AAC Chats

About AAC Chats

The professional resource podcast that aims to break down current research in augmentative and alternative communication and bridge the gap between research to practice by providing context to critical research, describing clinical applications, and directing SLPs to resources to learn more. The work of this podcast was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

Publisher

Bethany Frick Semmler

Category

arts · education · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Jan 2024

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Episode 13: Discussing NWACs Virtual Conference - October 11, 2026

   In our return to the podcast, today we discussed the upcoming Northwest Augmentative Communication Society Virtual Fall Conference which is taking place on Sunday, October 11, 2026 starting at 9am pacific time and running through 4:15pm via Zoom. This year’s conference theme is joy and connection with AAC users’ own voices leading every session. NWACs website: nwacs.info Link to register for the conference:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-nwacs-virtual-fall-conference-aac-user-perspectives-registration-1993750196508?aff=oddtdtcreator (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-nwacs-virtual-fall-conference-aac-user-perspectives-registration-1993750196508?aff=oddtdtcreator) Blog post: https://nwacs.info/community/advocacy/lean-into-joy-in-disability-aac-community/ (https://nwacs.info/community/advocacy/lean-into-joy-in-disability-aac-community/)

2. 

   28 Feb 2025

   Episode 12: Training Communication Partners to Support Students with Multiple Disabilities

   Article discussing: McCarty, T., & Light, J., (2025). Teletraining to teach communication partners to support students with multiple disabilities including cortical visual impairment and emerging symbolic communication in communicating choices. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-24-00146 (https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_AJSLP-24-00146) RERC on AAC Website. (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/) The work of this podcast was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

3. 

   31 Jan 2025

   Episode 11: Implementing a T2L decoding feature with a young boy with Down syndrome

   Article discussing: Brittlebank, S. & Light, J. (2025). Implementing a transition-to-literacy decoding feature via telepractice to support single-word reading by a young boy with Down syndrome: A case study. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_PERSP-24-00158 (https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_PERSP-24-00158) To further explore T2L visit this site: https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/research/r2-aac-literacy-decoding-technology/ (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/research/r2-aac-literacy-decoding-technology/) RERC on AAC Website. (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/) The work of this podcast was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

4. 

   30 Nov 2024

   Episode 10: Accessible Literacy Strategies for Emerging Communicators

   Tim DeLuca explores accessible literacy strategies for emerging communicators, proposing a model that improves literacy outcomes for children on the autism spectrum.

5. 

   31 Oct 2024

   Episode 9: Family-Centered Services in AAC

   Moodle Training Module discussing: https://aac-learning-center-moodle.psu.edu/course/view.php?id=58 (https://aac-learning-center-moodle.psu.edu/course/view.php?id=58) RERC on AAC Website. (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/) The work of this podcast was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

6. 

   30 Sept 2024

   Episode 8: Training Healthcare Providers to Support Children's Communication in Inpatient Rehabilitation

   Article discussing: Gormley, J., McNaughton, D., & Light, J. (2023). Supporting children’s communication of choices during inpatient rehabilitation: Effects of a mobile training for health care providers. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 32(2), 545–564. https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_AJSLP-22-00200 (https://doi.org/10.1044/2022_AJSLP-22-00200) RERC on AAC Website. (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/) The work of this podcast was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

7. 

   29 Aug 2024

   Episode 7: Supporting Practitioners During Alternative Access Assessments

   Article discussing: Koester, H., Fager, S., Sorenson, T., & Jakobs, E. (2023). Designing an app for alternative access assessments: Using interviews to uncover and define user needs. Assistive Technology, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2023.2213749 (https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2023.2213749) If you are a therapist who works in the area of alternative access and are interested in participating in a study using Access Navigator, please email Dr. Koester at hhk@umich.edu (mailto:hhk@umich.edu). RERC on AAC Website. (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/) The work of this podcast was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

8. 

   30 Jul 2024

   Episode 6: NDBIs and AAC Interventions for Children on the Autism Spectrum

   Article discussing: Pope, L., Light, J. & Laubscher, E. (2024). The Effect of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions and Aided AAC on the Language Development of Children on the Autism Spectrum with Minimal Speech: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Autism Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06382-7 [Blog post about this article (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/2024/06/13/effect-of-naturalistic-developmental-behavioral-interventions-ndbis-and-aided-aac-on-the-language-development-of-children-on-the-autism-spectrum-a-systematic-review-pope-et-al-2024/)] on the RERC on AAC Website. The work of this podcast was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

9. 

   28 Jun 2024

   Episode 5: AAC Interventions for Children with Multiple Disabilities

   Article discussing: Brittlebank, S., Light, J. C., & Pope, L. (2024). A scoping review of AAC interventions for children and young adults with simultaneous visual and motor impairments: Clinical and research implications. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2024.2327044 [Blog post about this article] (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/2024/06/02/aac-interventions-for-children-with-visual-and-motor-impairments-brittlebank-et-al-2024/)on the RERC on AAC Website. The work of this podcast was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

10. 

    30 May 2024

    Episode 4: Working with Children with Cortical Visual Impairment

    Article discussing: Tara V. McCarty & Janice C. Light (2023) “It’s like a guessing game all the time”: parent insights on barriers, supports, and priorities for children with cortical visual impairment and complex communication needs, (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37158794/) Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 39:4, 256-269, DOI: 10.1080/07434618.2023.2206904 Blog post about this article (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/2024/06/02/parent-insights-on-barriers-supports-and-priorities-for-children-with-cortical-visual-impairment-and-complex-communication-needs-mccarty-light-2023/) on the RERC on AAC Website. The work of this podcast was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

11. 

    28 Apr 2024

    Episode 3: Racial Disparities in Access to AAC Intervention

    Article discussing: Pope, L., Light, J., & Franklin, A. (2022). Black children with developmental disabilities receive less AAC intervention than their white peers: Preliminary evidence of racial disparities from a secondary analysis. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 31(5), 2159-2174 doi: 10.1044/2022_AJSLP-22-00079 The work of this podcast was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

12. 

    31 Mar 2024

    Episode 2: Framework for increasing AAC competency for pre-service SLPs and clinicians

    Article discussing: Brittlebank, S. & Sowers, D.J. (2023). Developing augmentative and alternative communication competence in preservice speech-language pathologists: A collaborative model for clinical educators. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, https://doi.org/10.1044/2023_AJSLP-23-00125 Further exploration: RERC on AAC Blog post about this article Free CEU Opportunities offered by the RERC on AAC The work of this podcast was developed under grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grants # 90RE5017, #90REGE0014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

13. 

    18 Jan 2024

    Episode 1: Targeting Decoding Skills on AAC Devices with Adults with Down Syndrome

    Please provide us with some feedback on our first episode of AAC Chats (https://forms.gle/r8DJt5dejF9afCR7A)! Article discussing: Holyfield, C., Pope, L., Light., J., Jakobs., E., Laubscher, E., McNaughton, D., & Pfaff, O. Effects of an augmentative and alternative communication technology decoding feature on single-word reading by individuals with Down syndrome and limited functional speech. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 32 (3), 1195-1211. doi: 10.1044/2023_AJSLP-22-00255 Further exploration: RERC on AAC Blog post about this article (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/2023/12/13/effects-of-an-aac-feature-on-decoding-and-encoding-skills-of-adults-with-down-syndrome-holyfield-et-al-2023/) Other RERC on AAC Blog post about single word reading using the T2L feature (https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/2023/09/23/effects-of-an-aac-decoding-feature-on-single-word-reading-by-individuals-with-down-syndrome-holyfield-et-al-2023/)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 18 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

23

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.