LOMAH Disability Podcast LOMAH

This last episode in the series is right in step with how all good things should conclude and that is with a bit of fun. You are about to listen in on a conversation with plenty of laughter and bad jokes that I had with a man who has been using AAC since the 80’s and who has been living in his own place with hired supports for 20 years. We travel down memory lane recalling accommodations that thankfully have been replaced with better options but also those that have stood the test of time.
About the Guest: Tim Jin Tim Jin is a disability rights advocate with cerebral palsy. He is the Assistant Director of Communication Rights for Disability Voices United, an organization focused on improving education and services for those with developmental disabilities. Jin advocates for improving the accessibility of technology-aided communication for those with speech-related disabilities. Jin has been a member of boards for organizations such as Ability Central Philanthropy, CommunicationFIRST, and the Self-Determination Program Local Advisory Committee for Regional Center of Orange County. Jin has been using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device since elementary school. He graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication.
To contact Tim regarding AAC training and inclusion for your staff or organization, email tim@jinonline.net
This episode is the last in a series focusing on expanding the boundaries often placed around AAC use.

AAC users often have to, first, assert authority over their self care staff. Our guest who exclusively communicates via AAC shares tips and tricks she has learned over the years on hiring and training staff. About the Guest Hannah Foley is the Product & Service Development Intern and an Ambassador at PRC-Saltillo, where she develops training and implementation supports for PRC-Saltillo language systems. She also represents PRC-Saltillo at speaking engagements and other events. Hannah presents at school districts across the country on effective inclusion and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) implementation practices within homes, communities, and schools of those with complex communication needs. She is currently attending the University of Illinois at Chicago to complete her Assistive Technology Certification with a concentration in AAC for education. Hannah aims to pursue a professional career in AAC training and implementation to facilitate collaboration and effective training for implementation of AAC among all members of support teams.

Communication between provider and patient is a crucial component of quality care which is why extra thought and planning need to be arranged for augmentative and alternative communicators.
About the Guest: Jessica Gormley, Ph.D., CCC-SLP of The Patient-Provider Network Jessica Gormley, PhD, CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor, Speech-Language Pathologist, Research Coordinator and Interim Director in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute. Dr. Gormley earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Hearing Handicapped from the State University of New York at Geneseo, a Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Pennsylvania State University.
She provides inpatient and outpatient augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) services as well as completes AAC research and program development activities. Her research and clinical interests center upon improving interactions among individuals with complex communication needs, their families, and health care providers through the development and evaluation of AAC tools and trainings.
Dr. Gormley is a co-organizer for the Patient-Provider Communication Network along with Tami Altschuler and Rachel Santiago. Dr. Gormley has co-authored several peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on the topics of supporting AAC in acute care, personalization of patient-provider communication, and child-parent-provider communication interactions.
Links to Mentioned Content: Patient Provider Communication Network
Bimonthly Zoom Call
Article on Creating a Culture of Communication
Widget Health downloadable resources
Patient Provider Communication Network Downloadables
Patient’s right to access to communication via the Joint Commission and other policies supporting patient communication
Article about system changes in hospitals and other articles on AAC in medical settings

The internet has swung the door wide open for alternative and augmentative communication users, yet often the creative use of these tools is never introduced. It’s time to expand how AAC users maximize devices as well as how to navigate online communities that they now have access to via AAC.
About the Guest: Tiffany Joseph Known as Nigh Functioning Autism on instagram, Tiffany has 3 neurodivergent children and is autistic. Tiffany’s ultimate goal is for nonspeaking individuals to all have early access to full communication and inclusion in educational settings from early childhood and beyond. She is an intern at Reach Every Voice, training to be an instructor and communication and regulation partner for nonspeaking or minimally speaking individuals of all ages.
In today’s conversation Tiffany will use a combination of spoken voice and AAC voice.
This episode is the 4th in a series of 10 focusing on expanding the boundaries often placed around AAC use.

Many AAC users are dependent upon others to program language onto their device. Despite what research shows regarding common language in various age groups, it is common practice to censor slang, slurs, and swearing even for adults.
 
About the Guest: Hali Strickler is an AAC services coordinator for TechOWL at the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University. She received both her Bachelor and Master of Arts in Speech, Language, and Hearing Science from Temple University. Hali is a Pennsylvania and New Jersey licensed and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certified speech-language pathologist.
Links to Mentioned Content: Article - A Child’s Garden of Curses by Kristin L. Jay and Timothy B. Jay
Relevant Episodes: #116: Touching of Self and Others from July, 2020 in the Complicated Behaviors Series
#77: Your Body, Your Boundaries from June, 2019 in the Health Series
This episode is the 3rd in a series of 10 focusing on expanding the boundaries often placed around AAC use.

Brittany Dube is and autistic partial AAC user who shares the stigma she often experiences when choosing AAC over her spoken voice despite how AAC makes her more communicative. Links to Mentioned Content: Etsy has several sellers creating personalized communication boards. Brittany’s came from the seller Coatney Creations.
The quote referenced came from an article about partial AAC use in communicators with speech written by Alyssa Hillary Zisk and Elizabeth Dalton. It was published in April, 2018 edition of The Autism in Adulthood Journal.
This episode is the 2nd in a series of 10 focusing on expanding the boundaries often placed around AAC use.