The AAC Learning Center has moved to AAC-Learning-Center.org

Building a better BCI: The value of input from people with complex communication needs

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Webcast Description

Greg Bieker had a brain stroke 20 years ago, and currently works as an expert consultant with the Brain Computer Interface (BCI) research team at Oregon Health & Science University. He has presented at the International BCI Meeting. Greg provides input from a User Centered Design perspective that informs system development and evaluation. In this interview with Dr Melanie Fried-Oken, Greg describes his communication strategies and his role in working with the Oregon Health & Science University BCI research team.

First shown at the RERC on AAC State of the Science Conference in Arlington, Va, on July 13, 2018.

Please cite as:

Bieker, G. & Fried-Oken, M. (2018, July 13). Building a better BCI: The value of input from people with complex communication needs. Retrieved from https://aac-learning-center.psu.edu/2018/10/09/building-a-better-brain-computer-interface-the-value-of-input-from-people-with-complex-communication-needs/

AAC and college life: Just do it!

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Webcast Description

In this webcast, Beth Anne describes her experiences as a student at California University of Pennsylvania. Beth Anne has worked hard and developed an outstanding support team in order to pursue her dream of a college education. The webcast also includes commentary from faculty who have taught Beth Anne, as well as the insights of family members, academic advisors, and staff from the Office for Students with Disabilities at “Cal U”

Additional Resources

This webcast was produced as part of the work of the AAC-RERC under grant #H133E080011 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)

The impact of early access to AAC

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Webcast description

Dana Nieder describes the impact of early access to AAC for her daughter, Maya.

First shown at the RERC on AAC State of the Science Conference in Arlington, Va, on July 13, 2018.
Text and photos by Dana Nieder

Please cite as:

Nieder, D. (2018, July 13). The impact of early access to AAC. Retrieved from https://aac-learning-center.psu.edu/2018/07/19/the-impact-of-early-access-to-aac-dana-nieder/

Additional resources

Please visit Uncommon Sense, a blog written by Dana Nieder, for more information.

Public school students: Who can pay for SGDs?

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Lew Golinker, Esq.
Assistive Technology Law Center

Webcast Description

This presentation provides information on funding resources for public school students who require a speech generating device. Lew Golinker, a lawyer with the Assistive Technology Law Center, describes the  features of four major funding sources:

1) Public schools
2) Health benefit programs (e.g., medicaid, medicare)
3) Vocational Rehabilitation
4) Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Programs

Additional Resources

Handout with slides
• A 32 page handout, including both slides and text, for this presentation

Speech Generating Device Funding for Children
• In this reprint from the September 2009 issue of Exceptional Parent magazine, Lew Golinker (Attorney and AAC Funding Advocate) describes funding sources for AAC technology.

Medicare Funding of AAC Technology
• Web resources that describe eligibility information, assessment protocols, fee schedules and other important information regarding the use of medicare as a funding resource for AAC

Augmentative Communication News: Funding (December 2006) 
• This issue focuses on government funding for AAC devices around the world, and gives information about ten U.S. funding sources (pdf)

Transcript – txt format 

Successful employment for individuals who use AAC

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Dr. David McNaughton (Penn State University) & Anthony Arnold  (Prentke-Romich)

Webcast Description

David McNaughton (Penn State University) and Anthony Arnold (Prentke-Romich Company) describe strategies to support employment for individuals who use AAC. All strategies are illustrated with “success stories” of people who use AAC and who are employed.

Key components of successful employment include

  1. Developing employee knowledge and skills that are valued in the workplace
  2. Identifying and developing jobs that are a good match for the skills and interests of the AAC user
  3. Ensuing that needed supports are available to maintain employment success

Additional Resources

Alternatively Speaking – Augmented Communicators on Work (1998)
This issue focuses on the work experiences of persons who use AAC, and strategies (for use at any age) to prepare for employment.

A 10-item quiz based on the content of this webcast is available at the AAC Learning Center Moodle. You will need to register at the AAC Learning Center Moodle in order to complete the quiz. Upon successful completion of the quiz, you will be able to download a Certificate of Completion.

This webcast was produced as part of the work of the AAC-RERC under grant #H133E080011 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)

 

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.