Research on AAC in Autism

Karen Duerk in Lakewood, Colorado, is looking to review literature on AAC in Autism via the ASHA special interest group Division 12 (AAC).

Here's what's been posted so far (some peer reviewed, some background): 

 

Adamson, L.B., Romski, M.A., Deffebach, K., Sevcik, R.A. (1992). "Symbol Vocabulary and the Focus of Conversations: Augmenting Language Development for Youth with Mental Retardation." Journal of Speech and Hearing Research, 35, 1333-1343.

Beukelman, David R. and Mirenda, Pat. (2005). Augmentative & Alternative Communication. Baltimore: Brookes Publishing Co.

Blischak, Doreen, Lombardino, Linda, and Dyson, Alice. (2003). "Use of Speech-Generating Devices: in support of Natural Speech." Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 19:1, 29-35.

Cannon, B., & Edmond, G. (2009, April 14). "A few good words: Using core vocabulary to support nonverbal students." The ASHA Leader. 14(5), 20-22.

DeThorne, Laura S., Johnson, Cynthia J., Waler, Louise, Mahurin-Smith, Jamie. (2009). "When 'Simon Says' Doesn't Work: Alternatives to Imitation for Facilitating Early Speech Development." American Journal of Speech Language. 18, 133-145.

Erickson, K. (1996). "From Picture Producers to Real Language and Literacy: A Practical Guide." Paper presented at the 10th US Minspeak Conference, Wooster, OH.

Finke, Erinn H.; McNaughton, David B.; Drager, Kathryn D. R. (Jun, 2009). 'All children can and should have the opportunity to learn': General education teacher's perspectives on including children with autism spectrum disorder who require ACC. AAC: Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Vol 25(2). pp. 110-122.

Ganz, Jennifer B.; Earles-Vollrath, Theresa L.; Heath, Amy K.; Parker, Richard I.; Rispoli, Mandy J.; Duran, Jaime B. (Jan, 2012). A meta-analysis of single case research studies on aided augmentative and alternative communication systems with individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Vol 42(1). pp. 60-74.

Ganz, Jennifer B.; Lashley, Erin; Rispoli, Mandy Jenkins. (Dec, 2010). Non-responsiveness to intervention: Children with autism spectrum disorders who do not rapidly respond to communication interventions. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, Vol 13(6). pp. 399-407.

Millar, Diane C., Light, Janice C., and Schlosser, Ralf W. (2006). "The Impact of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on the Speech Production of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities: A Research Review." Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. 49, 248-264.

Ming, X., Brimacombe, M., and Wagner, G. (2007). "Prevalence of motor impairment in autism spectrum disorders." Brain & Development. 29, 565-570.

Mirenda, P. (2001). Autism, Augmentative Communication, and Assistive Technology: What Do We Really Know? Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 16(3), 141-151.

Mirenda, P. (2003). Toward Functional Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Students With Autism: Manual Signs, Graphic Symbols, and Voice Output Communication Aids. Language Speech & Hearing Services in Schools, 34(3), 203-216.

Mirenda, P. (2008). "A back door approach to autism and AAC." Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 24, 219-233.

Parsons, C. L., and La Sorte, D. (1993). "The effect of computers with synthesized speech and no speech on the spontaneous communication of children with autism." Australian Journal of Human Communication Disorder., 21, 12-31.

Pinker, Steven. (1994). The Language Instinct. New York: W. Morrow and Co.

Romski, M. A., and Sevcik, R. A. (1996). Breaking the Speech Barrier: Language Development Through Augmented Means. Baltimore: Brookes Publishing Co.

Schlosser, R., and Wendt, O., (2008). "Effects of augmentative and alternative communication intervention on Speech production in children with autism: A systematic review." American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. 17, 212-230.

Schlosser, Ralf W.; Sigafoos, Jeff; Luiselli, James K.; Angermeier, Katie; Harasymowyz, Ulana; Schooley, Katherine; Belfiore, Phil J. (Apr-Jun, 2007). Effects of synthetic speech output on requesting and natural speech production in children with autism: A preliminary study. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vol 1(2), pp. 139-163.

Stuart, Sheela and Ritthaler, Christopher. (2008). "Case Studies of Intermediate Steps/ Between AAC Evaluations and Implementation. Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 17, 150-155.

Trembath, David; Balandin, Susan; Togher, Leanne; Stancliffe, Roger J. (2009). Peer-mediated teaching and augmentative and alternative communication for preschool-aged children with autism. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Vol 34(2), pp. 173-186.

Trottier, Nadine; Kamp, Lorraine; Mirenda, Pat; (Mar, 2011). Effects of peer-mediated instruction to teach use of speech-generating devices to students with autism in social game routines. AAC: Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Vol 27(1). pp. 26-39.

Vanderheiden, G. C, and Kelso, D. P. (1987). "Comparative analysis of fixed-vocabulary communication acceleration techniques." AAC Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 3, 196-206.

TASK at the Apple Store, Santa Monica (4/29/12)

Apptastic Adventure: Fun & Educational Apps for Special Education

Presented by: Team of Advocates for Special Kids

Date :             Sunday, April 29, 2012

Time :             10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location:         Apple Store, Third Street Promenade

                       1248 Third Street Promenade

                       Santa Monica CA 90401

Cost :              FREE

 --
Hi All.

Liz & I will be presenting at the Apple Store in Santa Monica on Sunday, April 29th from 10-1130. Please forward to anyone who might be interested. Also, please be sure to visit us next weekend at Abilities Expo: www.abilitiesexpo.com.

Thanks!

Laura Simmons-Martinez

Technology Project Director

Team of Advocates for Special Kids

100 W. Cerritos Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805

714-533-8275

www.taskca.org

AAC Summer Camps 2012, Care of PRC

Click this link HERE to add your own AAC Summer Camp

Advancing Adventures in Communicating

Ages: 5-20 years
June 11-15, 2012
Nampa, ID
Northwest Nazarene University

• Contact Name: Anne Kuhlmeier
• Phone: 208-706-5775
• E-mail: akuhlmeier@elksrehab.org

AAC Camp will host swimming, arts and crafts and music as some of the highlights. The emphasis is on improving social communication and literacy skills of campers. In addition training professionals & students in health related fields, as well as parents and family members, in facilitating expressive communication through AAC is emphasized. Campers must have a speech generating device to participate. Housing available on the NNU Campus.

Intensive Intervention Program for Nonverbal Children

Ages: 3-16 years
July 9 - August 3, 2012
Berea, OH
Baldwin Wallace Speech Clinic

• Contact Name: Christie Needham
• Phone: 440-826-2149
• E-mail: BWSpeechClinic@bw.edu

This program will provide social and functional language learning opportunities for children who are currently non-verbal or have limited verbal communication skills. It will also provide family education and training on ways to increase functional communication within the family and community environments. All sessions will be conducted by undergraduate communication disorders students under the direct supervision of a licensed, certified speech language pathologist.

Camp VOICE

Ages: 11-22 years
July 9-20, 2012
Montpelier, VT
VOICE AAC Center

• Contact Name: Julie Taylor, director
• Phone: (802) 371-9867
• E-mail: julie@voiceaaccenter.com
• Web Site: voiceaaccenter.com

Camp VOICE is a week-long, summer day camp for adolescent speech generating device (SGD) users who are ready to focus on social communication skills and SGD use in the community.

We provide a way for SGD users, and the people who support them, to come together to learn, have fun, become friends and become independent at using SGDs.

This year, we have limited enrollment to 5 campers per session, with two, one-week sessions starting 7/9/12.

Our camp is run by speech and language pathologists who are AAC specialists with expertise in implementation of all major SGDs. 2012 will be our 5th year offering this camp.

Talking with Technology

Ages: 6-21 years
July 22-27, 2012
Empire (West of Denver), CO
Rocky Mountain Village Easter Seals Camp

• Contact Name: Brandi-Lynn Greig
• Phone: 720-252-6849
• E-mail: brandi-lynn.greig@childrenscolorado.org
• Web Site: www.childrenscolorado.org/conditions/speech/camp/index.aspx

Talking With Technology (TWT) Camp is a weeklong program developed by Children's Hospital Colorado for young people ages 6 to 21 who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. Children's Hospital Colorado contracts with the Colorado Easter Seal Society for this week to be held each summer at its camp facility, Rocky Mountain Village, in Empire, Colorado.

A priority for acceptance to the TWT Camp is given to children who come with an adult who is working with the child and his/her system (e.g., speech therapist, teacher, aide, etc.), but is not a parent. Children who have attended the program in the past will be accepted pending adult accompaniment and space availability.

Both the child and the adult are involved in a week of training and implementation of the AAC system.

Each year the Talking with Technology Camp changes and improves. Its goals are to provide intensive intervention, within the context of a motivating and meaningful environment, for children using augmentative communication devices, and to enhance the development of communication partners and those facilitating AAC use.

ISAAC 2012 AAC Summer Camp

Ages: 5-21 years
July 27-29, 2012
Pittsburgh, PA
Omni William Penn Hotel

• Contact Name: Debbie Witkowski
• Phone: 724-747-6816
• E-mail: dwitkowski@aacinstitute.org
• Web Site: www.isaac2012.org/acccamp.php

ISAAC Camp 2012 will be a weekend camp experience for non-speaking or severely speech impaired children from the ages of 5 -21 who functionally use augmentative communication (AAC) strategies and tools to communicate. Children will have the opportunity to interact with other children using AAC systems while increasing their ability to communicate and enhancing their language and literacy skills through functional activities. Camp will be conducted in English. Please be sure to have someone who is able to translate accompany your child.

The mission of the ISAAC AAC Camp is to help children become more competent users of their AAC system, provide opportunities to develop relationships with other AAC users and provide a fun environment for campers and families to interact and learn.

This year's theme, The Artist Within, will provide the framework for all therapeutic activities. Sessions on Saturday and Sunday will be from 8:30 - 4:30 and will include large and small group activities that are designed to increase communicative competence, knowledge of core vocabulary and literacy skills through fun and functional activities. Our day will consist of opportunities for campers to communicate with staff and peers for a variety of reasons. Campers will have the opportunity to narrate books, create works of art, participate in hands-on activities that will stimulate language and create their own memory book about our Friday night's activities.

The cost of camp is $350 and will include breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Friday night activities may involve additional costs.

Camp Chatterbox

Ages: 5-15 years
August 19-25, 2012
Worcester, PA
VCC

• Contact Name: Joan Bruno
• Phone: 908-301-5451
• E-mail: campchatterbox@gmail.com
• Web Site: www.campchatterbox.org

Camp Chatterbox is a therapy camp for AAC users who are functionally using their synthesized devices beyond the level of requesting and responding. A parent is required to attend Camp with their child and siblings over the age of 7 are welcomed to join in on the fun. Parents participate in training sessions to help them learn more about AAC devices and learn strategies to help promote AAC use and home and in the community.

IPFW Poss-Abilities AAC Theatre Camp

Ages: 7-22 years
October 7-9, 2012
Fort Wayne, IN
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne

• Contact Name: Sharon Egly
• Phone: 481-6952
• E-mail: eglys@ipfw.edu

The IPFW Poss-Abilities AAC Theatre Camp is a weekend day camp for young people ages 7 - 22 who use AAC for communication. The focus of the camp is using communication in social situations; however, the goal is participation in a short performance of a play for family, friends, and the public. Cost of the camp is minimal. Housing and meals (except for lunch on Saturday) are not included.

Tools For Independence Newsletter, March 2012

Download ATEC's Newsletter: Tools For Independence - HERE!

• Book review: Caring for Alzheimers
• Vendor resource list
• Products for around the home assistance, and more!

ATEC & Goodwill Fitness Center Open House, Santa Ana

o   When: Wednesday, April 18^th from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

o   Location: Goodwill Fitness & Technology Center, 1601 E. Saint Andrew Place, Santa Ana, CA 92705

o   Tour ATEC and the Fitness Center, enjoy refreshments and a chance to win a door prize!

o   RSVP: Deanna Collins, 714.361.6200 x226 or deannac@ocgoodwill.org.

Mayer-Johnson Messenger - 3/22/12

IN THE CLASSROOM Setting Up A Library…In The Classroom Reading is a skill that requires a lot of practice, and as they say, practice makes perfect. What better way to help your students practice reading than having a library in your classroom! However, deciding to set-up a library in your classroom can seem like an overwhelming task. Below are some helpful tips to make the process a little easier! The first task you must complete when setting up your library is to assess your needs. What is your library's purpose? Who will be using the library? How large does the library need to be? By taking all of this into consideration, you will be able to create a well rounded library that appeals to many different students. Take advantage of the endless number of free resources on the internet. View large book retailer's websites and see how they have their children's section organized. Also, don't forget that your most valuable resource is just down the hall from you - your school librarian! The next step in setting up your library is probably the most important - getting books to fill the library! One way is to ask for donations. Ask your family members, students and colleagues to donate to your library. A fun way to kick off the donations is to make an event out of it! You can have a special recognition ceremony for students and their parents who donated. Other ways to obtain books include going to yard sales, thrift stores and library book sales. Also, book clubs, such as Scholastic, offer bonus points and free book incentives for orders placed by your students. Check out how this 3rd grade teacher in Pennsylvania recycled an old bath tub and turned it into the Reading Tub! Once your library is initially set up (and just when you thought all the hard work was done), you now have to sustain it! Keep it fresh and exciting! Your library will evolve every time a new book is added and the appearance will constantly change. You also want your library to be inviting to your students so they want to keep coming back to it. Even though this is your library, it is also your students' library and let them take pride in it. Setting up and maintaining your library can be exhausting, but think how much value it will add to your classroom. Also, have fun with it! There is no right or wrong way to manage your library. Go with what works best for you and your students! PARENTS NETWORK Have you ever opened your child's pencil box to find pens, markers, (you name it) chewed like crazy? Or, maybe you've noticed that your son or daughter has been coming home with bite marks in the top of their t-shirt? Many children have chewing tendencies and need an alternative (and more appropriate) outlet to satisfy their chewing needs. Chewable alternatives, like chewable jewelry, have recently become all of the rage among parent-bloggers and specialists in the industry. We've kept our eye out for products like these and we're happy to report that we've found a pretty cool product that will definitely make a difference. Chewelry is fashionable, non-toxic, plastic chewable jewelry that is designed to keep students from chewing on their pens and clothes. It looks just like a necklace and has a lanyard with a breakaway clasp that will release and can be re-attached with ease. Plus, it comes in all different shapes (hearts and circles) and colors (pink, blue, green and yellow) so even boys will think it's cool! Like most chewable alternatives, chewelry should be used under adult supervision. We recommend trying it out at home before incorporating it into your child's classroom routine. Have your child wear it while doing homework or during a movie and see how they like it. Kid Companions Chewelry - Yellow Heart with 20" Yellow Lanyard Who knows, they might not like having their shirt all chewed up (or the taste of red marker in their mouth) so they may love these stylish tools! And, because we know how important your child is to you, we made sure that Chewelry is safe, bpa-, pvc-, lead- and latex-free. Plus, it's washable so you don't have to worry about pesky germs as your child's chewelry goes in and out of their mouth. So go ahead, help your child break their chewing habit, one bite at a time! TIPS & TUTORIALS   Recorded Online Training Getting to Know the Schedules and Sequencing Templates in Studio Getting Students with ASD Organized using Boardmaker Studio Autism Research to Reality with Boardmaker Software Family Creating Activities for Interactive Whiteboards with Boardmaker Software Family Integrating Video Modeling in Social Skill Instruction for Individuals with Autism From Maps to Movies: Capitalizing on the Special Interests of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders Effective Visual Scheduling for Individuals with Autism Create a Successful School to Home Connection Using Boardmaker Software Family FREE RESOURCES Circle Time Support This will provide support for all students in the classroom. Put the pages into a binder and as you go through your routine, use the pages to support visual learners, non-verbal learners and beginning reading learners. LEARN MORE Visual Supports: Desk... A few simple visual supports that can be attached to a student's desk to remind them of appropriate behavior in the classroom. LEARN MORE Home Daily Routine Picture symbols to create a visual schedule for home, with a sample of events, locations and activities of daily living. LEARN MORE Mayer-Johnson | 2100 Wharton Street | Suite 400 | Pittsburgh, PA 15203 | 1 (800) 588-4548 © 2012 Mayer-Johnson

Abilities Expo - FREE - Los Angeles

Register FREE online for the 2012 Abilities Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center, March 30-April 1, 2012.

From

Laura Simmons-Martinez

Technology Project Director

Team of Advocates for Special Kids

Dear Friends:

TASK will be at the Los Angeles Abilities Expo on March 30 - April 1, 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center where we would like to introduce you to all the great things we have to offer! In addition to us, there will be nearly 200 suppliers of products and services that will increase your quality of life through new technology, great seminars on important issues and networking opportunities that will meet your specific needs. The expo is FREE and it’s the leading event for people with disabilities, their families, caregivers, seniors, veterans and healthcare professionals.
If you have not pre-registered, you can do so now and receive priority access to the show onsite. Here are just a few of the remarkable things that you will experience:

• The latest products and services for people with ALL disabilities
• Cutting-edge assistive technology for ALL disabilities at the AT Pavilion
• FREE wheelchair repair
• FREE loaner scooters
• Low-cost daily living aids at the Retail Pavilion
• Compelling workshops on the issues that make a difference to you
• Canine assistance demos to learn how dogs can help their human partners
• Medical advice from Dr. David Kipper, radio celebrity and physician to the stars
• The Horse Boy Method, an innovative new therapeutic riding for people with neuro-psychiatric conditions like Autism.
• Meet the stars of Push Girls, a new Sundance channel docu-series that traces the lives of four dynamic women who happen to be in wheelchairs.
• The chance to meet the wolves and parrots from the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center and Serenity Park Sanctuary who help veterans reintegrate into society.
• Free hearing screenings
• Hip-hop wheelchair dancing for the hottest dance moves on wheels
• A kid’s workshop featuring a reading from the author of the popular Wendy on Wheels series
• Adaptive sports like rowing, biking, soccer and tennis
• Essentials for seniors
• Face painting, adaptive pinball and Patches the Clown for kids
• Artist Market featuring the works of local artists with disabilities
• FREE sign language interpreters
• And more!

Don't keep it to yourself! Bring your family. Tell your friends. With all of its life-enhancing possibilities, this event is a must-attend for anyone in the Community.

The website is continually updated with new features so visit http://www.abilitiesexpo.com/losangeles as often as possible. You don't even have to wait for the show to connect with your peers. “Like” the Abilities Expo Facebook Page today and weigh in on timely discussions, post comments on disability issues or get the latest show news...

Abilities Expo Los Angeles is right around the corner so mark your calendar now, Friday, March 30 through Sunday, April 1 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.