Prentke Romich Company (PRC), the leading manufacturer of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) devices for individuals with speech disabilities, today announced the launch of AAC Language Lab, a comprehensive new web resource designed for the AAC community.

The easy-to-navigate site at www.AACLanguageLab.com offers speech language pathologists (SLPs), special educators, family members, and others working with speech-impaired individuals a rich library of teaching and therapy resources designed to support language development among those using Vantage™ Lite, the new ECO™2, and other AAC devices from PRC.

Site visitors can identify appropriate goals and outcomes for each key stage in language development and download language lesson plans and other teaching ideas and activities geared to the specific stages. The site also offers complete curricula for teaching Unity®, the powerful language program found exclusively in PRC’s AAC devices. Unity enables device users to progress from single words and short phrases to complete, spontaneous, and novel thoughts and ideas. Learn more about AAC Language Lab at www.AACLanguageLab.com, at www.prentrom.com, or by calling PRC at (800) 262-1984.

The State Library of Ohio, in conjunction with the Ohio School for the Deaf, currently has 486 circulating books and videos related to educating the deaf. The collection, called ISLR - Interpreting and Sign Language Resources, is intended for teachers, parents and students who are deaf.

These resources can be accessed at www.library.ohio.gov. In the search box in the upper right hand corner of the screen, type ISLR. Next, under “Search Results” click on State Library of Ohio Resources and Services, then click on Deafness Information Collection – ISLR . The resources listed on the library’s on-line catalog are arranged by date with the most recent item listed first. Resources with the words “Deaf – ISLR Collection” are available for circulation. Click on the title of any item for more information about the resource and then click the “Request” button at the top of the screen to order. A State Library card is required to borrow an item from the collection, and any Ohio resident can apply for a card. If the item is currently checked out, your request will be put on a waiting list. On the State Library’s homepage, click on “Help” at the bottom of the screen to find out how to contact the library if you have questions, as well as to learn how to obtain a State Library card.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 addressed the timely delivery of print textbooks in specialized formats, including Braille, large print, audio and digital text, to school-age students who are blind or have print disabilities. Publishers must submit the electronic files of textbooks and related core print instructional materials published after August 18, 2006 in the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) to the National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) established at the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. in Louisville, Kentucky.

Assistive Technology can be used to improve the social and cognitive participation and growth of young children with disabilities. Read CITEd's Info Brief for more information and a six-step guide to AT decision making for young learners. The six-step guide is practical for considering AT use for all school age children.