When combined, Sensory integration and assistive technology are two distinct but interconnected concepts that play a significant role in supporting individuals' sensory processing needs/challenges. Sensory processing needs/challenges are unique for each person and can change over time, hence the effectiveness of assistive technology accommodations may vary. Adjusting and refining assistive technology accommodations based on the person's needs, challenges, progress, and changing sensory profile is essential for ongoing support, grounded on regular assessment and feedback from the individual, caregivers, network and involved professionals (if any).

Professionals, caregivers, and educators often work together to create access to equitable environments through recommendations of appropriate assistive technologies to improve the individual's overall sensory experience and performance. This combined and multidisciplinary approach aims to enhance the wellbeing related to sensory experiences, promote self-regulation, and facilitate meaningful participation in daily activities, learning and working opportunities by the individual.  This webinar aims to focus on the interrelation between Sensory Integration and Assistive Technology.
We will focus on the sensory characteristics of the assistive technology provision, training, the devices on their own and their daily environmental usage in relation to the individual's sensory needs/challenges, meaning sensory profile. Moreover, the importance of the regular assessment of the sensory needs/challenges towards the assistive technologies accommodations and how this impacts the occupational participation of the individual towards equitable access opportunities. The active participation and collaboration between the individual, caregivers, network and involved professionals (if any) is also crucial for the overall wellbeing achievement.

Date of live webinar: October 16, 2024 

Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Eastern

Location: Zoom via RESNA Learn

Title: Identifying and Overcoming Barriers to Gaining Access to AAC 

Speaker: Amy Bereiter, MS, CCC-SLPL, ATP, BCS-CL

Abstract: 

As Assistive Technology Professionals we often focus on finding, implementing, and trouble- shooting AT tools. For those who cannot rely on speech alone for communication, this means identifying the most appropriate AAC solution and supporting its implementation. However, there can be significant opportunity barriers to initial access to AAC such as restrictive policies and practices, deficits in adult/professional knowledge and skills, and negative attitudes and beliefs (Beukelman & Mirenda, 2013). This session will focus on identifying and overcoming these barriers, with a special focus on the preschool through young adult population.  

Learning Outcomes: At the end of session, attendees will be able to:

1. Participants will be able to describe potential opportunity barriers to initial access to AAC.
2. Participants will be able to discuss and debunk pervasive myths about AAC.
3. Participants will be able to identify resources to utilize when advocating against opportunity barriers.

Completion of this webinar and all required components earns 0.1 IACET CEUs.

Topics: ACC Augmentative & Alternative Communication

Speaker: David McNaughton; Erik Jakobs; Heidi Koester

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (RERC on AAC) is a 5-year collaborative center (2020-2025), funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The RERC on AAC (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu) will address research, development, training and dissemination projects in AAC. We will summarize our progress on three research projects (video visual scene display technology,  AAC technologies to support the transition from graphic symbols to literacy,  design of AAC interfaces) and three development projects (multimodal technologies to improve access, software supports for access assessments, software supports for partner training). We also will present on the training and dissemination activities, including the AAC Learning Center (https://aac-learning-center.psu.edu) 

Learning Objectives: 

1. Describe the three research projects of the RERC on AAC;
2. Describe the three development projects of the RERC on AAC;
3. Describe the training and dissemination activities of the RERC on AAC, 
4. Describe three currently available training modules from the RERC on AAC Learning Center Moodle
5. Describe the goals and activities of the AAC Consumer and Technology Forum

Completion of all product components earns 0.1 IACET CEUs. 

Webinar recorded at the RESNA 2022 Conference