Because an AAC program is highly individualized, no book, article or website will be able to answer all the questions that come up. Many issues will be unique to the particular child and that child's communication program. The following resources may be of help in answering specific AAC and communication-related questions.

• If another AAC team members cannot answer a specific question, there may be someone else within the system who can. Every community has access to an early intervention center, special education services in the school system, and an assistive technology center, all of which have been mandated by the federal government, and all of which provide services and assistance at little to no cost.
• If the query has to do with equipment, software or some other product, contacting the manufacturer or developer can be helpful. (See Hardware and software.)

Internet discussion groups are an excellent way of getting information from a variety of different types of persons who are well-versed in AAC matters, including adult AAC users, parents of children with communication impairments, AAC professionals, teachers, and others. Posting messages and engaging in an electronic dialogue with others is one way to obtain information. Another is to search the discussion group's archives for previous discussions that relate to a current issue.

The following include discussion groups that deal with AAC and communication-related issues.

• Augmentative Communication On-Line Users Group (ACOLUG) "is a listserv created to exchange ideas,information and experiences on augmentative communication by people from all over the world." The listserv and its archives can be accessed from www.temple.edu/inst_disabilities/ACOLUG/tacolug.html.

• COMMUNICATE: A Resource for Speech Professionals working with Individuals with Developmental Disabilities runs a discussion group (and archives) accessed from tor-pw1.netcom.ca/~yucatan/communicate.html.

• "Auditory Scanning ListServ" at espse.ed.psu.edu/SPLED/McN/auditoryscanning/JoinLS.html

• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) is "an interdisciplinary association for the advancement of rehabilitation and assistive technologies (AT)." Its listserv tends to be technical and encompasses all assistive technologies, and it is an excellent place to obtain specific technical information on AAC. Information on how to subscribe to RESNA's listserv and to access its archives is at www.resna.org/sigs/sig11/resnalst.htm.

• Thinking Publications runs a "Speech-Language Pathology Bulletin Board" where SLPs and other professionals post questions and anwers on AAC and related issues at www.thinkingpublications.com/board/09comm.html.

  Help me—and everyone who reads this site—by mailing your suggestions, criticisms and personal experiences to Ruth Ballinger at yaack@iname.com

  They also have one for SLPs on computer applications at www.thinkingpublications.com/
  board/12comp.html.

• Dejanews is a website "where you can read, search, participate in and subscribe to more than 80,000 discussion forums." By allowing users to search the archives of all these discussion groups, it is an excellent way to look for specific information. Dejanews' power search facility is at www.dejanews.com/home_ps.shtml.

• Contaact is a listserv specificially for kids who use AAC. Subscription information is at web.nmsu.edu/~shstuart/address.html.

The following are listings of books on AAC and communication-related issues.

• "Selected Books on Augmentative Communication and Adaptive Play" compiled by Linda J. Burkhart is located at www.lburkhart.com/sr.htm#2.

• "Augmentative and Alternative Communication Related Reference List" compiled by Dr. David R. Beukelman and Dr. Pat Mirenda at aac.unl.edu/aacinref.html.

The following are Internet websites with a strong focus on AAC and/or communication disability-related issues. They are not arranged in any particular order.

• Linda J. Burkhart's website "Technology Integration" has an excellent set of links to other websites that cover the following issues (and more):
  • Tutorials
  • Augmentative Communication
  • Online Articles and Information
  • Vendors and Products
  • Inclusive Ed
  • Specific Disabilities
  • Funding and Legal Issues
  at www.lburkhart.com/links.htm.

  Help me—and everyone who reads this site—by mailing your suggestions, criticisms and personal experiences to Ruth Ballinger at yaack@iname.com

• NET CONNECTIONS FOR COMMUNICATION DISORDERS AND SCIENCES an Internet Guide by Judith Maginnis Kuster is located at www.mankato.msus.edu/dept/
  comdis/kuster2/welcome.html. "Quick Index" includes the following (and more):
  • discussion forums and electronic newsletters
  • communication disorders and sciences library
  • speech and language disorders
  • hearing and hearing disability
  • basic foundations for communication disorders and sciences
  • commercial products and businesses related to Communication Disorders

• AAT/AUGCOM PARTNERSHIP is a partnership of individuals and organizations interested or involved in augmentative communications and other alternative-assistive technology at:

  

• THE NICHOLS COMMUNICATOR III PROJECT makes available for free the full design of an electronic communication device which you can build yourself. It is located at members.xoom.com/tonynich