Center for Excellence in Augmented Communication Presents: Let's Chat

The Sixth International Symposium on AAC Evidence-Based Practice is being held Friday and Saturday, June 13 - 14, 2008, at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh, PA. Learn how evidence-based practice can help optimize and document results, meet educational standards and achieve success for children and adults who use AAC. CEUs will be available at no cost. Participants will enjoy informative speakers, including Gretchen Hanser, Janet Sturm and Rose-Marie Gallagher, and an exhibit area displaying items to support literacy, language and AAC. To learn more and to register, visit http://www.aacinstitute.org/Symposium/index.html.

A collaboration of researchers from Lehigh University and a company called Freedom Sciences has developed a robotic wheelchair that uses an on-board computer enabling the chair to be loaded into its owner's car. The computer uses the same techniques used by US spacecrafts when docking. Manufacturing is set to begin sometime in the future and the price is expected to be around $30,000.

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Session Handouts from the USSAAC's "AAC and All That Jazz" Conference held February 21-23, 2008 in New Orleans, LA, are available at http://www.ussaac.org/atjsessions.html.

ConnSENSE has created a variety of podcasts that are available regarding augmentative communication and assistive technology. They are mp3 files and can be opened and played on your computer by simply selecting any of the podcast links. The files are also on the iTunes site. You need to download and install iTunes on your Mac or PC (free) by following this link: http://www.apple.com/itunes. You can go to that site and play and download any podcast to your computer or to an iPod. You can also subscribe to these podcasts on the iTunes site so that you will automatically receive future podcasts. Please follow this link to locate the podcasts on iTunes:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=219306092 Visit http://www.connsensebulletin.com/whatsup.html to view the most recent podcasts.

According to a press release from AbleNet, Inc., "On Monday, April 14, 2008, AbleNet Inc. acquired Tash International Inc., a world-class provider of assistive technology with a strong presence in the areas of physical therapy, rehabilitation, and daily living. For nearly three decades, AbleNet and Tash viewed each other as friendly competitors with both companies offering a unique assortment of switches, communication aids, wheelchair and desktop mounting systems, environmental controls, and a variety of cutting edge computer access aids. With Tash now a part of AbleNet, both brands and product lines will continue to be available with each providing distinctive features and exceptional quality, but with the convenience, cost-effectiveness, and support of one-stop shopping. Now you will have the ability to browse and purchase both Tash and AbleNet products 24-hours a day, seven days a week at http://www.ablenetinc.com." To view this press release, visit http://www.ablenetinc.com/antash/

The Teaching Materials Exchange is a FREE place to share innovative ways to teach language at a variety of age levels, from preschool to adult. The ideas are contributed by speech-language pathologists or educators who specialize in augmentative communication. You can create a member account for FREE and download teaching materials and add materials/authors to favorites list. You can also create an author account for FREE. Author accounts are provided with the same tools as Member accounts, but are able to upload their own teaching materials once they are approved by our Moderators. To join in, visit PRC's website at http://teaching.prentrom.com/

"The deadline for the contest has been extended to Friday, June 13, 2008!! Write a short story, poem or essay for children or adults, which features AAC within it (such as a character who uses AAC, a character learning about AAC, or AAC as a theme in the storyline). All stories will be compiled into an online publication and available to be read by people who use AAC around the world during 2008 International AAC Awareness Month events in October. Select stories will be highlighted at ISAAC’s 13th Biennual Conference in Montreal, Canada, to be held August 2–7, 2008. Anyone who uses AAC can enter. Stories are encouraged from People who use AAC at ANY age or skill level. Stories can be written individually, in teams with other people who use AAC, or with support from others. It is totally up to YOU how you want to put your story to paper! Stories can be submitted in words, artwork, cartoons, photographs or other written or visual medium. All written stories should be limited to 500 words, capable of being read at one sitting." For more information on how to enter go to http://www.isaac-online.org/ie/articles/462/1/Many-Stories-One-Voice-Writing-Contest

The 2008 Clinical AAC Research Conference is being held on September 25-27, 2008, at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. The intent of the CLINICAL AAC RESEARCH CONFERENCE (CAAC) is to strengthen and share the evidence base for clinical practice in AAC. Therefore, platform and poster proposals may take any of these forms: reports of original research, including single-subject experiments and case series studies; systematic reviews; critically appraised topics. Participation in the Clinical AAC Research Conference is limited to authors of accepted proposals plus graduate students. The program includes special mentorship activities for graduate students and new researchers. Special Student Session and Student Research Paper Awards carrying a small honorarium are being offered for the first time this year. To submit a proposal or to learn more about the conference, visit http://www.aacinstitute.org/CAAC/index.html

This model came out in February of 2007. The Dynavox V. It was
purchased for my Mother's husband who lost his ability to speak and communicate just before he died last week. The company rep came by to program it about two weeks ago, but he never had the chance to use it. It is virtually brand new. It was my idea to post here and see if we could put it to good use. It cost around $8000, but my mom needs some money to move into a senior housing, so we will sell for $3000 or best offer. I am hoping that I haven't offended anyone by using this site to post this offer...I thought it was a good idea. Please look up this device on the following links and let me know if you have any
questions. My email address is barbara_rauch@hotmail.com
The device is listed on craigslist also.
http://www.dynavoxtech.com/products/dynavoxv.aspx
http://bizjournalshire.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/02/05/story11.html