News
Communication Matters Study Day 2022 UK – Registration Now Open!
Becoming an Aided Communicator (BAC) – Theory, Methods, Findings and Practical Implications
When? Tuesday 21st June 2022, 10am to 4pm (registration at 9.30am)
Where? University of Leeds or Zoom
Who? An international team, led by Prof. Stephen von Tetzchner, University of Oslo, Norway
The focus of this Study Day is on the language and communication opportunities of children and young people who are learning language using aided communication. It may be of interest to anyone involved in supporting the language development of aided communicators who use low-tech and/or high-tech systems.
The Study Day has two parts, a presentation part (10am-1pm) and a discussion part (2-3.30pm). Many of the project members plan to participate in person. The first part of the Study Day will present ideas and results from the project. Each presentation will involve one lead presenter and several co-presenters. The presentations can be attended in person or on Zoom. The afternoon has parallel sessions. After the parallel sessions, the groups will come together for a 30-minute summary and wrap-up session (3.30-4pm).
Find out more about the BAC Project / Study Day and Register Now!
This is Not About Me film
What’s it like to be autistic and non-speaking in a world that’s already made up its mind about you?
This April, which is Autism Acceptance Month, watch the story of Jordyn – an experience shared by so many others. Non-speaking autistic students caught in a system that believes they are unable to understand or learn.
This is Not About Me has been selected as finalist of the ReelAbility Film festival: NewYork. Read more about the documentary here: https://thisisnotaboutme.film #ThisIsNotAboutMe
This Is Not About Me is available on Apple TV and iTunes for rent or purchase. https://itunes.apple.com/movie/this-is-not-about-me/id1615786728
#ThisIsNotAbout
Take the survey
Words matter.
What words do you prefer when talking about AAC and the people that use it?
Assistiveware has created a survey to better understand the disability and AAC terms you like and dislike. The results of the survey will be shared on the AssistiveWare blog (www.assistiveware.com/blog) in May 2022 and possibly in other venues in the future.
Fill in this survey with your preferences.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T8KL9X8
You can also help by sharing the link to the survey. The more people participate the more comprehensive and valuable the results will be.
The survey closes April 28, 2022.
Death of Jimmy Hill, brother of Katya Hill
ISAAC International is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Jimmy Hill, brother of Katya Hill, killed in Ukraine last week. ISAAC International offers sincerest condolences to Katya and her entire family. To learn more about this tragedy, please read this news item from NPR.
Statement on Ukraine
ISAAC International is deeply concerned about the welfare of people who use AAC and their personal/professional networks, particularly during times of natural or man-made disasters. Our ISAAC-Poland chapter has, for the past five months and prior to the start of hostilities, been engaging with key people in Ukraine providing support, and they will continue to do so for as long as possible. They are also engaged with other Polish NGOs assisting refugees, and we are in communication to determine what support can be offered.
In memoriam: David R. Beukelman
January 13, 1943 – February 5, 2022
David “Dave” passed away on February 5, 2022. Dave was born to Cora and Verne Beukelman of Harrison, South Dakota on January 13, 1943. He attended a one-room country school, graduated from Corsica High School, attended Northwestern College in Orange City, IA before graduating from Western Michigan University with a degree in speech language pathology. In 1964, he married Helen DeWaard, and they had three children: Julie (Jim) Johnson of Pella, Iowa, Jeff (Cynthia) Beukelman of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Jonathan (Jami) Beukelman of Denver, Colorado. He had nine grandchildren (Brannon, Seth, Cecily Johnson, Sierra, Drew, McKinley Beukelman, Luke, Graham, Audrey Beukelman) and two great grandchildren (Merrick and Marlowe Johnson).
David received masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He worked at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and then took a position as Director of Communication Disorders at the University of Washington Hospital. After 10 years, he took a job at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha. From 1985 to 2020 he was also a clinical researcher collaborator at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. Throughout his career, he specialized in providing services to people with neurological conditions that interfered with their ability to communicate effectively. He helped initiate the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and designed communication materials and devices for children and adults who couldn’t speak the ability to communicate with others. He was an intellect with a humble heart bent toward serving others. Dave loved Lincoln, the Huskers, his church, volunteering at the Lied Center, and giving big hugs to his grandkids.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Verne and Cora Beukelman, and his father and mother-in-law, Corstiaan and Kathryn DeWaard, and his brother Roy Beukelman.
Read the obituary: Roper & Sons Funeral Home.
Celebration of Life Gathering: February 11, 5-7pm, Roper & Sons Funeral Home.
Memorial Service: February 12, 1130am, Hope Community Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, Assistive Technology Center, and Hope Community Church. Livestream and condolences online at Roperandsons.com
https://www.madonna.org/foundation/donate
“The passing of Dr. Beukelman marks another chapter of bereavement in the AAC community’s farewell to a generation of outstanding scholars, researchers, clinicians and above all, people-people who have bequeathed us a rich and vibrant discipline. We will remember Dr. Beukelman for his sharp intellect, his integrity and his compassion that inspired a whole generation of students. Life does not always deliver the ending that we hoped for, but we know that Dr. Beukelman’s story was a beautiful chapter in the book of AAC.” – Dr. Juan Bornman, President, International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) 2020-2022
We anticipate sharing much more about David’s contribution and legacy in the coming days and weeks.
From left to right: Chih-Kang Yang, ISAAC-Taiwan; Kristy Weissling, ISAAC-US (USSAAC); Miechelle McKelvey, ISAAC-US (USSAAC); Dr. David Beukelman; Kathryn Garrett, ISAAC-US (USSAAC); Wendy Quach, ISAAC-US (USSAAC)
Return to Ireland and Celebration of Barbara Collier’s Contribution to the Field of AAC
Barbara Collier, Executive Director, Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC), arrived in Canada in 1979. In February of 2022, she and Bill are leaving Canada and making a big move to Ireland, 43 years later! Though Barbara is not leaving the field of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and the work of CDAC completely, she has decided to move ‘home’.
Barbara’s family, friends, students, colleagues and project supporters came together to celebrate Barbara’s contributions to the field of AAC and the impact she had on their lives.
Enjoy!
Casting Call!
Here’s an exciting opportunity to be part of a major movie adaptation of the best-selling young adult novel Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. The movie’s producers are casting for a young female, aged 11-14, with cerebral palsy, for the lead role of “Melody”.
The movie is being produced by people who have made some wonderful movies and given them heart, elegance, and insight. You will certainly know some of them.
Read the release to learn more.
And please share!
Call for Papers
The Joint International Conference on Digital Inclusion, Assistive Technology & Accessibility – ICCHP-AAATE 2022 is being held July 11-15 in Lecco, Italy. Organizers are seeking contributions from around the world for a special thematic session on “Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Emerging Trends, Opportunities and Innovations.” Details about the STS can be found at https://www.icchp-aaate.org/session/21822
Contributions to a STS have to be submitted using the standard submission procedures of ICCHP-AAATE. When submitting a contribution please make sure to select the right STS from the drop-down list “Special Thematic Session”. Contributions to a STS are evaluated by the Programme Committee of ICCHP-AAATE and by the chair(s) of the STS. Please contact the STS chair(s) for discussing your contribution and potential involvement in the session. Submission Deadlines for Contributions to STSs: February, 6, 2022 for publishing in Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science, March 3, 2022 for publishing in the Open Access Compendium.”
Season’s Greetings from the ISAAC International Executive Board
The ISAAC International Executive Board has created this lovely end-of-year video. Here they are, from around the world, celebrating the ISAAC community’s accomplishments in 2021 and sending all of you best wishes for a 2022 full of warmth, love and happiness.
The ISAAC Story
ISAAC supports the use of AAC around the world through the sharing of ideas and information. Events such as International AAC Awareness Month, our biennial conference, The ISAAC Communicator (formerly ISAAC E-News) and regular email alerts, keep ISAAC international members well-informed about our organization and activities worldwide.
A blast from the past … ISAAC Story 2008 was created by the Friends of ISAAC in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of ISAAC:
Recent Posts
- The ISAAC Communicator, December 2021, (PDF, 4 MB)
- December 3rd is the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021 (PDF, 98 kB)
- Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Blissymbolics (PDF, 117 kB)
- Remembering Gunnar Fagerberg, AAC Pioneer and ISAAC Leader (PDF, 178 kB)
- Bruce Baker AAC Globalization Initiative Announcement (PDF, 189 kB)
- ISAAC Policy for Recruiting Participants for Research Via the ISAAC Membership Email List (PDF, 441 kB)
- Communication Without Speech: Augmentative and Alternative Communication Around the World, by Anne Warrick (ISAAC Series: Volume 1) RUSSIAN (PDF, 2 MB)
- ISAAC Conference 2020 – Postponement News Release, February 11, 2021 and Announcement of “ISAAC Connect” 2021 Virtual Event (PDF, 178 kB)
- Fraudulent Emails: Significant increase expected during 2021 (PDF, 198 kB)
- Celebrating ISAAC Founder Shirley McNaughton on the Occasion of her 90th Birthday (PDF, 38 kB)
- Announcement Regarding Access to ISAAC Webinars (PDF, 144 kB)
- ATIA 2021: AT Connected: Opportunities for ISAAC Members (PDF, 212 kB)
- ISAAC Connects Virtual Event Letters of Interest Announcement (PDF, 144 kB)
- ISAAC 2026 Letters of Interest Announcement (PDF, 151 kB)
- Your Voice Matters: Calling for the First African American English Text to Speech Voices (PDF, 204 kB)
- Your Voice Matters Invitation: Calling for the First African American English Text to Speech Voices (PDF, 200 kB)
- ISAAC Remembers Dr. Bruce R. Baker (PDF, 179 kB) Memorial Service for Dr. Bruce R. Baker, 21-05-21 (PDF, 87 kB)
- Remembering Dr. Bruce R. Baker: Tributes by ISAAC members and friends (PDF, 1 MB)
- Dr. Bruce R. Baker, Obituary (PDF 127 kB)
Other News
- AAC Town Hall (Live Zoom) Meeting at Closing the Gap Conference, August 27, 2020 (PDF, 114 kB)
- Visual Support Boards – COVID-19 Screening Clinic Guidance (see first item under COVID-19 Resources for Visual Support Boards in English, Chinese, and Vietnamese)
- ISAAC Statement 3 on Conference 2020 and COVID-19 (PDF, 193 kB)
- ISAAC Statement 2 on Conference 2020 and COVID-19/ Anuncio No. 2 sobre el Congreso ISAAC 2020 y COVID-19 (PDF, 205 kB)
- ISAAC Statement on Conference 2020 and COVID-19 (PDF, 185 kB)
- ISAAC Honours Dr. Lyle L. Lloyd, Pioneer in the Field of AAC (PDF, 202 kB)
- CAAC Position statement on expressive methods of communication for persons with limited speech that require the input of a trained supporter January 2020 (PDF, 117 kB )
- ATIA and ISAAC have announced a cooperative agreement to work together to expand communication and education programs providing AAC information and resources to users, practitioners, family members, and assistive technology manufacturers. January 2020 (PDF, 198 kB)
- ATIA: You are invited to participate in a survey of AAC practitioners and professionals. Deadline: October 25, 2019.
- Conference 2024 Letters of Interest Announcement (PDF, 282 kB)
- You are Invited to Speak at ATIA 2020 (PDF, 196 kB)
- 15th International Conference of AAATE, “Global Challenges in Assistive Technology,” August 27-30, 2019 (PDF, 205 kB)
- ISAAC Honours Lifetime Achievements of Professor Stephen Hawking (PDF, 486 kB)
- ISAAC-Canada National Directory of AAC Providers – Link to Questionnaire Included (PDF, 227 kB)
- Do you know an educator who has supported a student who used aided AAC within the past 2 years? (PDF, 258 kB)
- New! ISAAC Family Engagement Survey (Please respond by January 8, 2018) (PDF, 115 kB)
- Communication Intermediaries: Access to Justice for Ontarians with Communication Disabilities, September 2017 (PDF, 435 kB). The latest report from Communication Disabilities Access Canada (CDAC) provides information and recommendations for overcoming barriers to access to justice through the use of communication intermediaries.
- Interview Featuring Sarah Blackstone and Harvey Pressman, re website to assist people who use AAC who have been affected by recent hurricanes (link to KION546 News Channel)
- USSAAC: Disaster Relief for People who use AAC and their Families (PDF, 447 kB)
- USSAAC Response to Hurricane Harvey (August 30, 2017) (PDF, 67 kB)
- CDAC Report to Federal Government on Communication Access (March 2017)
- Global Research, Innovation, and Education in Assistive Technology: GREAT Summit, August 3-4, 2017, Geneva, Switzerland (50 kB)
- ISAAC Social Media Policy, Guidelines and Best Practices, Approved August 7, 2016 (PDF, 533 kB)
- Conference 2022 Letter of Interest Announcement (PDF, 377 kB)
- Conference 2020 Letter of Interest Announcement (PDF, 379 kB)
- Happy Thanksgiving from USSAAC (PDF, 131 kB)
- Proposal for the Formation of a Spanish-speaking Chapter of ISAAC – November 18, 2016 (PDF, 270 kB)
- USSAAC Board 2017 – Call for Nominations (PDF, 342 kB)
- In Memory of Paul Marshall, February 17, 1963 – October 25, 2016 (video created by, and shared with the permission of, Shirley McNaughton). Thanks to Blissymbolics Canada for making this material available.
- International Leaders in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Gather in Toronto, Ontario August 6th – 13th (PDF, 208 kB)
- TADDAC Announces Availability of One Consumer Seat Representing the Speech-to-Speech User Community (PDF Flyer, 454 kB) Application Form for Consumer Representatives to TADDAC and/or EPAC (PDF Application Form, 274 kB)
- ISAAC Conference 2016: Call for Papers Deadline Extended to October 30th, 2015 (PDF, 151 kB)
- Press Release: Gregor Renner of the Catholic University of Applied Sciences Freiburg (Germany) is the new President of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) (PDF, 222 kB)
- Prof. Dr. Gregor Renner von der Katholischen Hochschule Freiburg ist neuer Präsident der internationalen Gesellschaft für Unterstützte Kommunikation (ISAAC) (PDF, 167 kB)
- “Ghost Boy” Author Martin Pistorius Attracts Wide Media/Social Media Interest (PDF, 194 kB)
- ISAAC Council Adopts Position Statement on Facilitated Communication, July 20, 2014
- In the extensive review of the many submissions received by the ISAAC ad hoc committee on Facilitated Communication, a number of submissions were inadvertently misplaced in email transmission from the ISAAC office to the ad hoc committee. These omissions were identified in June 2014 and the omitted submissions items have now been included in the review report. The committee has agreed that the additional information has not changed the Draft Position Statement on Facilitated Communication. ISAAC members are invited to view and read the updated Report in the “members-only” portion of the ISAAC website.
- Scholarships Available for MSc Program at the University of Dundee, Scotland (PDF, 168 kB)
- Supporting People who use AAC and Families Around the Globe: Questionnaire (PDF, 248 kB) Responses due by June 1st
- AAC Flash Mob! AAC Awareness Event at Mohawk College, Hamilton, Canada (PDF, 396 kB)
- Professor Stephen Hawking to receive first ISAAC Lifetime Achievement Award at Conference 2014 (PDF, 168 kB)
- New Professionals’ Travel Assistance Grant for Attending the ISAAC 2014 Biennial Conference – Sponsored by AssistiveWare® (PDF, 97 kB)
- Call for Seminar Proposals for the 2014 ISAAC Research Symposium (PDF, 310 kB)
- Conference 2016: Request for Letters of Interest (PDF, 218 kB) – Submissions no longer being accepted
- ISAAC Facilitated Communication (FC Committee): Information on New Submissions to be Considered (UPDATE) (PDF, 245 kB))
- ISAAC International and the AAC Editors, in conjunction with Informa, publishers of the AAC journal, are pleased to announce the creation of a new program designed to provide ISAAC Chapters and their members with direct and free access to selected articles.
- DRAFT ISAAC Governance Policy for Social Media (Members Only section)
- ISAAC Facilitated Communication (FC) Committee (PDF, 210 kB)
- Facilitated Communication Position Statement: Update and Next Steps (PDF, 105 kB)
- ISAAC Announces the Formation of a Committee to Develop an Official Position Statement on Facilitated Communication (FC) (PDF, 301 kB)
- ISAAC Executive Board 2013-2014: Call for Nominations (PDF, 49 kB)
- ISAAC Website Launch on October 6th, 2011 (PDF, 43 kB)