2006 Conference General Sessions
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DEVELOPING AN AUGMENTATIVE ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION CLINIC

 

 

Presenter(s)

Patricia Wright

Support for People with Disabilities

243 Judd Street A-1

Honolulu HI 96817

Day Phone: 808-781-3220

Email: piwright@hula.net

 

Presenter #2

Lisa Ing
1319 Punahou
Honolulu HI 96826
Day Phone: 808-983-6063
Email: hoomana@kapiolani.org

Presenter #3

Eric Arveson
710 Green Street
Honolulu HI 96813
Day Phone: 808-523-5547
astachi@yahoo.com

Presenter #4

Liane Kajioki
1319 Punahou
Honolulu HI 96826
Day Phone: 808-983-6063
Email: hoomana@kapiolani.org


Approximately .8% - 1.2% of the population is unable to speak (Buekelman & Mirenda, 1998). This statistic would indicate that greater than 12,000 individuals need Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) services and supports in the State of Hawaii. In 2004 no comprehensive assessment and service center was-available to meet this demand. Given the remote location of Hawaii the lack of a service delivery system resulted in many individuals not having the power to communicate. In addition Hawaii serves as a medical hub for the Pacific Rim and pacific Basin, the entire region was without a service delivery structure. An AAC assessment and treatment clinic was needed; through collaboration and hard-work a clinic was established.

Kapi’olani women’s and Children’s Hospital is a comprehensive service center meeting the medical needs of the Hawaiian community. Aloha Special Technology Access Center (Aloha-STAC) trains families, teachers and therapists to work with children with disabilities through the use of adaptive devices and computer technology. These two community organizations collaborated to develop a comprehensive assessment and treatment center to meet the significant need of the Hawaiian and Pacific Rim community.

Alm & Parnes (1995) encourage a serviced delivery model that combines community-based rehabilitation centers with “Centers of Excellence.” Kapi’olani Women’s and children’s Hospital is a medical provider of excellence serving Hawai’i, the pacific Basin and the Pacific Rim. The hospital also has an excellent community-based rehabilitation department. These two strengths of Kapi’olani’s have resulted in the successful development of an AAC clinic at Kapi‘iolani

The development of the clinic required start-up funds that are currently not present within the medical community at Kapi’olani. Aloha-STAC has a history of developing services for the underserved populations in Hawaii. Through the collaborative effort of Aloha-STAC external grant funding was able to be obtained for the start-up costs of the clinic. The community funding agent was impressed by the stated need of the community and the ability of Kapi’olan-i and Aloha STAC, two established providers, to work together to deliver this service to the citizens of Hawaii. The unique texture of this project is the demonstration of how an isolated location with limited resources can work in partnership to promote quality outcomes.

The clinic has been operational for one year. This program has met the goal of providing each eligible patient with the comprehensive evaluation and follow-up treatment necessary to insure communication, utilizing AAC. The clinic is a demonstration of how communities can pool their talents and resources to promote a quality service to people in need of AAC services and supports.

This presentation will provide detailed information about how external and internal funding was utilized to develop a comprehensive a comprehensive AAC assessment clinic. In addition to developing a comprehensive assessment center this project provided parent education and training to heath and educational service providers of Hawaii to promote referrals to the AAC clinic and increase general awareness of AAC. Qualitative and quantitative data will be shared about the learning process of these endeavors. User stories and videos will demonstrate the success of this project.

References
Alm, N, & Parnes, P. (1995). Augmentative and alternative communication: Past, present and future. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedoica, 47, 165-192.

Beukelman, D. & Mirenda, P. (2000). Augmentative and alternative communication:
Management of severe communication disorders in children and adults. Baltimore, MD.
Brookes.

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