Bethany Frick Semmler

AAC Chats

Arts EN ↓ 12 episodes

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). T...

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: aacchats.fireside.fm

Author

Bethany Frick Semmler

Episodes

Episode 12: Training Communication Partners to Support Students with Multiple Disabilities 28.02.2025 41:10

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 RERC on AAC Website. The work of this podcast was deve...

Episode 11: Implementing a T2L decoding feature with a young boy with Down syndrome 31.01.2025 40:09

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 To further explore T2L visit this site: https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/research/r2-aac-litera...

Episode 10: Accessible Literacy Strategies for Emerging Communicators 30.11.2024 43:28

Article discussing: DeLuca, T., Boucher, A., Holyfield, C. (2024). Accessible literacy for emergin communicators: A proposed model and case application with children on the autism spectrum. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1044/2024_PERSP-24-00107 Tim DeLuca's email: timdeluca@umass.edu To further explore T2L visit this site: https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/resea...

Episode 9: Family-Centered Services in AAC 31.10.2024 30:22

Moodle Training Module discussing: https://aac-learning-center-moodle.psu.edu/course/view.php?id=58 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...

Episode 8: Training Healthcare Providers to Support Children's Communication in Inpatient Rehabilitation 30.09.2024 52:39

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 To further explore trainings of this kind, visit www.patientprovidercommunication.or...

Episode 7: Supporting Practitioners During Alternative Access Assessments 29.08.2024 1:02:39

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 If you are a therapist who works in the area of alternative access and are interested in participating in a study using Access Navigator, pl...

Episode 6: NDBIs and AAC Interventions for Children on the Autism Spectrum 30.07.2024 32:22

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 ] on the RER...

Episode 5: AAC Interventions for Children with Multiple Disabilities 28.06.2024 43:05

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] on the RERC on AAC Website. The work of this po...

Episode 4: Working with Children with Cortical Visual Impairment 30.05.2024 40:02

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, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 39:4, 256-269, DOI: 10.1080/07434618.2023.2206904 Blog post about this article on the RERC on AAC Website. The work o...

Episode 3: Racial Disparities in Access to AAC Intervention 28.04.2024 29:05

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 Nat...

Episode 2: Framework for increasing AAC competency for pre-service SLPs and clinicians 31.03.2024 26:03

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 offere...

Episode 1: Targeting Decoding Skills on AAC Devices with Adults with Down Syndrome 18.01.2024 26:26

Please provide us with some feedback on our first episode of AAC Chats ! Article discussing: Holyfield, C., Pope, L., Light., J., Jakobs., E., Laubscher, E., McNaughton, D., & Pfaff, O. (2023). 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-La...