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By Johana Schwartz

The Writers Brigade (WB) is a project of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Communication Enhancement (AAC-RERC). This program operates under a two-fold mission: enhancing employability for adults who depend on assistive technology (AT) and publicizing the activities the AAC-RERC. Participants in the WB will gain professional experience in writing and publishing articles that disseminate research in the field of AAC and AT.

Michael B. Williams and Sarah Blackstone of Augmentative Communication, Inc. (ACI), the AAC-RERC publishing branch, conceived of the WB in 2003, in response to findings that people with complex communication needs often are unemployed or underemployed. The AAC-RERC WB project manager, Johana Schwartz, coaches the participants in the process of writing and revising articles for publication, with the objective of teaching them the skills necessary to succeed as technical writers.

The writers correspond with the manager over email, submitting drafts in exchange for customized feedback. The manager supports participants throughout the writing process, starting with brainstorming sessions and usually ending with submitting the manuscript for publishing. Articles appear in a variety of online and print media. Look for Writers Brigade productions in ConnSENSE, AT Journal, Advance Magazine, SpeakUP, the RERC E-Newsletter, Alternatively Speaking, and Augmentative Communication News.

The AAC-RERC Writers Brigade promises to reshape employment options for and practices that impact people who use AT to communicate. Through their work, participants expand their employment and social networks by making contact with AAC-RERC researchers and potential employers. Simultaneously, involving writers with disabilities in the ongoing research and development of the field by writing articles on the topic of AAC research, satisfies the RERC view of "Nothing about us, without us."

Over the next few years the AAC-RERC WB will coach several groups of participants. In keeping with the AAC-RERC motto, "Spread the word" about the Writers Brigade to aspiring writers. For additional information, please contact the program sponsors. The AAC-RERC website is http://www.aac-rerc.com . The ACI website is http://www.augcominc.com. To receive more information about how to participate in the program, email sarahblack@aol.com.

Note: The AAC-RERC section is partially funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) under Grant #H133E030018. The opinions herein are those of the grantee and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Education.

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