 |
 |
|
||||||
|
|
|
 |
|||||
 ![[Horizontal Rule]](/webart/nav_rule.gif){kind=small}            Click here to learn about |
 ![[----------------Horizontal Rule----------------]](/webart/hrule.gif){kind=small}  Year 2 UpdateAs Year two of the AAC-RERC project nears an end, researchers and developers at lead institutions are reporting exciting progress. This issue updates the progress of the AAC Rehabilitation Engineering Research “Center.” Check out their website at www.aac-rerc.com to stay up-to-date. Research Projects Attitudes of AAC Users, Peers, and Intervention Professionals toward AAC Technology and its Use by Elderly Persons Lead institution: University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Principal investigator: Dr. David Beukelman Purpose: To investigate the attitudinal barriers of elderly persons with different types of severe communication disorders and their communication partners toward AAC technology and to document any differences in these attitudes for people whose communication disorders are secondary to stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson’s disease. Progress. Researchers have completed a project that compared the attitudes of AAC users with ALS, their family members or caregivers, and peers toward the communication that is produced using speech that is impaired (dysarthric), low-tech communication books, and high-tech AAC devices. In general, all groups preferred high-tech AAC devices over both low-tech options and dysarthric speech. They also preferred low-tech options over dysarthric speech. Overall, the attitudes of AAC users with ALS, their spouses or caregivers, and their peers were similar. In a second project, researchers compared the attitudes toward a story-telling task among AAC users with ALS, their spouses/caregivers and peers. The stories were presented under three conditions: (1) word-by-word, (2) sentence-by-sentence and (3) entire narrative. Stories were presented using an AAC device with EZ Key software (Words +, Inc.). All participants responded similarly. The full narrative presentation was preferred over the sentence-by-sentence and word-by-word presentation modes. Sentence-by-sentence presentation was preferred over the word-by-word presentation mode. A third project compared the preferences of caregivers/family members, speech-language pathologists and peers for storytelling. The storyteller was a man with moderate aphasia using (1) natural speech, (2) a low technology notebook, and (3) an AAC device with digitized speech output. Results show that caregivers/family members, speech-language pathologists and peers responded differently. Family members and speech language pathologists preferred natural speech over either the low-tech or high-tech options. Peers preferred the digitized speech mode over the natural speech and low-tech communication book option. Underway is a fourth project that compares storytelling by persons with mild, moderate, and severe aphasia using natural speech, a low tech communication book, or a digitized AAC device. Participants in this study are persons with aphasia and their peers. The Study of Organizational Strategies for Adult AAC Users University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Dr. David Beukelman Purpose: 1) To determine the organizational capabilities/preferences of three groups of adult AAC users with acquired impairments and a group of adults without disability; 2) to compare the similarities and differences in organizational preference among these groups and 3) to determine if organizational capabilities/preferences on non-AAC tasks is predictive of performance during communicative interchanges using AAC systems. Progress: In the first project, participants engage in confrontational message storage and retrieval tasks using experimenter determined and self-determined organizational strategies. The second project examines the relationship between communicative performance in context and organization capabilities/preferences of persons using dynamic display AAC systems organized according to the strategies studied in the first project. A computer-based interface, developed for the project, utilizes a dynamic screen strategy and allows for the presentation of orthographic and iconic information using various organization strategies. Currently, 15 elderly adults (over 70 years of age) without disabilities have participated. Their accuracy, rate and preference for three different organizational strategies (semantic, location and theme) will be compared to other groups. Researchers are currently investigating the performance of people with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) using the research protocol. Improving AAC Technologies for Young Children with Significant Communication Disorders Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Janice Light Purpose: To evaluate the learning demands of different approaches to language representation, presentation, organization, and/or selection in AAC technologies for toddlers and young children; and determine empirically based, developmentally sound design specifications for improved AAC technologies and instructional protocols for young children with significant communication disabilities. Progress: The project involves two distinct phases. The first phase addresses how to organize and present language concepts in AAC technologies to minimize the learning demands and maximize communication power for young children. A major research study was undertaken to investigate the learning curves and functional performance of typically developing children ages 2, 3, 4 and 5, using different assistive technologies. Results suggest that young children without disabilities have difficulty learning to use AAC devices as they are currently designed. These findings have obvious implications for children who rely on AAC. For more specifics, see the previous issue of ACN (volume 12, #6) which focuses on the use of AAC in early childhood. The second phase of the project will consider how to design selection techniques for AAC technologies to minimize the learning demands and maximize accuracy and efficiency for young children. Initial planning for that project is underway. Evaluating and Enhancing Communication Rate, Efficiency and Effectiveness University of New York at Buffalo, Dr. Jeff Higginbotham Purpose: To study factors related to the communication rate of current AAC technologies and its impact on communicative effectiveness. Progress: The Communication and Assistive Device Laboratory is engaged in three interrelated areas of research and development. Technology Development. In collaboration with Enkidu Research, Inc., researchers are developing a suite of software tools to document and analyze communication performance. The specifications for a format for communication device logfiles are complete. The beta version of an analysis program to analyze logfile data is complete. An AAC device simulator to facilitate communication performance research is due in the Fall 2000. Work on software to facilitate transcription, coding and analysis of interactive communication is in progress. A hand-held computer system to facilitate direct observation of communication is in the planning phase. Communication Rate Research. To develop technologies that will overcome the current communication rate restrictions of AAC devices, it is necessary to specify what restrictions currently exist and what speeds augmented speakers need to achieve to sustain non-problematic social interactions. Researchers are developing transcription techniques to analyze interactive communication rates, including a propositional analysis protocol (in progress). They currently are running subjects to determine the effect of communication rate on listener comprehension of synthetic speech discourse. They are analyzing the data they collected regarding the production and error rates involved with learning to use four different scanning techniques. Communication Performance Assessment Information Dissemination.With input from other AAC-RERC partners, researchers are developing a website that links to the AAC-RERC website and offers a variety of resources dealing with communication performance assessment in AAC. Included are: • Ethical issues related to assessment and automated data logging (e.g., surveillance & privacy, legal implications). • Resources to facilitate the observation and analysis of AAC device and interactive communication. • Information about RERC research on communication performance. Improving Employment Outcomes for Individuals who require AAC Pennsylvania State University, Dr. David McNaughton Purpose: To acquire detailed information on existing barriers to employment faced by individuals who require AAC and to identify strategies to overcome those barriers. Progress: Two major studies are underway. The Employment and ALS project. Researchers conducted a 6-week long focus group discussion on the World Wide Web (WWW) to investigate the employment experiences of five augmented communications with ALS. A moderator presented specific questions designed to gather information about the benefits and reasons for continuing employment, the negative impacts of employment, the barriers to continued employment, the necessary supports required for successful employment and specific strategies and recommendations that may overcome barriers to employment. Key factors to the participants’ ability to continue employment were: (1) the nature of employment activities, (2) availability of supports for employment activities and (3) access to appropriate communication systems. Other important factors were the participants’ personal incentives for overcoming barriers to employment and their self-determination. The Employment and Cerebral Palsy (CP) project. Researchers recently completed a focus group discussion on the WWW to investigate the employment experiences of 24 individuals with CP who require AAC. Participants included individuals in full-time positions in community-based employment, as well as individuals who work part-time, work for a company from their home or are self-employed. The focus group discussions took place over approximately eight weeks. Factors considered important to obtaining and maintaining employment were: (1) appropriate training and experience, (2) the support of friends and family members and (3) effective and efficient AAC technology. Factors cited as significant barriers to employment included: (1) employer attitudes, (2) lack of appropriate educational experiences and (3) difficulty in obtaining effective and efficient AAC systems. Participants specifically described ways AAC technology could better meet the demands of the workplace. They said they needed technology that was faster, more reliable and easier to learn. Researchers will soon be peaking with employers of AAC users, vocational rehabilitation councilors and parents/family members. In Phase 2 (December 2000) researchers will communicate with AAC users who are seeking employment, and assist them in finding important information resources related to employment. Advanced ACETS (Augmentative Communication & Employment Technology Supports) Temple University, Dr. Diane Bryen Purpose: To increase employment opportunities for selected graduates of ACES and other individuals who use augmented communication by developing, implementing, evaluating, replicating, and disseminating the results of Advanced ACETS. Progress: Participants in ACETS 99 are currently involved in follow up activities. Bi-weekly contact occurs with each member face-to-face, by phone or email. Monthly timesheets track their progress. A full-day technical workshop in March on web page development resulted in five of the six participants putting up a webpage that includes their resume. One participant has a part time job in a bookstore. Recruitment is underway for ACETS 2000, scheduled for October 21-29, 2000. For additional information, contact Kevin Caves, AAC-RERC, Box 3888, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710. 919-681-9983 (voice); FAX: 919-681-9984; www.aac-rerc.com The AAC-RERC section is partially funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research under grant number H133E9 0026. The opinions are those of the grantee and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Education. Development projects Communication Enhancement Technology Watch Project Duke University, Kevin Caves, Frank DeRuyter, Ph.D. Purpose: To explore research and development activities within the Federal Laboratories Consortium as a way to locate appropriate leading edge technologies for the field of AAC. Progress: Monthly conference calls and meetings with the Federal Labs Consortium are ongoing. An assessment of skin-contact technology microphone suggests that it is an unobtrusive, input device for low volume speakers, an effective input device for voice recognition, and an unobtrusive microphone for auditory trainer. Other technology being explored includes the potential of virtual reality applications in AAC. A second initiative of the Technology Watch Project is to coordinate with the RERC on Technology Transfer to conduct a Demand Pull Technology Transfer conference. It is anticipated that this workshop will take place during 2001. The Development of a “Menu-Based” AAC Interface for the Elderly and other Persons with Recall Memory Limitations University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Dr. David R. Beukelman Purpose: This project is designed to develop an interface that will be useful to adults with acquired disabilities who do not have the time or do not wish to learn an alternative symbol system and adults with memory and cognitive limitations. AAC users with memory and cognitive limitations include those with TBI, aphasia, and accompanying dementia such as progressive aphasia, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. The interface is menu-based and minimizes the demands on recall memory common with fixed-screen and dynamic-screen interfaces. Progress: Researchers have completed a prototype of the AAC Menu Interface in three different versions: orthographic, iconic and graphic (Chinese). Three individuals with TBI who have recall and new learning impairments (but are not AAC users) participated in accuracy, rate and preference tests. Seven additional adults with TBI are being recruited. Preliminary results show that the individuals with TBI preferred the AAC Menu interface over a dynamic screen interface strategy, however, communication accuracy and rate where similar for both interface strategies. Field tests with the orthographic prototype began in July 2000 with people with ALS who use AAC and in August 2000 with people with TBI who rely on AAC. Improving Literacy Technologies for School-Age Children with Severe Physical Disabilities University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Janet Sturm, Ph.D. Purpose: To develop an integrated, computer supported literacy system and assessment tool. Progress: Two research projects are being conducted to address the improvement of literacy technologies for children with severe physical impairments. In the first project an integrated literacy software tool will be developed that provides students with physical disabilities access to tools for oral and written participation in reading and writing general education curriculum. The second project will target the development of a reading comprehension assessment tool for children with significant speech and physical impairments and can be used to support the selection of appropriate AAC systems and vocabulary to support literacy learning. 1. 700 surveys have been disseminated to 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grade teachers in seven states (NH, NC, IA, TX, MN, MA, NY). Data entry is underway and the statistical analysis procedures are being finalized. Additional sites (Iowa and California) are being secured for final survey dissemination in the fall. Several initial contacts with school-age consumers (i.e., students with severe physical disabilities) and their families in North Carolina have been completed. These families will assist in further validating the literacy assessment tool and provide input regarding the literacy software interface. Contact is ongoing with Don Johnston Incorporated, to discuss the literacy interface project. The company is interested in working with the RERC literacy project team on the software interface. 2. For the Reading ABC Project, data collection with 75 general education elementary students in North Carolina (2 school districts) was conducted to validate items in the sentence verification subtest. Statistical analysis of this data is complete. ACOLUG Temple University; Dr. Diane Bryen Purpose: To support an international Listserv for augmented communicators and their allies. Progress: ACOLUG has more than 350 subscribers. Between February and April 2000, subscribers posted 1229 messages (monthly range from 361 to 445) covering 133 to 143 different topics. The most active topics were: Society and AAC, Earning capacity, Graduation congratulations, Long flexible straws, Christopher Reeve, Map of ACOLUG members, ACOLUG Employment Forum 2000, Recycled computers, Telephone systems, Baclofen, New equipment (Pathfinder), and the ISAAC conference. Other topics ranged from the effect of AAC on people’s lives, Medicare eligibility, autism, recycled equipment, telephone systems, software and useful websites. Two forums were held during 2000: the Web Information Research: A skill to market and Create Web pages and the ACOLUG employment forum www.temple.edu/inst_disabilities/acolug/jobres.html. The next employment forum is scheduled in August—Can I afford to Work. It will focus on Work Incentive Provisions of the Social Security Act and how they affect people on SSDI earning capacity. Remaining topics for ACOLUG Employment Forum 2000 are: Interviewing for Success, Small Business: Why and for whom? and My rights and responsibilities under the ADA. For additional information, contact Kevin Caves, AAC-RERC, Box 3888, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710. 919-681-9983 (voice); FAX: 919-681-9984; www.aac-rerc.com The AAC-RERC section is partially funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research under grant number H133E9 0026. The opinions are those of the grantee and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Education. This article appears in Augmentative Communication News, Volume 12, #4 & #5. You may order this
issue by clicking on Ordering Home Page Online Ordering 
|
