Web Posted on: December 21, 1998

AAC-RERC: "Engineering Advances for Communication Enhancement in the New Millennium"

Frank DeRuyter, Ph.D.
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC

This presentation is sponsored by the newly NIDRR funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Communication Enhancement. The AAC-RERC consists of a number of components, each of which are designed to improve AAC technologies that further the development of communication, language, natural speech, discourse skills, literacy of persons with significant communication disorders. This presentation will provide an overview of the activities currently underway and afford participants with an opportunity to dialogue with key AAC-RERC personnel.

BACKGROUND

This presentation is sponsored by the newly NIDRR funded Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Communication Enhancement. The AAC-RERC consists of a number of components, each of which are designed to improve AAC technologies that further the development of communication, language, natural speech, discourse skills, literacy of persons with significant communication disorders. This presentation will provide an overview of the activities of the AAC-RERC currently underway; share preliminary findings on selected activities; solicit input from stakeholders on specific AAC-RERC activities; and, afford participants with an opportunity to dialogue with key AAC-RERC personnel.

The session will begin by provide participants with an overview of the AAC-RERC, its mission, objectives, and its research, development, training, dissemination, utilization, and technical assistance activities. Selected project directors will then provide more detailed presentations of specific AAC-RERC projects including preliminary findings when appropriate. Following these presentations, stakeholders participating in this session will have the opportunity to provide input to those specific AAC-RERC activities that will be presented. Finally, the AAC-RERC personnel participating in this session, would like to host an informal open discussion of emerging issues, challenges, etcetera that need to be addressed by the AAC community.

The key participants of the AAC-RERC include:
David Beukelman, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE

Sarah Blackstone, Ph.D.
Augmentative Communication, Inc
Monterey, CA

Diane Nelson Bryen, Ph.D.
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

Kevin Caves, BSME
Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center
Downey, CA

Frank DeRuyter, Ph.D.
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC

D. Jeffery Higginbotham, Ph.D.
State University of New York at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY

John Lasater, BA
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, NC

Janice Light, Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA

David McNaughton, Ph.D.
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA

Michael Williams, MA
Augmentative Communication, Inc
Berkeley, CA