Research Webinar - Designing Effective AAC Technologies for Beginning Communicators
WEBINAR TITLE: Designing Effective AAC Technologies for Beginning Communicators
PRESENTER: Janice Light, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Penn State University
WEBINAR HELD ON DATE: Tuesday, January 10, 2012
FEES: No charge
FEES: No charge
Overview: To date, there are few guidelines to support clinicians and manufacturers in the design of effective AAC systems for beginning communicators. When AAC systems are well designed, they may enhance communication and language outcomes for beginning communicators with complex communication needs. However, poorly-designed AAC systems may potentially interfere with language learning and communication effectiveness. In this session, we will discuss guidelines for the design of effective AAC technologies for beginning communicators with complex communication needs, including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with developmental disabilities (e.g., autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome) as well as older individuals with significant cognitive impairments. The session will present research results from recent studies and will suggest clinical guidelines to improve the design of AAC systems based on these research results.
Learning goals:
- Participants will review a series of research studies designed to investigate ways to improve the design of AAC technologies for beginning communicators.
- Participants will identify ways the research indicates that could enhance the appeal of AAC technologies.
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Participants will describe ways the research indicates could reduce the learning demands of AAC technologies including investigations of the learning demands of various system components, specifically:
a. the representations of language concepts/ AAC symbols
b. the organization and layout of displays
c. navigation /menu systems
d. selection techniques
Content:
Specifically the session will include discussion of a wide range of research studies that address the subject of the design of AAC technologies for beginning communicators. Each study will be presented briefly with a focus on the results and their implications for the design of more effective AAC technologies for beginning communicators. Examples will be used to illustrate key points.
Speaker Biography:
Janice Light, Ph.D. is a Distinguished Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Penn State University. She is currently the Principal Investigator on several federally funded grants and is a Project Director on the AAC-RERC. Her research is focused on improving language, literacy and communication outcomes for children with complex communication needs. Her work in AAC research, personnel preparation, and service delivery has been recognized with numerous awards including the Penn State Outstanding Teaching Award, the Patishall Outstanding Research Award, and the Schmitt-Russell Distinguished Research Career Award.
