Florida State University Researchers Advance Communication for Individuals with Limited Speech
Researchers at Florida State University (FSU) are pioneering new methods to enhance communication for individuals with limited speech. Assistant Professor Dawn Sowers and Associate Professors Andrea Barton-Hulsey and Michelle Therrien, from FSU’s School of Communication Science & Disorders, are leading this initiative. Their work focuses on three key areas: making communication technology more user-friendly, expanding access to literacy instruction, and fostering social interaction and friendships. Globally, nearly 100 million people could benefit from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods, which assist individuals with conditions such as autism, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, and aphasia in expressing themselves. Sowers' research explores human-centered artificial intelligence and eye-tracking to make AAC systems adapt to users' needs, reducing the burden on individuals with motor or visual disabilities. Barton-Hulsey is developing tools for literacy assessment and instruction for children w...
