The research  projects of the RERC on AAC (2025-2030) will investigate innovative engineering solutions to address the communication barriers faced by individuals with complex communication needs.

R1: Immersive Text Environments This project will investigate the feasibility of using observation and mapping technology to identify locations in a high interaction environment to document common words or phrases used in those “social zones,” and to create a prototype of a communication tool that can be embedded in social zones to support increased communication and social interaction
Project Leaders: Pope, Dragut, Jakobs, Constituent Board

R2: Environmental Embedding of Communication SupportsThis project will investigate the feasibility of using observation and mapping technology to identify locations in a high interaction environment to document common words or phrases used in those “social zones,” and to create a prototype of a communication tool that can be embedded in social zones to support increased communication and social interaction
Project Leaders: Therrien, Dragut, Raley, Jakobs, Constituent Board

R3 Responsive Prediction
The goal is to investigate the effects of emerging and novel approaches to responsive prediction that leverages AI on communication, expressive language, and social validity from individuals with developmental disabilities and communication partners to improve the design of prediction in AAC technologies and thereby enhance quality of communication life.
Project Leaders: Holyfield, MacNeil, Raley, Jakobs, Constituent Board