含羞草传媒

Providing a voice to nonverbal communicators is rewarding.听 Augmentative and听Alternative Communication (AAC)听allows users to engage in social interactions, partake in medical decisions, and be involved in the community. At UTHSC, we provide evaluation and听treatment for individuals听of all ages听with听complex communication needs. In our work with AAC patients, we place a听strong emphasis on literacy听to achieve independence in communication.

Special Feature:
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Language, Literacy, and AAC: Bridging Practice and Research听
(Article from the听2017听ASP听Annual Newsletter)

If you walked through the corridors of South Stadium Hall during the summer of 2016, you would hear children giggling, squeals of joy, and graduate clinicians saying, 鈥渞eady, set, go鈥� followed by 鈥渓et鈥檚 check our schedule.鈥澨� Welcome to the Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) Summer Language and Literacy Groups, funded听by the Office of Special Education Programming through a federal training grant.听
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鈥淲e wanted the summer AAC groups to meet a clinical need for the听grant听 trainees, expand language and literacy for children who benefit from AAC, and address an important area of research,鈥� notes Dr. Jillian McCarthy, co-investigator with Dr. Ilsa Schwarz.听 The AAC groups allow grant trainees to implement evidence-based language and听literacy听intervention to determine what strategies are most beneficial for this population.听
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The groups, supervised by clinical Assistant Professor Emily听Noss, met once a week for two听 hours and included children who used either low-technology supports (pictures), high-technology supports (voice output), or both.听听听听听
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As one of the trainees,听Cathryn听Altdoerffer, shared, 鈥淭he AAC grant allowed me to gain advanced knowledge in a variety of听devices and taught me how to use those devices to target both functional communication and literacy. This experience pushed me outside my comfort zone and provided me with the knowledge and skills to听give my clients a better chance of success.鈥澨�
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One parent from the summer group commented, 鈥淲e have been very fortunate to participate in various听group therapies at the UT Hearing听and Speech Center. I love how听the therapists and students strive to find听new practices to keep the kids听(and the parents) engaged and excited about learning.听 Another benefit to group therapy has been the social interaction. This interaction has been amazing not only for the kids but for the parents as well. While the kids are learning from one another, the parents are offered that same opportunity.鈥澨�

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Resources:

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• Handout:10 things you may not know about AAC

Meet Specialty Provider:

• Allison Wegman, MS, CCC-SLP