As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s show our deep respect for the women in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) who have contributed to communication success for so many. Numerous professions like speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), educators, engineers, support staff, to name a few—as well as family members and individuals who use AAC—have helped people find their voice. Each role makes a difference by directly and indirectly helping others on their AAC journey.
“Just as AAC is not a one-size-fits-all solution, neither are the professionals who have made incredible contributions to the field,” said CEO Sarah Wilds. “AAC communicators’ experiences are richer because of the different lenses we have all brought to our work. The vocabulary that an AAC communicator uses is at the core of our PRC-Saltillo systems – the women I’m excited to highlight have used their respective lenses to develop vocabulary options for a range of communicators around the globe.”
This year, we are highlighting women who have authored AAC vocabularies. These clinical professionals responded to a need and created an opportunity for more individuals to experience meaningful communication. If you have met them or worked alongside them, you know they are passionate about AAC and compassionate about others. We could write a book about all they have accomplished. We invite you to learn more about these nine incredible women and their work in AAC.
Elisa Barhoum, speech-language pathologist and the first AAC Consultant hired for Saltillo Corporation, developed MultiChat 15 in Student, Adolescent, and Adult versions. This AAC vocabulary features multiple forms of communication: sentences, phrases, individual words, recordings for story-telling, and visual scenes.
Cindy Halloran, an occupational therapist, is the Director of The Center for AAC & Autism. With extensive experience treating children with autism, she co-developed the Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP)™ approach and the LAMP Words for Life® vocabulary.
Speech-language pathologist and former Prentke Romich Company (PRC) AAC Consultant Nancy Inman authored the WordPower® suite of vocabularies using research, clinical strategies, creativity, and technology to expand options for individuals who are nonspeaking.
With determination to have an AAC solution in her country, Ružica Magušić, speech-language pathologist, worked with AAC manufacturers to develop several vocabularies in her native Croatian language: Super fraze 15, Super fraze 25, Standardna tipkovnica i fraze, and Sržne riječi 60. She also advocated for policy change to help with AAC funding and support.
Lisa Nobel Martin, speech-language pathologist and AAC Clinical Practice Specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, created the Basic and Intermediate Scan vocabulary files to support and give options for individuals learning to communicate using auditory scanning.
Communication Journey: Aphasia was created by Lois Turner, SLP and Manager at CAYA, Anne MacCallum, SLP and AAC Coordinator at the Assistive Technology Service at GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, and Sarah Douglas, SLPA and TouchChat® Certified Trainer at CAYA in consultation with SLPs at GF Strong who worked exclusively with people with aphasia and brain injuries. This evidence-based AAC vocabulary addresses the unique needs of individuals with acquired language impairment while in recovery or for long-term use.
Speech-language pathologist Gail M. Van Tatenhove has devoted her career to supporting the AAC needs of children and adults with significant communication challenges. She developed Pixon™ 60 to bring speech output to the Pixon Project Kit and the 12-location Vocab PC for adults and adolescents with developmental disabilities. Gail also authored Power ‘N Play, an 8-location Minspeak® Application Program (MAP) for young children with significant disabilities.
Education, service, exploration, perseverance, understanding, and countless caffeinated cups of compassion brought these vocabularies to life. Vocabulary creation is one of many contributions each of these nine women have made in their careers. Their collective work is powerful and overwhelming in giving voices around the world.
Celebrating each other is the spirit of AAC. Enjoy these affirmations from other women in AAC.
“Elisa's passion for discovering needs and acting on them was instrumental in helping people have more options for communication,” noted Andrea Carothers, B.A., Director of Sales. “Her unwavering drive and dedication were consistently evident in her commitment to our field. Though her career has expanded beyond AAC, her work with MultiChat 15 continues to make a difference in the lives of many today.”
“Cindy's dedication to LAMP projects has enabled numerous parents and professionals to engage meaningfully with children and adults on the autism spectrum, and ensure they have consistent access to words and learning strategies for effective communication through AAC,” shared Elizabeth Bortz, M.S., CCC-SLP, AAC Consultant. “Those who know Cindy value her thoughtful and collaborative leadership style, recognizing her as a true pioneer and visionary in the AAC field. Cindy’s contributions have left an extraordinary legacy that keeps positively impacting lives every day and I’m forever grateful for the profound impact LAMP trainings and Words for Life vocabulary have had on my life and on countless others.”
“Nancy’s compassion and dedication to her clients shows in each version of WordPower,” said Melissa Hoy, CScD, CCC-SLP, Product Owner, iOS Apps. “She brings a humble energy to her craft as she continuously improves this innovative vocabulary system to make it the best version for a variety of communicators. It has been an honor to work with someone as passionate and intelligent as Nancy, as she brilliantly blends the skills of a speech-language pathologist, a linguist, and a software engineer to create WordPower.”
“Ružica has profoundly impacted the AAC community in Croatia,” said Brittany Toney, M.A., CCC-SLP, Product Owner, Chat Software/ChatEditor. “The vocabulary files she has created for clients using the VersaChat™ are widely regarded as the most robust and comprehensive files for Croatian speaking-individuals with complex communication needs. Ruzica puts her heart and soul into her work, leveraging her clinical experience and expertise to enhance the vocabulary files she has created. Without her advocacy, passion, and leadership, there would be many in Croatia without a voice.”
“Lisa brings a unique blend of expertise, advocacy, and empathy to her role,” said Meghan Conover, B.Sc., CDA, Product Owner, Language and Vocabulary Systems. “I’m constantly impressed by her ability to connect with people while expertly training and educating them about AAC. Her mentorship, both to me and to countless others, has been invaluable. Through her guidance, she has helped build a far-reaching AAC community, fostering a group that deeply understands the significance of their role, both individually and collectively.”
“Lois, Anne, and Sarah’s passion and dedication to help those with aphasia, and other adult acquired language disorders, is displayed throughout their thoughtful vocabulary,” shared Michelle Retzlaff, M.A., CCC-SLP, Regional Manager of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio. “They recognize the person is at the heart of communication. Providing a high-tech communication solution assists those to reengage in daily life activities. Their clinical insight and creativity to base the file’s roots in research, while finding a balance to allow for flexible customization, is at the center of Communication Journey: Aphasia. Ordering at your favorite restaurant or informing your health care provider how you are feeling are important communication opportunities. Now all have an opportunity to do so because of their contribution to the field of AAC.”
“Gail is an extraordinary speech-language pathologist who has made a profound impact on the lives of individuals who use AAC,” said Debbie Witkowski, M.A., CCC-SLP, Training and Implementation Specialist, Minspeak Academy. “Her innovative implementation tools and strategies for teaching Minspeak systems such as Unity® are unparalleled and her contributions to the field are immeasurable. The impact she has made in the field of AAC will resonate for years to come.”
For more information about these AAC vocabularies, connect with someone whose life has been impacted by their authors, your local PRC-Saltillo consultant.