Driving research forward:
the impact of AAC user involvement in research on the AAC users, the clinician researcher, and the research itself
Presented by Megan Walsh and co-presented by Shirley Wong
Webinar Overview
Our research was about how adolescents with cerebral palsy who use alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), communicate about sexuality. The research was participatory, meaning that AAC users with cerebral palsy drove the research. For us, this meant making sure the research with the adolescents followed their lead and that they could tell us what their priorities for the research were. This also meant involving AAC users with cerebral palsy as “consumer research partners” through the whole research process. In this webinar, a clinician-researcher and an AAC user consumer research partner will share how this participatory approach impacted us and the research. We will also discuss how we evaluated our collaboration.
Throughout the webinar, we will make practical recommendations that will be useful for anyone working with AAC users, whether that be in research, clinically, or on a project.
This research was supported by the AGOSCI 2023 Annual Research Grant.
Learning outcomes
- Understand the impact AAC user involvement can make on the AAC user, the clinician or researcher, and the research or a project
- Identify some ways to evaluate how AAC user involvement is going in research or a project
- Translate some strategies from AAC user involvement in this research project to clinical skills working with AAC users
Target audience
AAC users and anyone collaborating with AAC users on things like research or a project.
Presenter
Megan Walsh
Megan Walsh is an experienced speech pathologist with a background working with people with communication support needs. Megan is doing her PhD with Deakin University and the CP-Achieve Centre for Research Excellence at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Megan’s research is about conversations about sexuality for adolescents with cerebral palsy who use AAC.
Co-presenter
Shirley Wong
Shirley is a co-researcher on Megan Walsh’s PhD research and with CP-Achieve. She has cerebral palsy and communicates using alternative and augmentative communication (AAC). Shirls has over 10 years of experience as an Advisor in Inclusive Practice delivering training on disability awareness, supporting choice and decision making, and AAC.
Webinar Details
This is a LIVE 60 minute webinar with time for Q & A, free for AGOSCI members to access.
A recording will be available to AGOSCI members afterwards.
If you do not wish for your audio or video to be recorded, please keep your camera off, mute your mic and contribute via the chat box.
Start times
NSW / ACT / VIC / TAS: 12pm
NT: 10.30am
QLD: 11am
SA: 11.30am
WA: 9am
Presenter Disclosure
Megan Walsh's PhD is funded by a scholarship from CP-Achieve at Murdoch Children's Research Institute. The consumer research partners in Megan's research, including Shirley Wong, are paid for their time. Megan received funding from CP-Achieve and AGOSCI to pay the consumer research partners.
AGOSCI Disclosure
The research presented in this webinar was supported by the AGOSCI 2023 Annual Research Grant.
AGOSCI is an independent body and does not endorse individual products or brands.
AGOSCI acknowledges the presence and contributions of all suppliers and resources available in the Australian and International AAC marketplace.
