I thought I would start this journal out with a little bit of humor. It's week 6 and I am feeling a little worn out. I have mixed emotions about taking this class... on one hand I am SO glad that I taking it when I don't have any other classes to worry about, but on the other hand, I am craving some R & R. My summer is flying by and I know that I only have 1 week of summer free from classes. I worry that I am wearing myself out for fall semester, but I guess it's too late to worry about that now. I SO need a vacation!

I noticed that part of our instructions for the week were written in red. It didn't take Mrs. McComas long to figure out that we underestimated the time it took us to finish week 5. Everyone had their booty in gear this week, though. I was really concerned about doing another library search this week. It took alot of time to find 5 articles last week. But since I got some advice on how to obtain full text from the library, my work was much easier. I knocked most of that assignment out early on, although I didn't email it to the list until Thursday. Why? Heck, I don't know. I can't explain my ways. I also did my peer reviews early on. They were relatively easy becauase there are no right or wrong answers. It wasn't easy to do "constructive criticism" as it were. I would much rather say "Hey that's great" and go on. By I did try really hard to write things that would be beneficial to the author. I don't know if I succeeded, but I tried. The reading and prompt also didn't take up too much time this week. I am still lurking on my email list. It's been quite interesting, I must say. Last week some guy with Cerebral Palsy emailed the group and wanted to know if anybody else with CP was a virgin besides him. He was also expressing his desire to have a sexual relationship, yada, yada, yada... His email title was "Sexual Issue Clean." It was amazing to see the different responses he received. Some were outraged that he would even ask something like that on a professional list, while others encouraged him that the list was a place where he could look for support. It has almost been comical. I was taken back a little for a couple of reasons. First of all, I was expecting such a question to be brought up. It didn't offend me, just surprised me. Secondly, I thought the email list was about AAC devices and their users. While I know that this guy is a device user, I wasn't quite seeing how it fit in. The emails have finally died down, but I noticed that nobody ever answered his question. They were quick to give advice, but not an answer. So obviously I decided that this wasn't the week to make a posting. :) I am still working on my 2 genres. I did write one journal entry tonight, but like everything else, I think it needs some revising. It's kind of hard to write an entry that you would find in someone's personal journal because I am not making it her very first entry...I tried to make it an addition to the saga she has already started so to speak. Plus, I am still trying to put myself in her shoes.... remembering what life was like when I was 13 and then taking away the ability to speak. I still can't imagine. So I still have 1 genre left to do before Sunday midnight. Hopefully I will get that done Saturday night. (My dad's birthday is Sunday, so I am sure that we will be celebrating!) Plus, Andrea and I will be living together for a month (we are moving in Sunday) We are housesitting while my best friend and her husband are in Bilouxi, MS. It's gonna be a party on the West side. We will have to invite the class over for a stress relief party :) And there won't be any trampolines.......Andrea will have to push me down the steps if she wants me to tear the ligament in my other knee!! :) And this Tuesday, we are engaging in the Karaoke tradition.....7pm at Johnny's!! So get out your party hats.......

Anyway, I think I have done okay this week. I am getting a little nervous because we are down to 4 weeks. I need to get some energy pills. I am trying to predict what our assignments will be next week. I have a few ideas, so it will be interesting to see if I am right.

Resource: Academic Search Elite

Keywords: AAC Devices

Fallon, Karen A., Light, Janice C. & Paige, Tara Kramer (2001). Enhancing Vocabulary

Selection for Preschoolers Who Require Augmentative and Alternative. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 10, 81-95. Retrieved July 17, 2002, from the World Wide Web: http://search.epnet.com

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Resource: Academic Search Elite

Keywords: AAC Devices

Rackensperger, Tracy. (2000). Growing Up with AAC. ASHA Leader, 5, 4-6. Retrieved July 17, 2002, from the World Wide Web: http://search.epnet.com

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Resource: Academic Search Elite

Keywords: AAC Devices

Angelo, Dianne H. & Parette, Howard P. (1996). Augmentative and Alternative Communication Impact on Families: Trends and Future Directions. Journal of Special Education, 30, 77-99. Retrieved July 17, 2002, from the World Wide Web: http://search.epnet.com

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Resource: ERIC

Keywords: Augmentative Communication

Carter, Mark & Maxwell, Katrina. (1998). Promoting Interaction with Children Using Augmentative Communication through a Peer-Directed Intervention. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 45, 75-96. Abstract retrieved July 17, 2002, from ERIC database.

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Resource: ERIC

Keywords: Augmentative Communication

Bashir, Anthony S. & Shane, Howard C. (1980). Election Criteria for the Adoption of an Augmentative Communication System: Preliminary Considerations. Journal of Speech and Hearing Disorders, 45, 408-414. Abstract retrieved July 18, 2002, from ERIC database.