Maryland Tap's Logo
 July 1997
Stylized horizontal rule incorporating the State of Maryland's Flag

Announcing:

The 5th Annual
Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators
August 8-10, 1997
Sheraton Hotel, Station Square
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Entrepreneurship?

ASHA CEU Sponsor:

PennTech is approved by the CEB of A5HA to sponsor CE activities in speech & language pathology and audiology. This conference is offered for 1.2 CEUs, Various Levels, Professional AreL ASHA approval of CE sponsorship does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures. Attendees must attend all 12 hours of this conference in order to receive ASHA CEUs.

The Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators PEC@ `97

The Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators (PEC@ `97) presents two and a half days of interdisciplinary meetings/workshops focusing on the employment of individuals who use or may benefit from augmentative communication.

PEC@ `97 will feature academic and practical presentations about employment for professionals, augmented communicators and their families. The theme of this year's Conference will be "Entrepreneurship?" Augmented communicators and their families will interact with each other and with well-known scholars, clinicians, government officials and theorists to understand issues surrounding employment. They will, at the same time, be building a network of community support and understanding.

There will also be workshops and presentations on supported employment as a model for augmented communicators, natural supports for getting and holding a job, presenting one's self, designing a business card, acquiring skills needed for employment, and a host of other professional and family topics.

PEC@ `97 is sponsored by SHOUT (Support Helps Others Use Technology), a non- profit organization. Its mission is the study of and advocacy for the employment of people who rely on augmentative communication.

Co-Sponsors include:

S.H.O.U.T. would like to thank the National Institute for Disability Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the United States Department of Education for its help on many levels through its Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC).

The Wichita RERC - A joint program of the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas and the Wichita State University, College of Engineering The RERC on Powered Mobility at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Health

and Rehabilitation Sciences The RERC on Augmentative Communication, which is a program of the Applied Sciences and Engineering Laboratories of the University of Delaware The RERC on Rehabilitation, Technology, and Vocational Rehabilitation, South Carolina Rehabilitation

Registration Information

Conference Registration

Registration includes:

Friday and Saturday lunches, Sunday continental breakfast, conference packet, and a copy of the Proceedings. Conference badges will be issued when participants check in at the registration desk. The registration desk will be open each day at 8:00 a.m. Presentation of the "Joe" Award, Sunday August 10, 1997,9:00 a.m. Conference registration does not include hotel accommodations.

Hotel Accommodations

A block of rooms is being held in the name of the Pittsburgh Employment Conference at the Sheraton Hotel Station Square. A special room rate has been secured for attendees. Please make hotel reservations direcdy by calling the Sheraton Hotel Station Square at 412- 261-2000. Be sure to indicate that you are attending the Pittsburgh Employment Conference to receive the discounted rate. There are a limited number of wheelchair accessible rooms available, so please indicate your need for an accessible room or other special services or equipment. Wheelchair accessible rooms will be reserved on a first- come, first-served basis.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR RESERVATION BY JULY 16,1997.

Wheelchair accessible rooms are also available in other hotels in the downtown Pittsburgh area. Call 800-934-4391, if you need additional information.

Transportation

Taxis and airport buses are available at the Pittsburgh International Airport baggage claim area to all hotels in downtown Pittsburgh. The AMTRAK station is a short subway ride to the hotel.

If you require accessible van transportation you must make your arrangements in advance. Van transportation is available from ACCESS Transportation. Call Anna Captain at 412-562-5379, before July 11, 1997. The Sheraton Hotel Station Square is accessible form 1-279 and Route 60, coming from the Pittsburgh International Airport, exiting at the West End off ramp onto Route 19. Signs to downtown Pittsburgh will direct you right to the entrance of Station Square.

From Interstate 79, take the Pittsburgh exit and follow the above directions for 1-376 eastbound.

From I- 376 westbound coming from Monroeville and PA Turnpike, exit Grant Street, turn left, go one block on Fort Pitt Boulevard and cross the Smithfield Street Bridge to Station Square.

From the Golden Triangle, take the subway over the Panhandle Bridge to Station Square.

Conference Registration Form

PEC@ Fifth Annual Conference - August 8-10, 1997

Name (please print) _________________________________

Afflliation/organization or employing agency:

_____________________________________________________

Work Address: _______________________________________
     
City/State/Zip ______________________________________

Home Address: _______________________________________
     
City/State/Zip ______________________________________

Telephone: Work _______________________

           Home _______________________

           Fax  _______________________
           
E-mail ________________________________

Accessibility Assistance:

Please check all categories that apply:

MEALS:

Additional lunch tickets may be purchased for $18.00 each at the registration desk.

SCHOLARSHIPS are available for augmented communicators. Please complete the attached scholarship application.

Conference fees will be refunded in full, with written request, by August 8, 1997. Full payment must accompany registration form. Registration fees must me paid via check or agency purchase order in U.S. dollars.

Please Make Checks Payable To: SHOUT
Mail check to:
SHOUT
P.O.Box 9666
Pittsburgh, PA 15226
1-800-934-4391

Scholarship Application

The Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators Scholarships up to $195.00, which cover the cost of registration for 3 days are available for augmented communicators. Registration includes Friday and Saturday lunches, Sunday continental breakfast and a copy of the Proceedings. Please complete the following information and return to:

SHOUT
P.O. Box 9666
Pittsburgh, PA 15226
Name (Please print):

Address:

Phone:


1. Do you have a communication disability?


2. Are you currently a client of Vocational Rehabilitation? Y N


3. Are you requesting a Full $195.00 scholarship? Y  N


If no, please indicate the amount, up to $195.00, that you are
requesting. $
1997 Pittsburgh Employment Conference For Augmented Communicators (Pec@ `97)

Schedule

Friday, August 8, 1997 First Day

9 a.m. Opening and Recognition
John L. Bernard, President of SHOUT
9:10 a.m. Special Greetings:
Gil Selders, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Colleen Haney, AAC/AT Consultant United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago
9:20 a.m. The Theme of PEC@ `97: Entrepreneurship?
Bruce R. Baker, PEC@ `97 Program Chairperson, President, Semantic Compaction Systems, Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
9:30 a.m. Why Entrepreneurship?
Robert F. Barry, Ph.D., P.E., Director, The Balester Group
9:45 a.m. The Many Types of Entrepreneurship
Kris Hass
10:10 a.m. Open Discussion
Discussion Leader: Heather Edwardson
10:25 a.m. Let's Speak Up: The Communicative Environment at the Pittsburgh Employment Conference and How to Prepare for It
Richard D. Creech, M.S.
10:50 a.m. Break
11:15 a.m. Keynote Address: Supported Employment for Workers with Communication Disabilities
Paul Wehman, Ph.D.
11:45 a.m. Open Discussion
Discussion Leader: David Chappel, B.S.
12 Noon Lunch
1:30 p.m. Getting Ready for Life's Challenges: Learning the Basics in Programming
Beth Ann Luciani
1:50 p.m. Open Discussion
Discussion Leader: Ryan Duncanwood
2:05 p.m. The Business Card Workshop
Kathryn L.J. Gerhart, MPH/MHA
Group Leaders:
Colleen Haney, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Penny Parnes, B.S.C., D.S.P.A., REG. O.S.L.A.
James Prentice, B.S.
David Yoder, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
3:05 p.m. Break
3:35 p.m. Presenting Yourself
Joyce Bender, B.S.
4:10 p.m. Discussion
Discussion Leader: Kathy Jo Pink
4:25 p.m. Women and Augmentative Communication
Panel Moderator: Carole Krezman, M.L.I.S.
Heather Edwardson, Kris Hass, Sarah Lever Jennifer Lowe, Beth Ann Luciani, Elissa Nadel, Terri Lynn Owens, Lara Parker, Kathy Jo Pink
5:15 p.m. Closing of the First Day

Saturday, August 9, 1997 Second Day

9:00 a.m. Models, Support Systems and Resources
Panel Moderator: Andrew Wesson
Susan Chase, Kathy George, David Chappel, Richard Dodds, Rick Hohn, Jeshua Lutgens
10:30a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Figuring Out the Help you Need and Don't Need to Get and Stay Employed
JoAnne Sower, Ph.D.
11:35 a.m. Discussion Leader: Jennifer Lowe, B.A.
12 Noon Lunch
1:30 p.m. Town Meeting and Distribution of Business Cards
Speaker of the House: Randy Kitch, B.A.
3:00p.m. Break
3:20 p.m. Is Entrepreneurship for You?
James Prentice, B.A.
3:50 p.m.
Discussion Leader: Michael Ryan
4:45 p.m. Closing of the Second Day

Sunday, August 10, 1997 Third Day

8 a.m. Continental Breakfast
9 a.m. Presentation of the "Joe's Award to Michael Williams, M.L.I.S. and Carole Krezman, M.L.I.S. by David Yoder, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
9:30 a.m. Family Perspectives on Employment
John Arnold, Susan Luciani, Nick Kish
10:00 a.m. Predicted Employment Patterns for the 21s Century: What are the Implications for AAC Users?
David McNaughton, Ph.D. Rachel Donohoe, B.S.
10:25 a.m. Open Discussion
Discussion Leader: Lara Parker
10:35 a.m. Taking Control of your Own Life: User Perspectives
Panel Moderator: Gustavo Estrella, B.A.
Anthony Arnold, Charles Cagler, Todd Gatewood Lee Ann Lightholder, Catherine May, James Prentice, John Pfab, Brad Sanders, David Young
11:25 a.m. Are We Oversold on the Work Ethic?
Janet Larcher, Ph.D.
11:50 a.m. Closing Ceremonies
John Bernard, MEd., CRC Bruce R. Baker, A.M.
12 Noon End of Conference

... Next Year's Conference...

August 7-9, 1998
6th Annual Pittsburgh Employment Conference for Augmented Communicators
Theme: Employment, Independence, Marriage, and Sexuality
1-800-934-4391
E-Mail: SH0UT9666@aol.com

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