Speakup Blog - page 3
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AAC Specialty Certification for Speech-Language Pathologists
Introduction For speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the United States, meeting the need of individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is one of nine clinical topics and areas of clinical practice (“The Big Nine”) for which SLPs provide...
“I Want to Sound Like a REAL Person!”: A Woman's Discovery of Shortcomings of AAC Devices
I use AAC; I have a virtual keyboard on my laptop screen that I mouse-click letters to “type” a message. I also use a text to speech app on my laptop. To a person who has trouble speaking, or can’t speak at all, AAC devices can feel like their salvation. The voice output...
Physical Prompting & AAC
Most clinicians agree that having a system that does not require any prompting by an assistant or family member is the ultimate goal for an AAC system, and providing the most amount of control to the user in selecting the symbols, words, and letters in their system is...
USSAAC Leaders & Legends: David Yoder
David Yoder PhD. CCC-SLP
Today, we honor legend David Yoder. David worked in what would be considered AAC (before it was called AAC) starting in the 1950s! He mentored pioneers in AAC including David Beukelman & Greg Vanderheiden. He continues to be a strong advocate for AAC, presuming potential in...
Higher tech isn't always better tech
Greg offers a unique perspective that higher tech isn't always better tech! He values reliability, having a face-to-face conversation with a partner that isn't blocked by a screen, and not having to rely on materials in his communication system. As there are more and more...
AAC & Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting the motor neurons that carry signals between the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. Often this includes the neurons and muscles involved in speech and respiration, so many people with ALS...
USSAAC AAC Legends Series: The founding of USSAAC
USSAAC's SpeakUp editorial committee is excited to introduce a new series honoring USSAAC legends! We hope to launch a quarterly post featuring an interview with one legend from USSAAC. Today, we kick off this series with an interview featuring Sarah Blackstone and Sheela...
AAC Awareness Spotlight: AAC & Employment
USSAAC's Vice-President for People Who Uses AAC & Families, Dr. Tracy Rackensberger, explains why awareness for both AAC and the employment for People with disabilities is so important. This video was created for the University of Georgia, Institute on Human Development and...
Inclusive Emergency Planning: Supporting the Deaf Community
Photo of island silhouette with hurricane cloud over it. Photo by: El Nuevo Día
Most families in Puerto Rico were affected to some degree by the destruction left behind by Hurricane María in September 2017. In January 2020 the Southwestern part of the island was hit with yet another disaster, a 5.4 earthquake with multiple aftershocks and tremors...
Behavior and AAC
Stop me if you have read or heard this before from a co-worker or a family member: This child has too many challenging behaviors to use a communication device. They won't understand the device at all. They will break it or kick it. End of discussion, right? Hell no!
