Announcing....
Want to know what’s new in our world? Check out what we've recently participated in, produced, published, and posted, as well as what’s new with personnel happenings.
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AAC-RERC Writers Brigade honored by USSAAC!
On March 22nd, USSAAC is hosting the Annual Bubbly Ball, sponsored by Microsoft, at the CSUN Conference. Honorees this year are participants in the AAC-RERC Writers Brigade. This year's theme is "The Writer's Brigade Takes On The World."
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Low-tech Visual Scenes Templates: Available now
by Kristy S. E. Weissling and David R. Beukelman
Research and development work at the University of Nebraska has resulted in Low Tech Visual Scene Templates you can download at http://aac.unl.edu and www.aac-rerc.com). Based on research underway at the University of Nebraska, these tools are especially helpful for individuals with cognitive-linguistic impairments who require visual supports to enhance communication, memory and participation.
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Serial Keys interface for Java based RIM Blackberry handsets
by Kevin Caves
Duke Researchers have been working on the development of a Java program that allows AAC devices to conrtol RIM Blackberry handheld phones. The Serial Keys program will be made available on AAC-RERC website for free download.
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A look at Telework
by Lauren Baxter, AAC-RERC Writer’s Brigade
AAC-RERC partner David McNaughton and his research team at Pennsylvania State University are investigating the increasingly common practice of telework, as an employment opportunity for people with complex communication needs. Telework refers to duties that are performed outside a typical work place, usually via the Internet. Given its virtual nature, telework offers a convenient option for some people who rely on AAC. The researchers consider both the positives and negatives.
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Communication Performance Assessment: Monitoring & Simulating:
by Mick Joyce, AAC-RERC Writers Brigade
The project, “Communication Performance Assessment: Monitoring & Simulating AAC Device Use,” at the University of Buffalo sheds light on some barriers to effective communication using word prediction systems and other short-cut schemes to reduce the number of keystrokes. Their results suggest that designers should be mindful of the total picture of communication and interaction, in conjunction with constructing words and sentences, when developing AAC technologies.
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Announcing! Visual Scene Displays for Aphasia: Available soon for the “V” and “Vmax” Platforms
Dynavox announced on March 7th that they will soon be releasing Visual Scene Displays for Aphasia. The expected release date is late April 2007. This application will be implemented on the new Dynavox “V” and “Vmax” platforms.
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Remembering Colin Portnuff: 1951 - 2007
The AAC-RERC partners are saddened by Colin Portnuff’s death. We want to recognize his many contributions to people with complex communication needs, their families and friends as well as to AAC professionals.
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AAC-RERC Webcasts Now in Breeze Format
Check out the new format for our Webcasts. You can download transcripts, slides and handouts. Easier to view across platforms.
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Staff Presentations: January to June ‘07
AAC-RERC partners continue on the presentation trail. This quarter took us to India and Atlanta and Florida on the East Coast. In March we’ll be in Los Angeles at CSUN/USSAAC and then to Phoenix in June for RESNA.
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A Fulbright Scholar in India
Diane Bryen, director of Temple’s Institute on Disabilities, traveled in January 2007 to the Indian Institute on Cerebral Palsy in Kolkata to deliver a series of workshops on “Daring to Dream,” a group process for people with significant disabilities that helps them to identify their goals and establish a vision for their future.
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The Voice Switch and the Sound Switch
Developed with InvoTek
The Voice Switch and Sound Switch are examples of successful technology transfer within the AAC-RERC. David Beukelman, University of Nebraska and Tom Jakobs of InvoTek developed these tools. They are being distributed through Saltillo, Zygo Industries and Mayer Johnson.
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EasyTally of Performance
Now available for clinicians! Software developed for individuals with motor speech disorders (e.g., apraxia) to help clinicians manage a variety of tasks online during treatment programs that require practice.
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