Eye-Gaze and Brain Computer Interface AAC:
Evaluating Your Options Workshop
Saturday, October 25, 2014 • 8:00 am–5:00 pm
Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South, Pittsburgh, PA
This workshop will present the gold standard of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) practice for using eye-gaze or brain computer interface (BCI) as an alternative access method. The morning will review evidence-based methods for evaluating and matching an individual with severe physical limitations with eye gaze or BCI access that results in the best performance as a selection method. Evidence and tips to complete a Speech Generating Device (SGD) funding request will be discussed. Participants will have a choice of attending one of three concurrent sessions related to specific disabilities that benefit from eye-gaze or BCI access: Rett Syndrome, ALS and Cerebral Palsy/other severe physical disabilities. The afternoon will provide concurrent “eyes-on” practice sessions using the systems from several major manufacturers offering eye gaze as an access method. Experience and explore eye gaze systems in a relaxed, user-friendly environment. Attendees will leave the day’s workshop fully informed and able to identify all your options for selecting the latest eye gaze or BCI technology.
Benefit Luncheon Keynote Speaker: Margo Broehl, Esq., chief legal counsel for PRC will update you on the recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policies related to Speech Generating Device (SGD) funding. Hear first-hand the grassroots efforts being made in Washington DC by various organizations and companies to reverse decisions that are having a negative impact on beneficiaries who depend on eye gaze AAC systems.
Learner Outcomes
Workshop Agenda – Saturday, October 25, 2014
8:00 am Registration and continental breakfast
8:30 am Standard of AAC practice in eye-gaze and brain computer interface (BCI) technology
10:45 Four (4) concurrent sessions related to a disability that may benefit from alternative access s:
* Rett syndrome
* Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
* Cerebral palsy (CP) and other physical disabilities
* Brain Computer Interface (BCI)
11:45 Benefit Luncheon – Keynote Address
1:00 pm First round of four (4) breakout sessions (45 min each & 15 min to rotate)
Options:
* LC Technologies
* PRC
* Tobii/Dynavox
* Brain Computer Interface (BCI) demonstration
2:00 Start of 2nd round of four (4) breakout sessions
2:45 Afternoon break
3:00 Start of 3rd round of four (4) breakout sessions
4:00 Start of last round of four (4) breakout sessions
5:00 Adjourn
Who Should Attend: Speech-language pathologists, assistive technology specialists, occupational therapists, neurologists, health care providers, health insurance providers, special education instructors, skilled nursing facility staff, home health aides, paraprofessionals and individuals with disabilities and/or their families who are exploring eye-gaze access for AAC.
Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South, Pittsburgh, PA
- Presenters: Katya Hill, PhD, CCC-SLP, Michael O’Leary, MS, CCC-SLP and Evelyn Mariperisena-Meinert, MA, CCC-SLP of ICAN™ Talk Clinic of the AAC Institute; Jane Huggins, PhD of University of Michigan, and consultants from leading AAC equipment makers
- Special Luncheon Keynote Speaker: Margo Broehl, Esq., Broehl Law Office and Corporate Counsel, Prentke Romich Company
- Participating Manufacturers: LC Technologies, Prentke Romich Company, Tobii/Dynavox and others.
- Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) offered: 0.75 for ASHA (pending) and 1.0 for IACET
This workshop will present the gold standard of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) practice for using eye-gaze or brain computer interface (BCI) as an alternative access method. The morning will review evidence-based methods for evaluating and matching an individual with severe physical limitations with eye gaze or BCI access that results in the best performance as a selection method. Evidence and tips to complete a Speech Generating Device (SGD) funding request will be discussed. Participants will have a choice of attending one of three concurrent sessions related to specific disabilities that benefit from eye-gaze or BCI access: Rett Syndrome, ALS and Cerebral Palsy/other severe physical disabilities. The afternoon will provide concurrent “eyes-on” practice sessions using the systems from several major manufacturers offering eye gaze as an access method. Experience and explore eye gaze systems in a relaxed, user-friendly environment. Attendees will leave the day’s workshop fully informed and able to identify all your options for selecting the latest eye gaze or BCI technology.
Benefit Luncheon Keynote Speaker: Margo Broehl, Esq., chief legal counsel for PRC will update you on the recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policies related to Speech Generating Device (SGD) funding. Hear first-hand the grassroots efforts being made in Washington DC by various organizations and companies to reverse decisions that are having a negative impact on beneficiaries who depend on eye gaze AAC systems.
Learner Outcomes
- Identify and describe three procedures used to evaluate an individual’s ability to benefit from eye gaze or BCI as an alternative access method.
- Identify two action steps you can take to improve the funding for eye gaze as an access method to AAC systems.
- Identify three barriers that must be controlled to improve an individual’s learning trajectory for using eye gaze or BCI as an alternative access method.
- Describe one specific characteristic and consideration to assess when recommending eye-gaze access for patients with Rett Syndrome, ALS or Cerebral Palsy.
- Identify three performance measures to use in writing an SGD funding request that support the trial of the recommended alternative access method.
- Identify the primary, secondary and tertiary features of two eye gaze or BCI technologies offered by two different manufacturers.
Workshop Agenda – Saturday, October 25, 2014
8:00 am Registration and continental breakfast
8:30 am Standard of AAC practice in eye-gaze and brain computer interface (BCI) technology
10:45 Four (4) concurrent sessions related to a disability that may benefit from alternative access s:
* Rett syndrome
* Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
* Cerebral palsy (CP) and other physical disabilities
* Brain Computer Interface (BCI)
11:45 Benefit Luncheon – Keynote Address
1:00 pm First round of four (4) breakout sessions (45 min each & 15 min to rotate)
Options:
* LC Technologies
* PRC
* Tobii/Dynavox
* Brain Computer Interface (BCI) demonstration
2:00 Start of 2nd round of four (4) breakout sessions
2:45 Afternoon break
3:00 Start of 3rd round of four (4) breakout sessions
4:00 Start of last round of four (4) breakout sessions
5:00 Adjourn
Who Should Attend: Speech-language pathologists, assistive technology specialists, occupational therapists, neurologists, health care providers, health insurance providers, special education instructors, skilled nursing facility staff, home health aides, paraprofessionals and individuals with disabilities and/or their families who are exploring eye-gaze access for AAC.
WORKSHOP DIRECTOR
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Katya Hill, PhD, CCC-SLP is an associate professor at the Department of Communication Science and Disorders, University of Pittsburgh. She is an internationally recognized clinician in the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and evidence-based practice. She has over thirty years of clinical experience with clients across the lifespan with complex communication and medical disorders along with years of teaching experience. Dr. Hill is the Executive Director/Clinical Supervisor and a co-founder of the AAC Institute and the ICAN Talk Clinic. She has been the force behind the research and development of Language Activity Monitoring (LAM) tools. Her most recent study entitled “Reliability of brain-computer interface language sample transcription procedures” appears in the current issue of the Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development.
Dr. Hill has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: she is an employee of the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Hill has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose. |
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
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Margo Broehl, Esq has been practicing law since 1977 in Wooster, Ohio. Her practice is concentrated in the areas of business, banking, estate planning, elder and probate law. She also serves as the corporate counsel for the Prentke Romich Company and has enjoyed lecturing on various topics in the disability field. She is a strong advocate for the disabled and helped propose language for the current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). She currently serves as President of the Wooster Growth Corporation and recently initiated and was successful in obtaining the first EB-5 status in the State of Ohio. This will grant immigration status to foreign investors committed to providing employment opportunities in the community.
Ms. Broehl has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: she is legal counsel for PRC. Ms. Broehl has a non-financial relationships to disclose: she is on the Broad of Trustees for the AAC Institute |
SPECIAL GUEST BCI PRESENTER
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Jane E. Huggins, PhD received her B.S. in Computer/Biomedical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon, a master’s degree in Bioengineering, a M.S.E. in Computer Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan. While working on her dissertation, she co-founded the University of Michigan Direct Brain Interface project with Dr. Simon Levine. She is currently the director of the University of Michigan Direct Brain Interface project and leader of its transition into EEG-based BCIs.
Dr. Huggins has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: she is an employee of the University of Michigan. Dr. Huggins has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose. |
ICAN TALK CLINICIANS
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Evelyn Mariperisena-Meinert, MBA, MA, CCC-SLP earned her Master’s degree in communication science and disorders at the University of Pittsburgh and specializes in AAC and bilingual speech-language disorders. She trained at the Pittsburgh VA Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Aspire Pediatric Therapies, Golden Living Center and in Pittsburgh area school districts. She is the coordinator of ICAN Talk annual AAC Summer Camp and participated in an AAC evaluation project for significantly speech-impaired children in Mallorca, Spain in 2013.
Ms. Mariperisena-Meinert has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: she is an employee of ICAN™ Talk Clinic. Ms. Mariperisena-Meinert has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose. |
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Michael O’Leary, MS, CCC-SLP holds a Master’s degree in speech-language pathology from Loyola University Maryland and a Bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. He previously worked for the Anne Arundel County Public School system in Annapolis, Maryland. He currently provides outpatient therapy at the ICAN™ Talk Clinic in downtown Pittsburgh and at the PLEA School in Wilkinsburg, which specializes in educating children with severe learning and behavioral disorders.
Mr. O’Leary has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: he is an employee of ICAN™ Talk Clinic. Mr. O’Leary has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose. |
EYE-GAZE AAC PRESENTERS
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Chip Clarke, MS CCC-SLP co-founded Assistive Technology Works, Inc. in 1997, which has evolved into an AAC equipment distributor for a variety of assistive technology and AAC products. Chip provides client and clinician support throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, and for the past 5 years has also served as consultant to Prentke Romich Company, developing their eye-gaze technologies, including the EcoPoint and NuEye systems.
Mr. Clark has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: he is an owner of Assistive Technology Works a distributor of PRC. Mr. Clark has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose. |
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Nancy Cleveland, RN is the Medical Director of LC Technologies and a nurse with more than 25 years experience in the field of eye tracking and disabilities. She began in 1988 as a member of the LC Technologies development team that created the first Eyegaze Communication System, and continues to participate in ongoing product development. She has presented over 200 workshops and lectures around the world on the use of eye-gaze systems for people with disabilities and provides extensive training and support for an international team of Eye gaze Edge experts.
Ms. Cleveland has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: she is an employee of L.C. Technologies. Ms. Cleveland has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose. |
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Dan Lipka, OT is a licensed occupational therapist with 30 years of experience in assistive technology. He has worked for Tobii for the last six years and previously for a complex rehabilitation wheelchair/seating vendor for 20 years. He is a past member of the RESNA Board of Directors.
Mr. Lipka has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: he is an employee of Tobii. Mr. Lipka has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose. |
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Darlette Navrotksi, MA, CCC-SLP is a Prentke Romich Company (PRC) regional consultant for Western Pennsylvania and Upstate New York whose role is to educate, train and support individuals who rely on AAC. Darlette has a background in Linguistics and experience in teaching English as a second language. She works with clients across the lifespan with severe communication disorders.
Ms. Navrotski has the following relevant financial relationships to disclose: she is an employee of PRC. Ms. Navrotski has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose. |
The information presented in this workshop represents the views and opinions of the individual presenters and does not constitute the opinion or endorsement of, or promotion by, the ICAN Talk Clinic of the AAC Institute or the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh or its affiliates. Reasonable efforts have been taken intending for educational subject matter to be presented in a balanced, unbiased fashion and in compliance with regulatory requirements. However, each workshop attendee must always use his/her personal judgment when considering further application of this information, particularly as it may relate to patient diagnostic or treatment decisions.
Attendees are invited to:
¨Continental breakfast ¨Morning & afternoon breaks ¨Keynote Luncheon
Workshop Registration Fee: Early bird $125 (before October 15th); $175 regular fee
Fee for individuals with disabilities, their parents and/or caregivers: $90 (per person)
Fee includes all workshop sessions, continental breakfast, benefit luncheon attendance and afternoon break.
Cancellation Policy: Up to 5 days (Oct 20th) prior to event, a 75% refund will be issued, after that no refund will be issued.
Questions regarding the workshop? Call Evelyn Meinert at 412-402-0900 or email: [email protected]
Benefit Luncheon Only: $50 donation $100 donation $200 donation
Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the Ask me why I’m not talking campaign to reverse the CMS Capped Rental Rule.
¨Continental breakfast ¨Morning & afternoon breaks ¨Keynote Luncheon
Workshop Registration Fee: Early bird $125 (before October 15th); $175 regular fee
Fee for individuals with disabilities, their parents and/or caregivers: $90 (per person)
Fee includes all workshop sessions, continental breakfast, benefit luncheon attendance and afternoon break.
Cancellation Policy: Up to 5 days (Oct 20th) prior to event, a 75% refund will be issued, after that no refund will be issued.
Questions regarding the workshop? Call Evelyn Meinert at 412-402-0900 or email: [email protected]
Benefit Luncheon Only: $50 donation $100 donation $200 donation
Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the Ask me why I’m not talking campaign to reverse the CMS Capped Rental Rule.
Fill in the application form and send it back to us by mail or e-mail
| Individual application form |
| Manufacturer application form |
| Eye-gaze_workshop hotel information |
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This course is offered for 0.75 CEUs (Intermediate Level, Professional Area)
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