Overview
What by their very being in the world do speech generating devices demand of those who use them to express their thoughts audibly in the world of speaking people? This session will explore this question drawing upon the lived experience of people who use SGDs in their daily lives. Themes emerging from a phenomenological research study (cognitive, physical, technological, societal, and professional demands) will be explored with the aim of impacting pedagogy and practice in the field of AAC and assistive technology writ large.
Content Disclosure: This session is focused on a phenomenological research study (cognitive, physical, technological, societal, and professional demands) with the aim of impacting pedagogy and practice in the field of AAC. The research study was the subject of an article, "Out of Time: The Experience of Speech-Generating Device Users", in the April 2018 issue of Communication Disorders Quarterly. There will be limited or no information provided about similar research projects or case studies.
Learning Objectives
- Identify three types of demands that SGDs make on those who use them.
- Discuss one or more themes that emerge from this research and their impact on AAC practice.
- Describe one or more of the ways phenomenological research can influence AAC and AT practices.
Primary & Secondary Strands
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC); Research
Target Audience
- AT Specialists
- Communication Specialist
- Consumers/Individuals with Disabilities
- Consultants/Trainers
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Disability Services
- Educators
- Faculty/Instructors - Higher Education
- Family Members
- Occupational Therapists
- Paraprofessionals
- Physical Therapists
- Rehab Therapists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Special Education Educators
Experience Level
Introductory
Primary Life Cycle Addressed
All
Session Delivery Format
Recorded presentation
Course Schedule
This course was recorded for the ATIA 2022 Virtual Event
Continuing Education Credits
For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Learning Center CEUs
This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; CRC; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours.
ASHA CE Information: Recorded Session
Start date of ASHA CEUs offering: February 15, 2023
End date of current CRC CEUs offering: March 19, 2025
Please refer to the CRC Augmentative and Alternative Communication Series (2024-2025) page for further information on how to submit your CRC CEUs for this course to CRCC.
Speaker/s:
Kathy Howery
University of Alberta/ kATe Consulting, Inc., Adjunct Professor/ Lecturer/ Consultant
Biography
Kathy Howery began her career nearly forty years ago focusing on finding ways for students with the most complex needs share their voices in the world. From 2004 to 2008 she led the Alberta Assistive Technology for Learning Initiative. She has developed and taught graduate level courses in Assistive Technology, Inclusive Education, Universal Design for Learning, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Her research interests include using phenomenological methods to explore the lived experience of young people who speak with (or through) speech generating devices, and the implementation of Universal Design for Learning, most particularly in the context of students with significant disabilities.
Kathy is President of ISAAC Canada and a past board member of the Alberta Chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children. She has held positions on the Inclusive Learning Network of the International Society of Technology in Education (ILN/ISTE), and on the leadership team of the Universal Design for Learning -Implementation Research Network (UDL-IRN). Kathy provides ongoing consultation to Alberta school jurisdictions in the areas of UDL, special education, and supporting children and youth developing communication, language, and literacy. Currently Kathy has developed an online certificate for teaching students with complex communication needs (CCN) and is a member of the Alberta Low Incidence Collaborative Supports team with primary responsibility in the area of CCN.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Salary from employment with University of Alberta and fees from kATe Consulting, Inc.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Yes
Kathy is President of ISAAC Canada. Kathy is member of the Alberta Low Incidence Collaborative Supports team with primary responsibility in the area of CCN.