T1: High School Training in AAC/AT

This project will introduce AAC and rehab engineering (RE) training to area middle and high school students. Under the direction of Gary Ybarra, the NSF funded Duke-NCSU Engineering Teaching Fellows in Elementary Education Program provides Engineering Teaching Fellows from Duke's School of Engineering to work at four schools in three NC counties. Fellows provide science expertise and develop/execute hands-on science lessons and experiments to enhance the way science is taught in the schools. This project is an extension of this work and will introduce RE, universal design, and the needs of individuals with disabilities to the students. We will also develop accessible methods and materials for the existing program to encourage students with disabilities towards science and engineering.

For more information about this project, contact Kevin Caves .

T2: AAC Users Writer's Workshop

This training and dissemination project supports individuals who rely on AAC to disseminate ongoing information about the research and development activities underway within the AAC-RERC. Specifically, the project aims to develop the technical writing and job skills that participants need to write and publish articles on a variety of topics for a variety of publications. Sarah Blackstone is the project Director. Johana Schwartz is the project manager.

Progress to Date

In Year 1, Ms. Schwartz has mentored Tracy Rackensperger, Joe Hemphill, Tom Younkerman, and Bill Geluso. All participants rely on AAC technologies and strategies. The project is managed through e-mail and also corresponds during a list serv. A second group of participants will be selected for Year 2.

Writers Brigade participants have written articles that increase the AAC-RERC's dissemination efforts and expand the target audiences of our dissemination efforts. In addition, each participant gains valuable technical writing skills and enhances his/her resume and social contacts. Results after one year include more than 25 publications by these individuals in at least 9 different publications.

For more information about this project, contact Johana Schwartz or Sarah Blackstone.

T3: ACETS Online through E-Coaching

ACETS Online applies lessons learned implementing an electronic format program beyond geographical boundaries. This will be two 9-month training programs, each with 10 voice output AAC users throughout the U.S. who have literacy and communication skills allowing them to participate. Participants must be interested and committed to finding employment. The training includes development of employment-related goals, increasing job skills, social networking online, ongoing participation through the use of listserv, email, online "chatting" and teleconferencing programs. Ongoing feedback will be provided regarding completion of participant goals, problem solving to eliminate barriers, locating resources, facilitating team building, and ensuring follow-up assistance takes place.

For more information about this project, contact Diane Bryen.

T4: Webcast Series

Building on our partnership with Kornreich Center and the National Center for Disability Services (NCDS) from the previous five years, we will conduct 12 live, hosted webcasts during Years 1 and 2. These live webcast presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer period through an online chat environment. Each webcast will be closed captioned and offered for continuing education units from ASHA and RESNA. These webcasts will then be archived and available for viewing at any time at a later date. This joint webcast series will provide AAC-related information in both a cost-effective and accessible manner to all AAC stakeholder groups.

Progress to Date

On February 1, 2005 , the first webcast went live. Click here to view the RERC Webcast Series

For more information about this project, contact Sarah Blackstone or Kevin Caves .

T5: State of the Science Conference

The AAC-RERC will conduct a State of the Science Conference (SOSC) in Communication Enhancement/AAC in 2006 and publish a comprehensive report on final outcomes in 2007. The conference will include keynote speakers, submitted papers, and expert panels. Both USSAAC and CSUN have expressed interest as potential collaborators. We will work closely with our partners, advisory board, and other stakeholders to determine the focus, content, organization, and execution of this conference. Building on our virtual nature, we plan to explore Webcasting or conducting portions of the conference live through interactive web site applications to increase our reach to key stakeholder groups. The proceedings from the 2001 SOSC were published as a special feature issue of the official journal of RESNA, Assistive Technology (14.1, 2002). We plan to negotiate a similar dissemination strategy to ensure broad dissemination.

For more information about the SOSC, contact David Beukelman, Sarah Blackstone, Diane Bryen, Kevin Caves , Frank DeRuyter, Jeff Higginbotham, Janice Light, David McNaughton, Howard Shane or Michael Williams.