Dear Friends:

It is hard to believe that the summer season is drawing to a close, and that you – or the students you know – may be back to school already! I hope you have successfully endured (and were prepared for!) the heat, humidity and storms that 2023 brought us in June, July and early August!

ISAAC Conference

Congratulations to all who participated in ISAAC Cancun’s world-class educational program, as presenters, exhibitors, or “just” attendees! It was excellent to meet up with old and new friends from all over the world, in real life! Special thanks to USSAAC conference co-chairs Miriam Boesch and Yoosun Chung, and the USSAAC AAC users who participated in the North American Alliance for Communication Access (NAACA) to make sure the conference venue and surrounding businesses provided communication access to all attendees. Learn more about NAACA at ISAAC – Communication Access Resources (isaac-online.org)

Our Chapter meeting was a great success! If you would like to review the slides that were presented, they are available at https://shorturl.at/eGR15

By now you may have heard that ISAAC will not be having its conference in Rome in 2024. I will share updates with you as to timing and location (Italy, but maybe not Rome) as they become available. The good news is that we now have more time to save up for that long awaited trip to Europe!

Mini-grants

If you are University faculty and are involved with an AAC “club” or Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association, consider initiatives that may meet the intent of USSAAC’s Amplifying AAC Voices Mini-Grants. Applicants must be a USSAAC member and include an AAC user in developing the application. Contact president@ussaac.org for more information and a copy of the application.

Member Finder

USSAAC’s Member Finder is growing https://finder.ussaac.org. We’re now at more than 50 listings, and once we hit 100, all members with profiles will be entered in a drawing for a $25.00 gift card (Amazon or Starbucks). It just takes a minute – you don’t even need to know your ISAAC number (just be sure to use the email on record with ISAAC).

ISAAC AAC Chats

Did you know ISAAC offers unique opportunities for people who use AAC to meet online and discuss topics of interest, facilitated bi-weekly by hosts who uses AAC? You can join using any Google account you may have. Schedule and more information available at ISAAC – PWUAAC Online Chats (isaac-online.org)

Upcoming Webinars

Just in time for September, National Preparedness Month, USSAAC is pleased to present “The 411 on Training 911 First Responders” about AAC, with USSAAC members Mariesa Rang and Sharon Mankey, on Wednesday, September 20 at 7:00 PM Eastern. Information will include a “how to” guide for contacting first responder departments and a brief overview of the presenters’ training program. The presenters will also provide resources for participants to begin training first responders in their own communities and will discuss practical tips on how to engage first responders in this critical conversation. Offered for .1 ASHA CEUs, included at no cost to members.

Register today at on the “The 411 on Training 911 First Responders” event page

Keep in Touch!

As always, feel free to reach out to me at president@ussaac.org with any questions, concerns, or comments. Stay tuned for an announcement for a virtual opportunity for USSAAC members to gather and chat, likely in mid-to late-September. In the meantime, stay cool!

Best wishes,

Amy S. Goldman, President

Calendar Re-Cap

August 21, 2023: 2:00 PM Eastern. ISAAC Chat: “How did you get started with AAC?”

September 20, 2023: 7:00 PM Eastern. USSAAC Webinar: “411 on Training 911 Responders”

September 30, 2023: Deadline for applications for the Annual Edwin and Esther Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecture award. Learn more and apply at ATIA 2024 Prentke AAC Distinguished Lecture Call for Nominations – Assistive Technology Industry Association

October 2023: AAC Awareness Month, 2023 theme – “Say What?” ISAAC – AAC Awareness (isaac-online.org)

October 2, 2023: ATIA “Early Bird” Registration closes Registration Information – Assistive Technology Industry Association (atia.org)

October 11-13, 2023: Closing the Gap, Minneapolis, MN.

October 11, 2023: 5:30 – 6:30 PM. USSAAC Meet-up at Closing the Gap, Directors Row

January 26, 2024: 6:00 – 6:45 PM. USSAAC Meet-up at ATIA, Miami Meeting Room

Stay up-to-date on USSAAC activities through social media – Follow, like, comment and share at https://www.facebook.com/ussaac1

Follow ISAAC at https://www.facebook.com/ISAACinternational

Dear Friends:

I hope you are finding “news you can use” in these monthly newsletters!  FYI, past letters are posted at ISAAC – Chapter News (isaac-online.org).  The July newsletter will be the “ISAAC Cancun” edition, in which we will highlight USSAAC members’ presentations. If you want your session(s) included, please send your session number, day, time, and title to president@ussaac.org  by July 15.

Mini-grants

Amplifying AAC Voices Mini-Grants (up to $1000) are still available! AAC Grants may address issues at the local, state, regional, or national level.  Applicants must be a USSAAC member and include an AAC user in developing the application.  Contact president@ussaac.org for more information and a copy of the application.

Speaker Connection

USSAAC’s Speaker Connection https://speaker.ussaac.org now has a roster of 30 speakers!  One of these talented individuals, Hannah Foley, is the subject of our most recent SpeakUp! blog.  Learn more about Hannah and her experiences in higher education at https://ussaac.org/speakup/articles/speakup-aact-hannah-foley-on-aac-in-higher-education/.

Did you miss the awesome panel of four talented presenters from USSAAC’s Speaker Connection, “Experiences and Opportunities for Paid Speaking Engagements” at AAC in the Cloud 2023? Watch Mateo Moreno, Kevin Williams, Meggin Nunamaker and endever* and moderator Chris Gibbons at https://presenters.aacconference.com/videos/UXpNNFFUSXo=

Do you know a person who uses AAC who should be a part of our Speaker Connection? Encourage them to make a profile today!

Member Finder

Make your Member Finder Profile today! Member Finder (https://finder.ussaac.org) is a way for the public to access a service provider (from among any of the disciplines represented in USSAAC!), find a person who uses AAC who can mentor them or their family, and locate others in the AAC community. USSAAC’s Member Finder is growing! Once we hit 100 profiles, all members with profiles will be entered in a drawing for a $25.00 gift card (Amazon or Starbucks). You can choose to have your information ONLY available to members (rather than to the public). It just takes a minute – you don’t even need to know your ISAAC number (just be sure to use the email on record with ISAAC). Please complete your profile TODAY!

ISAAC Conference Cancún 

AUCTION:  There will be an exciting silent auction at ISAAC Cancun – and new this year we are going mobile! This fun feature at our in-person conference helps raise money to support ISAAC Conference Travel Assistance Grants.  Think about contributing an item you can put in your suitcase and bring to the conference, such as items representing a culture, country or region; hand-crafted or store-purchased items; AAC books and materials; gift cards for software or apps and so on. For more information and the link to list something for donation go to https://isaac-online.org/english/conference-cancun/silent-auction/

SUPPORT NAACA

 Calling all supporters of communication access! Help break down barriers by supporting the North American Alliance for Communication Access (NAACA), a collaborative working group comprised of members from Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC), ISAAC Canada, Mexico and USSAAC. With your support, NAACA will provide free communication access training to service providers and businesses related to the ISAAC Cancun Conference. Learn more at https://drive.google.com/file/d/11I19Fm9Ku1i-IcmaWPYlsXR8cbeCxXZ3/view?usp=drive_link and donate at https://gofund.me/14b7152c 

RESOURCE EXCHANGE

Have you started your packing list? Don’t forget to bring items to contribute to ISAAC’s Resource Exchange! Learn more at ISAAC – Resource Exchange (isaac-online.org).

USSAAC CHAPTER MEETING 

As your conference schedule fills up, hold Tuesday, July 25 at 12:45 – 1:45 for the USSAAC Chapter meeting.  I look forward to greeting you there!

Have a great month!

Amy S. Goldman, President

Dear Friends:

USSAAC has many activities underway!  I hope you find this monthly correspondence of interest.

ISAAC 2023 News

I am pleased to announce the USSAAC leaders who, along with Gabriela Berlanga, will be co-chairing the ISAAC Cancun conference in 2023!   A BIG THANK YOU to USSAAC Past President Yoo Sun Chung and Disaster Relief Committee member Miriam Boesch for stepping up!  And word has it that the ISAAC 2023 Call for Papers is coming in June, so start thinking about a paper or poster proposal today.

Committee highlight:  Membership Committee

USSAAC has many active committees doing wonderful things to support people who use AAC, their families, and of course, our members.  Learn more about our committees at Committees – USSAAC and join one (or more) today.

Beth Speaker Christensen, USSAAC’s Vice President for Membership chairs the Membership Committee.  Members include Zander Bowles, Carson Covey, Priscilla Danielson, Mike Hipple, Sue Hipple, Shelley Lund, Sharon Redmon, Tina Moreno, Wendy Quach, Chris Sawka, Lori Skibbe, and Andi Townsend.  The goals of the Membership Committee are:

Current initiatives include collaboration with the People Who Use AAC and Awareness committee (chaired by Tina Moreno)to solicit videos to post on YouTube to increase public knowledge of who we are and why YOU matter.  The Membership Committee has also made a TikTok video!

The committee is planning USSAAC’s upcoming virtual membership meeting on Monday, July 11 at 8 pm eastern.  It promises to be a lot of fun! Register today at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpduivrzwpHtC82Z2yNEksvx3TqVjOasJe

Will you be attending an upcoming in-person conference? Want a USSAAC badge ribbon to proudly proclaim your USSAAC membership? Email president@ussaac.org with your US mail address and we will send you one!

Announcements

Our April 27, 2022 webinar, “Exploring AAC Access to Swearing, Expletives, and Slang” was a great success, with over a hundred attendees!  The recording can be found at https://isaac-online.org/english/webinars/archived-webinars/uncensored-aac-exploring-aac-access-to-profanity-and-slang/

An invitation from UK Communication Matters reminds us that USSAAC is a chapter of ISAAC, a vibrant international organization! You are invited to participate (via Zoom) in a “study day” on the language and communication opportunities of children and young people who are learning language using aided communication, Tuesday, June 21, 2022, *10am to 4pm (registration at 9.30am)*UK time. Find out more at https://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/what…/study-days/

On May 31, 2022 ISAAC presents the webinar, “Communication Access to Justice”, which describes Communication Intermediaries (Cis) used in Canada to provide the accommodations needed for individuals with communication disabilities to have equitable access to legal, police, corrections, and justice services. More information and registration at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xzHOlqFzR327gMeAAIyDYw

The 2022 hurricane season begins in June.  Save the date for our webinar on June 22, 2022 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm eastern, “Maintaining Communication Access, Encouraging Disaster Preparedness”. This event features a conversation with international leaders in the area of emergency preparedness and response (Marcie Roth, CEO, World Institute on Disabilities and Shaylin Sluzalis & Germán Parodi, Co-Executive Directors, Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies) and Pam Kennedy, an AAC user and survivor of two natural disasters.  Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pOmn_hcCRX-hbBll5woGLg  Approved for ASHA CEUs.

While your calendar is open, save July 13, 2022 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm for a USSAAC webinar on Patient-Provider Communication, “Make Them See You As A Person”, with David McNaughton, David Chapple and  USSAAC President-Elect Tracy Rackensperger.  Registration link coming soon.

Stay up-to-date on USSAAC activities and follow us on Facebook!  Like, comment, and share our posts at https://www.facebook.com/ussaac1

April 2022

Dear Friends:

This week is National Volunteer Appreciation Week! A BIG thank you to our members who serve USSAAC in a volunteer capacity and help make our organization strong!

USSAAC has many active committees doing wonderful things to support people who use AAC, their families, and of course, our members.  Learn more about our committees at Committees – USSAAC and join one (or more) today.

Committee highlight:  AAC Awareness Committee

The AAC Awareness Committee is an enthusiastic and lively bunch of people who are excited to educate the public about AAC.  The objective of this group is to compile public awareness information for dissemination and to organize and implement activities undertaken in October, which is AAC Awareness Month.  The committee is chaired by Tina Moreno, USSAAC’s Vice President for People who use AAC and Their Families.  Members include Pippa Bailey; Christina Byun; Jennifer Cristiano; Beth Christensen; Yoo Sun Chung; Thanh Diep; Lori Ann Geist; Krista Howard; Scott and Ron Kuebler; Mateo Moreno; Tracy Rackensberger; Tyson Renze and Raphael Tomkin.

The committee is working on a plan to share video messages from people who use AAC throughout the month of October on social media. These videos will share personal experiences, suggestions for professionals, pointers for speaking with individuals who use AAC and more.  Look for details on how you can submit a video to be included in this campaign in future letters.

We need you!  Are you interested in writing a blog for USSAAC? Details for prospective authors can be found at » Guest Author Guidelines (ussaac.org)

Registration is open for our upcoming webinar, April 27, 2022 at 7 pm eastern, “Exploring AAC Access to Swearing, Expletives, and Slang”. As you know, members get early access to registration (and ASHA CEUs are included at no cost) but seats are limited, so sign up today athttps://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Uaf5nfj_TfiNhXFVhGLiJw

Save the date!  June 22, 2022, 7 pm eastern.  The 2022 hurricane season begins in June, so it is fitting that our June webinar will address Maintaining Communication Access, Encouraging Disaster Preparedness.  Registration details coming soon!

Do you have ideas for topics or presenters (including yourself?) – let us know! Email Betsy at education@ussaac.org

Stay up-to-date on USSAAC activities and follow us on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/ussaac1

Best,

Amy S. Goldman, President

Errata:  With apologies for omitting Tina Caswell from the listing of members of USSAAC’s Disaster Relief Committee in the March 2022 President’s Letter!

March 2022

Dear Friends:

It’s Spring!  Can summer be far behind?  If you are a USSAAC member and staff a summer program for children or adults who use AAC, please let me know.  We have a dedicated page on our website where we will list your program!

USSAAC has many active committees doing wonderful things to support people who use AAC, their families, and of course, our members.  Learn more about our committees at Committees – USSAAC and join one (or more) today!

Committee highlight:  Disaster Relief Committee (DRC):  USSAAC’s committee addressing emergency preparedness and disaster relief for people who use AAC is led by Liz Begley and Sarah Blackstone and includes USSAAC members Andrea Barton-Hulsey, Miriam Boesch, Lois Jean Brady, Amy Goldman, Mara Hernandez, Sharon Mankey, Wendy Quach, Mariesa Rang, Amy Sonntag and Carole Zangari » Emergencies and Disasters (ussaac.org).  Although the DRC’s mission is to help people with their AAC needs after federally declared disasters, exceptions can be made in certain circumstances.  The DRC received a recent request for to replace an SGD for an eight-year-old boy in New Jersey, after his was destroyed in a family fire. We successfully worked with the family, a local SLP and an impressive AAC manufacturer’s representative to find a long-term loaner device until a replacement could be secured through insurance. When the school was reluctant to send the device home, despite a two-week period of remote learning, we communicated with the school administration and the Accent 800 with an Xtreme^TM case was given the green light to go home.   It was a great reminder of how committed professionals and families working together can make good things happen, and the need for USSAAC and our DRC.

I am pleased to introduce you to USSAAC’s new “editor-in-chief” for our SpeakUp! blog, Deirdre Galvin-McLaughlin (speakup@ussaac.org).   Deirdre is a clinical instructor and speech-language pathologist at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. She has expertise in AAC with clinical interests in supporting people who experience motor or sensory access challenges to traditional forms of technology. She works clinically with children with developmental disabilities and neurodegenerative conditions and adults with developmental disabilities who have complex access challenges. She also works as a research associate in the REKNEW lab under the direction of Melanie Fried-Oken to develop a brain computer interface for AAC, serves on the Go Baby Go Oregon committee, and is a member of the board of directors for the Communication Matrix Foundation.  She has already welcomed several editors to her “staff”, and a new blog is currently under review.  Are you interested in writing a blog for USSAAC? Details for prospective authors can be found at » Guest Author Guidelines (ussaac.org)

Coming soon!  The USSAAC Development Committee is getting ready to launch a video contest to support our Amplifying AAC Voices campaign.  USSAAC is seeking creative individuals or teams to create a short video (under 2 minutes) to promote USSAAC’s Speaker Connection (https://speaker.ussaac.org).  The Speaker Connection is an important way for people to find and hire AAC users – but more people need to learn about and USE it!  All submissions will be posted on USSAAC’s YouTube channel and judged on the number of “likes” from viewers and how the video responds to one or more of the following questions:

• Who needs to learn from someone who uses AAC?
• What can you learn from someone who uses AAC?
• Why is it important to learn from someone who uses AAC?
• What are the best ways to learn from people who use AAC?
• Why is USSAAC’s Speaker Connection important?

The contest will run this summer; the winning individual/team will receive $500!  Stay tuned for more details.

Registration is open NOW for our next webinar, April 27, 2022 at 7 pm eastern, “Exploring AAC Access to Swearing, Expletives, and Slang”.  Members get early access to registration (and ASHA CEUs are included at no cost) but seats are limited, so sign up today athttps://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Uaf5nfj_TfiNhXFVhGLiJw

Do you have ideas for topics or presenters (including yourself?) – let us know! Email Betsy at education@ussaac.org.

We are gratified that we have already exceeded the number of members we had last year at this time!  If you have not already renewed, please do so today at Membership – USSAAC.

Stay up-to-date on USSAAC activities and follow us on Facebook!  https://www.facebook.com/ussaac1

Best,

Amy S. Goldman, President

February, 2022

Dear Friends:

I was delighted to greet almost two dozen members and prospective members in person at ATIA last month.  One of highlights of the meeting was the drawing for a free ATIA 2023 registration from the pool of “early birds” who joined or renewed by December 31, 2021.  Congratulations to our winner, Heather Miller Schwartz!  Stay tuned for information about a virtual membership meeting in the Spring.   Another way to stay up-to-date on USSAAC activities is to follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ussaac1

By now you have probably heard the sad news of the passing of David Beukelman in early February, a huge loss to our AAC Community.  As Sarah Blackstone wrote, on behalf of USSAAC’s Board of Directors, “Dave was a founder of USSAAC in 1991. Since the 1970s he has written prolifically, worked with people who use AAC, mentored students who are now leaders in the field, conducted research and led development activities, and raised a family with his dear wife Helen. He was humble but would brag about her, their children, grandchildren, and his students. Dave was a kind, committed and gentle man of great integrity and vision. Michael Williams captured it best when he texted “his spirit lives on in ALL of us “.

USSAAC has many active committees doing wonderful things to support people who use AAC, their families, and of course, our members.  Learn more about our standing committees at Committees – USSAAC and join one (or more) today! I will be featuring the work of these committees in this and future letters.

Committee highlight:  Education Committee (Chair: Betsy Caporale, USSAAC Director Professional Affairs; members Stephanie Meehan, Wendy Quach, Richard Hurtig, Gretchen Cole-Lade). The Education Committee is already developing a robust schedule of webinars!  As a reminder, ASHA CEUs are FREE to members (and $25 to non-members).  Our first webinar of 2022 will be on March 23, 2022 at 7 PM eastern.  The presenter, Ann England, MS CCC will describe the work in California to scale the implementation of the identified 28 evidence-based practices for autism that includes AAC.  Register today at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d7TXEPttS9qhi7r2ClHCew (members are given early registration information; seats are limited).

In addition, hold April 27, 2022 for a USSAAC webinar, “Exploring AAC Access to Swearing, Expletives, and Slang” – a topic of high interest!

Help wanted!  USSAAC is looking for an “editor-in-chief” for our SpeakUp! blog. Duties include recruiting bloggers, distributing draft blogs to editors for review, corresponding with bloggers and distributing the approved blog for posting.  Our thanks to outgoing editor Christina Byun.

As you know, USSAAC has an active Disaster Relief Committee, co-chaired by Liz Begley and Sarah Blackstone.  USSAAC signed on to the written testimony submitted to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management by the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Planning and the World Institute on Disability on FEMA’s Priorities for 2022: Stakeholder Perspectives.

USSAAC signed on to an important piece of proposed legislation in Virginia, HB 1047.  Unfortunately the bill was defeated, but if passed it would have done the following:  ensures a student who needs or uses AAC cannot be denied access to regular classrooms or age-appropriate academic instruction on the basis that the student needs support with AAC; prevents the use of IQ scores to decide whether the student can be provided with AAC at school; and ensures school staff are provided timely training in how to support a student’s use of AAC, and in how to design instruction to accommodate their unique communication access needs.

Did you know? USSAAC is a founding member of the North American Alliance for Communication Access.  The NAACA partnership includes leaders from CATIC in Mexico, the United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC) Board of Directors, and Communication Disability Access Canada (CDAC) in Canada.  Updates to follow at https://www.facebook.com/North-American-Alliance-for-Communication-Access-NAACA-104524812009078

A final reminder:  Join /renew today at Membership – USSAAC.

Best,

Amy S. Goldman, President