Penn State AAC Leadership Project: Preparing faculty in AAC research & personnel preparation to improve services & results for high-need children with severe communication disorders
This project will prepare ten Ph.D. students to assume faculty positions at institutes of higher education in order to improve services and results for high-need children with severe communication disabilities who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). METHOD: Activities of this project include: (a) completing a comprehensive research-based curriculum to develop competencies in research methods, personnel preparation, policy and professional issues in speech-language pathology (SLP), research and evidence-based practices for high-need children who require AAC, leadership, and interdisciplinary collaboration; (b) partnering with key national and state agencies, high-need local education agencies, and consumers and families to ensure that the program responds effectively to personnel needs; and (c) conducting research that will guide educational decision making and preparing preservice SLPs in evidence-based practices known to improve outcomes for high-need children who require AAC (e.g., children of all ages with autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, etc. who live in poverty or are English language learners).
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC)
Autism Research Database (AFD)
