Committees
ISAAC’s activities are supported by its members through standing committees and working groups that focus on specific responsibilities:
Standing Committees
Bylaws Committee
Reviewing the existing bylaws to create a more concise document, as mandated by the Council in July 2010.
- India Ochs, Chair ilochs(at)yahoo.com
- Signhild Skogdal, Council Chair
- Liz Moulam
- Shelley Deegan
- Janice Murray
- Kate Anderson
Conference Committee
Oversees the operation of ISAAC’s Biennial Conferences. The Biennial Conference is an important education, financial and advocacy activity for ISAAC.
- Tracy Shepherd, Chair president(at)isaac-online.org
- Gabriela Berlanga, ISAAC Vice-President
- Elena Radici, ISAAC Vice-President
2020 Biennial Conference Committee
Works with the Executive Board and the ISAAC International Office to achieve a successful international conference on behalf of ISAAC.
Emerging AAC Nations Committee (BUILD)
(incorporated under BUILD Project) Supports ISAAC membership in countries and regions where resources restrict the availability of AAC programs and services.
BUILD Committee 2020 – 2022
- Miroslav Vrankic, Chair miroslav.vrankic(at)eglas.hr
- Renata Bonotto – Brazil
- Maurice Grinberg – Bulgaria
- Claudia Marimón Rigollet – Chile
- Lixia Jia – China
- Kelly Liang – China
- Ellyn Cassey Chua – The Philippines
- Ensa Johnson – South Africa
- Carla Van Nieuwenhuizen – South Africa
- Claire Campbell – USA
Family Engagement Committee
- India Ochs, Chair ilochs(at)yahoo.com
- Kim Anderson
- Amy Goldman
- Liz Moulam
Finance Committee
Monitors the funds and financial records of the organization, as well as ISAAC’s fiscal policies, practices and procedures.
- Tracy Shepherd, President
- Signhild Skogdal, Council Chair
- Neil Hansen, ISAAC-UK (Communication Matters)
- Franklin Smith, Executive Director
Leadership Committee for People who use AAC (LEAD)
Advises ISAAC on all issues involving people who use AAC. Develops projects with a consumer focus. This committee fosters the participation of augmented communicators, their families and support networks within ISAAC and beyond.
- Kevin Williams, Chair llslim(at)gmail.com
- Diane Bryen, Secretary
- Lisa Lehmann
- Beth Moulam
- Ju Hyeon Kim
Nominations Committee
Responsible for seeking nominations from the ISAAC membership for positions on the Executive Board.
- Signhild Skogdal, Chair signhild.skogdal(at)uit.no
- Tracy Shepherd, President president@isaac-online.org
- Yonit Hagoel-Karnieli, President-Elect president-elect@isaac-online.
org
Awards and Scholarships Program
(liaises with Nominations Committee and Executive Director; not a standing committee of ISAAC). Guides the selection process for biennial awards/scholarships recognizing outstanding achievement and distinguished service to ISAAC.
- Signhild Skogdal, Council Chair signhild.skogdal(at)uit.no
Publications Committee
Oversees the publication of the AAC journal. Acts as liaison between ISAAC and AAC’s publisher, Taylor & Francis Group. Advises on issues related to publishing in the field of augmentative and alternative communication. The aim of the Publications Committee is to increase access to materials that will benefit ISAAC members and the international AAC community.
Provisional list of members:
- Tracy Shepherd, Chair president(at)isaac-online.org
- MaryAnn Romski, Co-Editor 2023 – 2024
- Rose Ann Sevcik, Co-Editor 2023 – 2024
- Miroslav Vrankic, Editor, CSWN Newsletter
- Franklin Smith (ex-officio, non-voting)
- Jackie Brown (ex-officio, non-voting)
Research Committee
Monitors the development of research activities within the organization. Activities include the biennial ISAAC Research Symposium, held in conjunction with the ISAAC Conference. The Research Committee also considers strategies to encourage established and young researchers (e.g., students) to engage in state-of-the-art developments in the field. One of ISAAC’s main goals is to promote research and development in all areas of AAC.
2020 – 2022 Research Committee Members:
- Beata Batorowicz (Chair – Canada) beata.batorowicz(at)queensu.ca
- Jennifer Kent-Walsh (USA)
- Thor Sandmel (Norway)
- Kristine Stadskleiv (Norway)
- Kerstin Tönsing (SA)
- David Trembath (Australia)
- Catia Walter (Brazil)
Other Groups:
Friends of ISAAC
Advises on issues of importance to the organization. The Friends are volunteers who have formerly served ISAAC at the governance level.
Communication with the United Nations
Guides ISAAC in its role as NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).
- Tracy Shepherd, President president(at)isaac-online.org
- Franklin Smith, Executive Director
Liaison between the Council and the Executive Board
- Signhild Skogdal, Council Chair signhild.skogdal(at)uit.no
Interested in joining a committee or group?
Please contact the Chair listed for the committee/group, or contact the Council Chair.