Taking the Myths out of AAC Evaluations and Treatment (on-demand registration)

Presenter: Rachell Johnson, M.C.D. CCC-SLP AT Team Lead

Relevant Financial Relationship: Rachell receives a salary from employment with The Stepping Stones Group. She is also an AT Consultant for Technology for Home in Minnesota.

Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: Rachell serves as district liaison to the CITES team which is part of the national CITES Framework.

Presenter Biography: I have 15 years of experience in the field of speech-language pathology and have been working with assistive technology since 2011, specializing in eye gaze evaluations and treatment. Currently I work for The Stepping Stones Group serving Florence One Schools in Florence, South Carolina as one of the district’s Assistive Technology Team Leaders working with students ages 3-21. I am also an AT Consultant for Technology For Home in Minnesota working virtually with persons from the age range of birth to geriatric. I have enjoyed giving live presentations, webinars, and virtual training sessions relating to AT. My current AT projects include developing a district AT training module; ongoing development of my district's AT Team; and serving as one of the district’s liaisons to the CITES team which is part of the national CITES Framework to create inclusive technology ecosystems within school districts. Highlights of my career have been working with the Technology For Home Grant, helping students and their families realize their potential with AT as well as seeing AT open doors for adults who use it to live more independently. I especially loved serving as Assistive Technology Program Manager for the DC Maryland and Virginia Chapter of the ALS Association, and opening up one of the nation's first free standing AT Clinic for those with ALS. With these experiences, I have been practicing virtual AT tele-services years before Covid-19. I have written and co-written articles for Closing the Gap Magazine. I have presented at 6 national conferences, organizational conferences, and I have presented a host of online AAC and AT webinars. In the past I have been financially compensated for webinars with the ALS Association, as they were a part of my daily job, and I have been compensated by AbleNet inc. as an assistive technology speaker.

Learner Outcomes

• Learners will identify six AAC myths versus realities
• Learners will identify affects of AAC myths on people with disabilities
• Learners will identify how and why AAC users plateau with their communication

Agenda

• Introduction (3 minutes)
• AAC Myths: A glance at origins and history (8 minutes)
• Myths vs realities in AAC evaluations (32 minutes)
• Myths vs realities in AAC treatments (14 minutes)
• Q&A (11 minutes)

Cost: Free

Audience: Assistants, Public/Consumers, Students, Early Career Professionals (under 5 years), Related Professionals

Topic Area: Augmentative and Alternative Communication

ASHA CEU Requirements: Must complete the post webinar assessment with 80% accuracy. Unlimited attempts are allowed. Partial credit is not available.