RERC on AAC
The RERC on AAC is a collaborative center committed to advancing knowledge and producing innovative engineering solutions in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The RERC on AAC will support a research and development program that addresses three areas of rehabilitation science and engineering:
- Improving access to technologies through exploration of innovative approaches and through integration of multi-modalities;
- Developing innovative language support technologies, including natural language processing and computer-mediation, to support effective communication for children and adults with limited access to language;
- Improving the human computer interface to reduce cognitive visual processing demands and enhance communication performance.
We also will support a range of training and dissemination activities. Our goal is that the AAC technologies and knowledge generated by the RERC on AAC will enable individuals with complex communication needs to achieve the basic human right of communication, and to maximize their participation in education, employment, health and community activities.
Visual attention to AAC VSDs in individuals with and without developmental disabilities (O’Neill et al., 2019)
O’Neill et al. investigated visual attention to complex AAC VSDs by participants with and without developmental disabilities.
Special Issue on AAC State of the Science – Update
The five papers from the State of the Science Conference have received over 25,000 downloads since they were published in a special issue of the AAC journal.
2019 Doctoral Student Research Think Tank
The 2019 Doctoral Student AAC Research Think Tank was held on the University Park campus of Penn State University from May 19 – May 21, 2019.
Access Technology for AAC & Adults (Fager, 2019)
In a recent podcast for Speech Uncensored, Dr. Susan Fager discussed her research on access and communication technology
Team ATOM wins 2019 RERC on AAC Student Research and Design Competition
Michael Laffin, Kyle Cleven, Dexter Rausch won the 2019 RERC on AAC Student Research and Design Competition for their work on the Adaptive Tongue Operated Mouse (ATOM).
RESNA 2019
The RERC on AAC presented at RESNA 2019 in Toronto, Canada.
Effects of shared reading on language and literacy skills of children with ASD (Boyle et al., 2019)
Boyle et al. completed a systematic review to investigate the impact of shared reading on early language and literacy skills for children with ASD.
Learning styles and motivations of individuals without prior exposure to AAC (Thiessen & Beukelman, 2019)
Thiessen and Beukelman (2019) Investigated the learning styles and motivation of individuals without prior exposure to AAC
Student Engineering Partnerships for Spring 2019
The RERC on AAC partnered with a student engineering Learning Factory team at Penn State University in the spring of 2019
Effects of literacy instruction on single-word reading (Mandak et al., 2018)
Mandak et al. completed a systematic review to investigate the effects of instruction on single-word reading for individuals who use AAC.