Development and Assessment of a Rate Acceleration Keyboard for Direct-Selection Augmentative and Alternative Communication Users

Abstract

Pamela Mathy-Laikko received her PhD in Communicative Disorders from the University of WisconsinMadison. Her current position is clinical director of the Hattie B. Munroe Augmentative Communication Center at Meyer Rehabilitation Institute, University of NelYraska Medical Center. She has been actively involved in the augmentative communication area for more than 12 years. In addition to extensive clinical work, her contributions to the area include book chapters and research publications as well as inservice and preservice training. Her current research interests include rate acceleration techniques and interactions of augmentative communication users. Carol West received her master's degree from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She is currently a doctoral student at the University of NelYraska-Lincoln and is employed at the Meyer Rehabilitation Institute at the University of NelYraska Medical Center. Ms. West provides consultative augmentative communication services for school-aged students. Rebecca Jones is currently a doctoral student in communication disorders at the University of NelYraskaLincoln. She received her bachelor's degree from Illinois State University. From 1980 to 1987 she was special educator with multiple-handicapped, nonspeaking students at the Developmental Center in Peoria, Illinois. From 1987 to 1988 she was assistive technology specialist for Don Johnston Developmental Equipment. While obtaining a doctorate degree, her research and clinical interests will focus on augmentative communication and neurogenic speech disorders.