On Friday, July 13, 2018, the RERC on AAC held its State of the Science conference in Arlington, Virginia (near Washington, DC). The conference brought together key stakeholders including individuals who use AAC, family members, clinicians, researchers, AT manufacturers, app developers, policy makers, and government personnel.
We wish to thank the many people who participated in and contributed to the State of the Science conference, and special thanks to RESNA for its assistance in making the day such a success.
The day was a busy one, with presentations by Dr Robert Jaeger and Ruth Brannon from NIDILRR, the RERC on AAC partners, and invited speakers, with follow-up discussion with participants (agenda).
Presentations by the RERC partners addressed research and development in the field of AAC, new challenges and opportunities in AAC, improving access for those with minimal movement, enhancing AAC technology supports for individuals with complex communication needs and their partners, and designing effective AAC interfaces.These presentations have been prepared for a special issue of the AAC journal, and incorporated feedback from the participants at the State of the Science conference, as well as from RERC on AAC presentations at the RESNA conference. The following papers will be “free-access” until June 15, 2019.
• Light, J., McNaughton, D., Beukelman, D., Fager, S. K., Fried-Oken, M., Jakobs, T., & Jakobs, E. (2019). Challenges and opportunities in augmentative and alternative communication: Research and technology development to enhance communication and participation for individuals with complex communication needs. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/
• Light, J., McNaughton, D., & Caron, J. (2019). New and emerging AAC technology supports for children with complex communication needs and their communication partners: State of the science and future research directions. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/
• Fager, S.K., Fried-Oken, M., Jakobs, T., & Beukelman, D. R. (2019). New and emerging access technologies for adults with complex communication needs and severe motor impairments: State of the science. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/
• Light, J., Wilkinson, K. M., Thiessen, A., Beukelman, D. R., & Fager, S. K. (2019). Designing effective AAC displays for individuals with developmental or acquired disabilities: State of the science and future research directions. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/
• McNaughton, D., Light, J., Beukelman, D. R., Klein, C., Nieder, D., & Nazareth, G. (2019). Building capacity in AAC: A person-centred approach to supporting participation by people with complex communication needs. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/
We were pleased to be joined at the State of the Science by a number of individuals who use AAC and family members. The presentations by these invited speakers are now available as webcasts, and are posted at aac-learning-center.psu.edu
- Anthony Arnold – Thirty years of AAC: Stories from the past and ideas for the future!
- Greg Bieker – Building a better BCI: The value of input from people with complex communication needs
- Dana Nieder – The impact of early access to AAC
- Godfrey Nazareth – “Barely getting warmed up”: My use of AAC to pursue big bold dreams
- Tracy Rackensperger – “I go everywhere independently”: AAC supports for a VERY active life
- Rob Rummel-Hudson – The folly of fortune telling
The poster presentations from the State of the Science are also available on the RERC on AAC website page. They are grouped thematically below.
Brain-Computer Interface
- Gonzalez-Navarro, P., Kocanaogullari, A., Kadioglu, B., Akcakaya, M., Fried–Oken, M., & Erdogmus, D. (2018, May). Effect of query length and prospect symbol confidence in EEG-based typing systems.
- Memmott, T., Peters, B., Erdogmus, D., Fried–Oken, M., Oken, B. (2016, May). Detecting Drowsiness in RSVP Keyboard BCI Users with SSPI.
- Peters, B., Kinsella, M., Eddy, B., Mooney, A., & Fried–Oken, M. (2018, May). A revised sensory/cognitive/communication screen for use with communication BCI study participants.
Multimodal access
- Fager, S.K., Sorenson, T., Jakobs, T., & Beukelman, D.R. (2018-July). Multi-input access to AAC: Eye-tracking + switch scanning for individual with severe brainstem stroke.
- Fager, S.K., Gormley, J., & Beukelman, D.R. (2016- November). Visual cognitive processing demands of keyboard layouts for individuals with and without TBI.
Transition to Literacy (T2L)
- Caron, J., Light, J., Holyfield, C., & McNaughton, D. (2018). Effects of dynamic text and speech output in an AAC app with graphic symbols on single-word reading of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and complex communication needs.
- Holyfield, C., Light, J., McNaughton, D., Caron, J., Drager, K., Pope, L. (2018, July). Effect of vsds with dynamic text in social interactions on single word reading in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Mandak, K., Light, J., & McNaughton, D. (2018, July). Dynamic text in visual scene displays: Supporting word reading in a preschooler with ASD.
Video Visual Scene Display (video VSD)
- Babb, S., Gormley, J., McNaughton, D., & Light, J. (2018, July). Applications of video visual scene display technology in a vocational setting.
- Caron, J., Laubscher, E., Light, J., McNaughton, D., Slowey, A. & Starr, V. (2018, July). Watch and talk: Effects of video VSDs on communication turns with individuals with ASD.
- Gormley, J., & Light, J. (2018, July). Child-parent-provider interactions during medical encounters on an inpatient rehabilitation unit: A preliminary investigation.
- Holyfield, C., Light, J., Drager, K., McNaughton, D., & Gormley, J. (2018, July). Effect of a training using video VSDs on peers’ interpretations of communication from students with multiple disabilities.
- Laubscher, E., Light, J. & McNaughton, D. (2018, July). Effects of video AAC technology on communication during play.
- O’Neill, T., Light, J., & McNaughton, D. (2018, July). Video communication technology promotes participation in community activities by an adolescent with autism: Case study.
SmartPredict
- Fried–Oken, M., Jakobs, E., Jakobs, T., Kinsella, M., & Pryor, R. (2018, February). SmartPredict: AAC app that integrates partner knowledge into word prediction.
Visual cognitive processing demands of AAC displays
- Beukelman, D.R., & Fager, S.K. (2018-July). Selecting visual scene displays: Personal relevance of gender and age.
- O’Neill, T., Wilkinson, K., & Light, J. (2018, July). Eye-tracking measures reveal how changes in the design of communication technology interfaces influence visual attention patterns by individuals with neuro-developmental disabilities.
Again, our thanks to all for a productive and enjoyable day!