources

Samuels, E. (2017). Six ways of looking at crip time. Disability Studies Quarterly, 37(3).

Wong, A. (May 20, 2024). Augmentative and alternative communication: How becoming a user changed my relationships. Teen Vogue

Wong, A. (November, 2019) Speech for ASAN Gala

The iPad and mobile technology revolution: Benefits and challenges (McNaughton & Light, 2013)

August 26, 2019 by David McNaughton

McNaughton, D., & Light, J. (2013). The iPad and mobile technology revolution: Benefits and challenges for individuals who require augmentative and alternative communication. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 29, 107-116.

Free copy available at
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/07434618.2013.784930

Abstract

The iPad and other mobile technologies provide powerful new tools to potentially enhance communication for individuals with developmental disabilities, acquired neurogenic disorders, and degenerative neurological conditions. These mobile technologies offer a number of potential benefits, including: (a) increased awareness and social acceptance of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), (b) greater consumer empowerment in accessing AAC solutions, (c) increased adoption of AAC technologies, (d) greater functionality and interconnectivity, and (e) greater diffusion of AAC research and development. However, there remain a number of significant challenges that must be addressed if these benefits are to be fully realized: (a) to ensure the focus is on communication, not just technology, (b) to develop innovative models of AAC service delivery to ensure successful outcomes, (c) to ensure ease of access for all individuals who require AAC, and, (d) to maximize AAC solutions to support a wide variety of communication functions. There is an urgent need for effective collaboration among key stakeholders to support research and development activities, and to ensure the successful implementation of mobile technologies to enhance communication outcomes for individuals who require AAC and their families.

Designing AAC research and intervention to improve outcomes…(Light & McNaughton, 2015)

August 26, 2019 by David McNaughton

Light, J., & McNaughton, D. (2015). Designing AAC research and intervention to improve outcomes for individuals with complex communication needs. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 31, 85-96.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/07434618.2015.1036458

Abstract

There is a rapidly growing body of research that demonstrates the positive effects of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention on the communication of children and adults with complex communication needs. Despite the positive impact of many AAC interventions, however, many individuals with complex communication needs continue to experience serious challenges participating in educational, vocational, healthcare, and community environments. In this paper, we apply the framework proposed by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to illustrate the need to re-think AAC intervention to improve outcomes for individuals with complex communication needs, and to foster a new generation of intervention research that will provide a solid foundation for improved services. Specifically, the paper emphasizes the need to take a more holistic view of communication intervention and highlights the following key principles to guide AAC intervention and research: (a) build on the individual’s strengths and focus on the integration of skills to maximize communication, (b) focus on the individual’s participation in real-world contexts, (c) address psychosocial factors as well as skills, and (d) attend to extrinsic environmental factors as well as intrinsic factors related to the individual who requires AAC.