Worthwhile
Links
Worthwhile
Links
Using a popular search engine, the keywords 'augmentative communication' will list over 700,000 sites! Here at www. augcomm.com, we're trying to visit as many of these sites as possible. As we do, we're compiling a listing of those we found valuable and worthwhile. Below are links to those websites. Click on the underlined words to link to that site. If you know of any sites that you feel should be listed here, please e-mail it to us.
Maryland Augmentative Communication Association. The purpose of MACA is to improve the quality of augmentative and alternative commnication services to persons with severe communication disorders within the state of Maryland. MACA publishes The Speakeasy, a quarterly newsletter that features information about workshops and seminars, new products and publications. MACA sponsors an annual conference which features national and local experts in the field of augmentative communication and assistive technology. http://maca.org
CSUN Conference Presentations. A listing of all the presentations that were given at the Technology for Persons with Disabilities at California State University at Northridge this last March. This conference has a strong emphasis on AAC and offered many valuable sessions. Transcriptions for many of these presentations are also available. http://www.dinf.org/csun 98/csun98.htm
Adapting Curriculum for Augmentative Communication Presentation of ways to adapt literature for students using AAC. Included are examples of preschool, kindergarden and first grade literature. http://www.dinf.org/csun_97/csun97_087.htm
Medicare Funding for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Devices An informative and thorough site on Medicare funding for AAC. http://www.wwnet.net/~upshaw/techearlyspring97/aacmed.htm
Augmentative Communication Assessment . This site provides an outline of an IEP team members role in the augcom assessment process. http://www.ttac.odu.edu/Articles/AugComAss.html
What is the Value of a Voice? An article from USNews & World Report focusing on "How HMO's Decide Your Fate." This essay is written from a person who must approve or deny funding for an AAC device for a stroke patient. Touching, eloquant rendition of her decision making process. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/980309/9peen.htm
CAMA: Communication Aid Manufacturers Association http://www.aacproducts.org CAMA is an organization comprised of AAC manufacturers that work together to advance the field of augmentative communication. They conduct full-day workshops demonstrating a variety of AAC products. Their site offers a listing of their organization members and information on the dates and locations of their regional tours.
ASEL: Augmentative Communication Research http://www.asel.udel.edu/rerc-aac/ The latest reasearch on AAC being conducted at Applied Science and Engineering Laboratories, a program jointly operated by the duPont Hospital for Children and the University of Delaware. The ASEL focuses on research and development, as well as public policy and systems change, relating to the use of advanced rehabilitation and assistive technology.
ASHA Special Division 12, Augmentative and Alternative Communication http://www.asha.org/professionals/sidivisions/sid_12.htm
Used AAC devices http://www.acciinc.com/used.htm
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Who, What, Why, When, and Where? http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us:80/lcisd/augment.htm Single page answering these basic questions about AAC, it makes a great handout.
United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Commmunication http://aac.unl.edu/ussaac.html membership information.
ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) www.asha.org. The parent organization of professionals working with individuals with communication impairments.
Assistive Technology Funding www.ndipat.org/fund/fundg1.htm. A site with good information on sources of funding for augmentative communication systems.
ATFSCP Medicaid and SSI www.ucpa.org/html/innovative/atfsc/cong.html This site contains issues relatedto funding for augmentaive devices and assitive technology. Included are overviews of Medicaid funding and funding case decision reports. A description of "common excuses" for refusal of funding and responses to them is another highlight. Information on SSI also included.
Barkley Augmentative & Alternative Communication Lab aac.unl.edu/. Developed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, this site is a great source for AAC messaging and vocabulary, demographic information of ACC users, vendor information and ACC terminology.
Closing the Gap www.closingthegap.com. An information source featuring an international conference and newspaper all dedicated to the latest in computer technology for persons with special needs.
ISAAC (International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication) www.isaac-online.org. An information and referral organization for individuals concerned and/or working with communication disorders. Annual international conference and several publications.
PECS www.pecs.com. A site with information about the Picture Exchange Communication System authored by Pyramid Educational Consultants. It is a step-by-step, systematic approach to developing communicative intent and the notion of symbolic representation. Such prerequisite skills are necessary for successful implementation of any hi-tech ACC system.
RESNA (Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America) www.resna.org. An information center to address research, development, dissemination, integration and utilization of knowledge in rehabilitation and assistive technology.
The Big Red Book of Hands-On Hints in Assistive Technology www.oatc.uokhsc.edu/staat.htm. This site contains training material developed by the Oklahoma Assistive Technology Center. Excellent reference and source of handouts on a wide range of topics related to AAC and assistive technology
Trace Research & Development Center trace.wisc.edu/. The Trace Center produces Co-Net Resource on CD-ROM, a resource book and offers therapy and assessment services in the areas of augmentative communication and computer access.
Six Tips for Selecting an AugCom Device www.linc.org/4augcom.html. Makes a nice handout, simple informative site published by Learning Independence through Computers.