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International Symposium on AAC Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

Plan now to attend the Fifth Symposium on AAC Evidence-Based Practice on August 2, 2007 immediately followed by the Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators (PEC) on August 3-5, 2007 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. PEC is the largest gathering in the world of people who use AAC. Additional information will be forthcoming soon at www.aacinstitute.org.

THE ALL NEW "YOU'RE SINGING WITH DECTALK"

"You're Singing with DECTalk" comes with the DECtalk technology version 4.40 Speak Window which automatically installs onto a personal computer. The Speak Window can be used for emergency communication if your device breaks down and you have the ability to type on the computer. The Speak Window actually speaks and you can choose to use the same voice that you use on your communication device. The Speak Window can be programmed to sing just like a communication device and can open the door for you to be involved in class projects and music classes.

This software comes with over 1050 songs, which can either be sung using the Speak Window on the computer, or loaded into most devices that use DECtalk technology. There are five categories of songs: Gospel, Country, Rock, Children's, and Christmas.

My software also comes with games, which can be played on the Vanguard Plus or Vantage Plus. These games include; Magic 8 Ball, Ball Find (Pick the box), Boys & Girls Love Ball, Clown (Joke teller), Coin Toss (Heads or tails), Crystal Ball (Fortune teller), Dice (Rolls dice), Lottery (Picks lotto numbers), Mind Reader (Think of a number), Slot Machine, Thought For The Day, and Twister. These games will give hours of fun as well as promote interaction among peers.

For more information, visit www.dectalksings.com or make your request in an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

QUALITY ATTENDANT CARE

RespiteMatch.com Home Healthcare Services

My name is David Jayne. I am an 18 year survivor of ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. I am totally paralyzed, ventilator dependent and communicate with an augmentative communication system. I am the founder of The National to Amend the Medicare Homebound Restriction, (NCAHB). Bob Dole is an honorary chairman.. I am the CEO of Homebound Solutions LLC dba www.RespiteMatch.com .

RespiteMatch was born from a personal need to take advantage of the power of the internet for a disabled individual, to find a caregiver. RespiteMatch is a unique service. It is truly my desire for RespiteMatch to be a service that will avoid the home health pitfalls I have endured for other disabled and senior individuals.

For information on this service contact:
David Jayne CEO
www.RespiteMatch.com
Homebound Solutions LLC
P.O. Box 884
Rex, Georgia 30273
770-474-1105

UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH DIRECTORY REMINDER

This is a friendly reminder that it is time to consider any updates to your entry in the University and Research Directory, if you are responsible for teaching an AAC university course or are conducting research related to AAC. If you are a NEW instructor or researcher, please visit the site to see if your university is listed, and then create an entry if you don't find information about the AAC activity happening in your department. The directory is a collaboration with ISAAC.

The AAC Institute provides resources to support your AAC courses. Many instructors assign one or more of our Self-Study Program courses as required assignments. Students receive Certificates of Completion to indicate fulfillment of the requirement. In addition, the AACI is happy to provide instructors with copies of any of our print materials. Please, write to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to make a request for copies of AACI Press papers. We frequently teach AAC classes on the topic of AAC Evidence-Based Practice, generally by video conference. Finally, AAC Institute software products are made available at no cost for use on university computers dedicated to student instruction.

NATIONAL DISABILITY ASSOCIATION CHANGES NAME TO REFLECT CURRENT USAGE IN THE FIELD

The American Association on Mental Retardation, the world's oldest organization of professionals in developmental disabilities has changed its name to the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities following a vote by its membership earlier this year. This change will be effective January 1, 2007. Says AAMR President Valerie J. Bradley, "This is a positive step and we should all feel very good about what it portends for the future. This change will not alter the mission of the organization but will rather bring the name more in line with general usage in the field and with the day to day work of our members." Founded in 1876, AAMR promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Learn more at www.aamr.org.

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY

Do you have heart-warming, insightful and powerfully moving stories about what life has taught you and how to live life to its fullest? The authors of the New York Times Best-selling book series Chicken Soup for the Soul are currently seeking stories to be included in a new book tentatively titled Chicken Soup for the Special Needs Community: 101 heartwarming, helpful, healing stories that offer inspiration and promise surrounding the lives of special needs individuals. Through these stories, the readers learn how others facing similar challenges can learn to overcome the many obstacles they have. Now you have an opportunity to contribute to this new series by sharing your strength, insights, knowledge and wisdom. A Chicken Soup story is an inspirational, true story that opens the heart and re-kindles the spirit. It is the personal account of an event, an obstacle overcome, a lesson learned or a dream that helps the reader discover basic principles they can use in their own lives. If you have a story you would like to submit, please email your stories to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .