Augmentative & Alternative Communication: Supporting Children and Adults with Complex Communication Needs

David R. Beukelman, Ph.D was the Barkley Professor of Communication Disorders at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Director of Research and Education of the Communication Disorders Division, Munroe/Meyer Institute of Genetics and Rehabilitation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, a research partner in the Rehabilitation Engineering and Research Center in Augmentative and Alternative Communication, and a senior researcher in the Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. With Pat Mirenda, he co-authored the textbook, Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Management of Severe Communication Disorders in Children and Adults. He served as editor of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication Journal for four years.

Janice Light, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders at the Pennsylvania State University. She is actively involved in research, personnel preparation, and service delivery in the area of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Her primary interest has been furthering understanding of the development of communicative competence and self-determination by individuals who require AAC.

Dr. Light is the principal investigator on several federally-funded research grants to improve outcomes for individuals who have significant communication disabilities through the use of augmentative and alternative communication. She is one of the project directors in the Augmentative and Alternative Communication Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (AAC-RERC), a virtual research consortium funded by the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

In 1996, Dr. Light was recognized as the Don Johnston Distinguished Lecturer by the International Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication for her leadership in the AAC field. In 1999, she received the Dorothy Jones Barnes Outstanding Teaching Award at the Pennsylvania State University.

Laura J. Ball, Ph.D., is Director of Hearing and Speech Research at Children's National Health System and Professor at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC. She completed her doctorate at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with specialization in motor speech disorders and augmentative and alternative communication. She has more than 35 years' experience as a clinical speech-language pathologist. Her research addresses AAC and neuromotor speech disorders across the life span. Particular interests are in functional communication and participation, AAC assessment and implementation, and interventions for speech-language impairments resulting from neurologic (i.e., neuromuscular, neurogenetic, neuroimmune, white matter) diseases.

Susan Koch Fager, Ph.D., is the Director of the Communication Center in the Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering. Dr. Fager specializes in assistive technology/augmentative communication for adults with acquired and degenerative neurologic conditions such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. Her research has focused on the evaluation of new and emerging assistive technologies for individuals with severe physical impairments.

Kathryn L. Garrett, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, is currently a full-time clinician and director of an Augmentative Communication pediatric evaluation center at The Children’s Institute in Pittsburgh, PA, where she works with children and young adults who have complex communication needs. She previously had full-time academic appointments at Duquesne University and the University of Nebraska, where she conducted clinical, research, and teaching activities in the areas of aphasia, brain injury, and AAC.

Elizabeth K. Hanson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Dr. Hanson earned her doctorate at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and her MS at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her research is in augmentative and alternative communication and motor speech disorders at the University of South Dakota. Her clinical practice, supervision, and service focus on providing AAC services for people with complex communication needs across the life span.

Julia King Fischer, Ph.D.,is a Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. She has authored publications about supporting communication and AAC intervention for adults with chronic aphasia and adults with primary progressive aphasia. Her research and clinical interests focus on supporting communication for adults with complex communication needs.

Joanne P. Lasker, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, has published numerous papers and chapters related to assessment and treatment of adults living with acquired neurogenic disorders who may benefit from AAC. Her research has explored issues pertaining to AAC assessment protocols, context-based intervention, partner training, and the acceptance of AAC approaches by adults with severe communication disorders and their communication partners. She has presented nationally and internationally on these topics.

David B. McNaughton, Ph.D., teaches coursework in augmentative communication, assistive technology, and collaboration skills for working with parents and educational team members. He is especially interested in the development and evaluation of online educational materials to build capacity in AAC service delivery. Dr. McNaughton's research interests include literacy instruction for individuals who rely on AAC, and employment supports for individuals with severe disabilities.

Amy S. Nordness, Ph.D., CCC-SLP,

is the Director of the Speech-Language Pathology Department at Munroe–Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Nordness earned her doctorate in communication disorders from the University of Nebraska– Lincoln. Her research and clinical interests involve motor speech disorders and AAC across the life span. She leads the speech-language pathology services for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.