Strategies for Providing Literacy Instruction to AAC Users

Kelly is a self-employed consultant and trainer in assistive and educational technology. Since 1986, she has presented to schools, universities & families in 48 US states & internationally in Australia, Canada and South Africa. She presents on a wide range of topics including technology integration, augmentative communication, computer access, literacy, electronic writing, organizers,assistive technology assessment and implementation strategies. Kelly has a B.S. in special education from Millersville University, an M.S. in educational technology with a minor in special education/rehabilitation technology from The Johns Hopkins University, and holds an Assistive Technology Applications Certificate of Learning from CA State University – Northridge. She has pursued additional study in adult and urban education at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Kelly has been working with individuals with disabilities since the mid 70s and with assistive technologies since 1983. Her teaching experiences have been as a teacher assistant, teacher, instructional media specialist, and assistive technology consultant in early childhood, preschool and school age programs. She worked 8 years as a consultant with PennTech, the statewide technology project supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Since 1999, Kelly has maintained an independent business with contract work in educational and assistive technology consultation and training with schools, families, agencies, and companies.

Kelly has consulted to university and adult programs concerning access to technology by college students and employees with disabilities. She has taught courses at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in both the Occupational Therapy and Exceptional Education departments and at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. She was a part of the development and training team for the ATACP, CSUN, California State University – Northridge’s Center on Disabilities. Kelly is on the training support team for several manufacturers in the assistive technology industry and has done consulting on several development projects. In addition to her professional affiliation with people with complex communication needs, Kelly has people in her personal life that use and have used assistive technologies, including augmentative communication, and this has molded and shaped her career and presentations over time. She firmly believes that information about this field is at its greatest value when represented from all perspectives.