Smart Predict is a novel two-tablet application developed to improve conversational efficiency for people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. The Smart Predict system consists of two distinct applications that were built for use with two Android tablets and/or phones with Bluetooth® capability. One application is referred to as the AAC User app and the second application is called the Partner app. Smart Predict integrates vocabulary supplementation from communication partners in real-time while persons who rely on AAC generate text and maintain full control to choose words within a word prediction line. Using single-case research designs with adapted alternating treatments under two counterbalanced treatment conditions (AAC User app alone versus AAC User app + Partner app), we examined message efficiency with persons who rely on switch scanning for on-screen keyboards. User experience questionnaires were administered to determine satisfaction and workload, and to provide feedback for future development efforts. Three adults with complex communication needs and motor impairments conversed with research staff about fourteen movie trailers. Characters per minute and switch selections per character produced by the person with complex communication needs and motor impairments were measured during 15-minute interviews to represent communication speed and effort. Results indicate that message efficiency increased with the dual-tablet Smart Predict, indicating faster message generation with the vocabulary supplementation system. User satisfaction increased and perceived effort decreased under the Smart Predict conditions. Given these results within a research and development framework, the Smart Predict concept is a viable feature that could be considered within smart AAC technologies.

Coaching is necessary for the successful implementation of individualized behavior support in the classroom. However, the way in which school teams engage in coaching to facilitate the implementation of individualized behavior supports has not been well described. This large-scale exploratory survey examined current coaching practices of elementary school educators implementing individualized behavior supports. Respondents described their coaching experiences with respect to frequency, type of coaching activities, type of feedback, method of feedback, tools to support coaching implementation, perceived coaching effectiveness, and obstacles to effective coaching. Results indicate wide variability in coaching practices for those receiving coaching, in addition to a disparity between ideal coaching as described in the literature and actual coaching practices in schools.

Challenging behavior is an obstacle to social-emotional competence for young children. Function-based behavior support can promote positive outcomes for children and their families, and family collaboration is an important component of successful positive behavior support programs. However, little is known about how families and educators collaborate to support young children with challenging behaviors in early childhood settings. Using qualitative inquiry, we examined family members’ and early childhood educators’ experiences with the behavior support process. Focus groups were conducted with 12 family members and 11 educators to understand how they collaborate. Our findings highlight themes related to communication and building partnerships. Based on these findings, we present a model of family–professional collaboration and a discussion of technology-supported communication tools that may facilitate successful collaboration between families and educators during the behavior support process.

Access to communication is critical for individuals with late-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and minimal volitional movement, but they sometimes present with concomitant visual or ocular motility impairments that affect their performance with eye tracking or visual brain-computer interface (BCI) systems. In this study, we explored the use of modified eye tracking and steady state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) BCI, in combination with the Shuffle Speller typing interface, for this population. Two participants with late-stage ALS, visual impairments, and minimal volitional movement completed a single-case experimental research design comparing copy-spelling performance with three different typing systems: (1) commercially available eye tracking communication software, (2) Shuffle Speller with modified eye tracking, and (3) Shuffle Speller with SSVEP BCI. Participant 1 was unable to type any correct characters with the commercial system, but achieved accuracies of up to 50% with Shuffle Speller eye tracking and 89% with Shuffle Speller BCI. Participant 2 also had higher maximum accuracies with Shuffle Speller, typing with up to 63% accuracy with eye tracking and 100% accuracy with BCI. However, participants' typing accuracy for both Shuffle Speller conditions was highly variable, particularly in the BCI condition. Both the Shuffle Speller interface and SSVEP BCI input show promise for improving typing performance for people with late-stage ALS. Further development of innovative BCI systems for this population is needed.

Background: Variables that influence orthotic and prosthetic patient outcomes beyond direct care are poorly conceptualized for orthotic and prosthetic students. Restructuring educational curricula around important clinical reasoning variables (i.e. factors that may influence outcomes) could improve teaching, learning, and clinical practice. Objectives: To propose an orthotic and prosthetic education framework to enhance the development of orthotic and prosthetic students' clinical reasoning skills. Study Design: Scoping review. Methods: We conducted a scoping review, identified variables of orthotic and prosthetic usability, and performed a qualitative thematic analysis through the lens of orthotic and prosthetic clinical educators to develop a conceptual framework for orthotic and prosthetic education. Results: Sorting of variables identified from the literature resulted in three thematic areas: (1) the state of functioning, disability, and health (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health); (2) orthotic and prosthetic technical properties, procedures, and appropriateness; and (3) professional service as part of orthotic and prosthetic interventions. The proposed orthotic and prosthetic education framework includes these three areas situated within the context of patient-centered care. Conclusions: A conceptual framework was developed from variables identified in peer-reviewed literature. This orthotic and prosthetic education framework provides a structure to explore orthotic and prosthetic clinical reasoning and advance our teaching and assessment of students' clinical reasoning skills. Clinical Relevance The proposed orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) education framework is intended to promote conversation about variables (e.g. health condition, procedures, services, and O&P principles) that influence O&P clinical practice outcomes and further advance our teaching and assessment of students' clinical reasoning skills.

Background: Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies and tools developed for individuals with chronic aphasia have been found to facilitate generative language skills. There exists a need to identify effective AAC strategies and tools for individuals experiencing primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a neurodegenerative dementia, for which compensatory treatment paradigms are yet to be systematically evaluated.Aims: To examine the treatment effects of a novel language compensation tool, CoChat, and to determine if lexical retrieval skills improve are maintained during activity retell with use of this AAC application.Methods and procedures: Six individuals with PPA participated. The study was implemented using a single-subject alternating treatments experimental design to compare lexical retrieval during activity retell in three conditions: Absence of technology support, presence of photos only, and presence of CoChat app, with photo and labels. The number of target words produced by the participant during activity retell with a conversation partner was the primary dependent variable. There were two phases of this experiment: Three conditions presented in a fixed-order and three conditions presented in a counterbalanced order. For one participant, an additional implementation of CoChat was piloted at 6- and 9-month post-intervention to examine sustained effect of CoChat during activity retell.Outcomes and results: In the fixed-order phase, results indicated a higher number of target words produced in the CoChat condition for all participants. In the counterbalanced phase, results indicated a higher number of target words in the CoChat condition for two-thirds of the participants. Maintenance probes showed same level of lexical retrieval at 6 and 9months following intervention.Conclusions: This single-case research design demonstrated that mobile technology compensatory strategies provide necessary support during natural conversations about personally relevant topics for people with PPA. CoChat, a newly developed mobile technology research app that uses social networks and an NLP engine to create a co-constructed external lexicon with visual scene display, significantly increased lexical retrieval during activity retell. Future research should further develop AAC strategies and tools that aid in maintenance of vocabulary access and communication participation for people with PPA over the course of disease progression.

As a follow-up to Horner et al., this study focuses on the internal consistency and validity of the School-wide Evaluation Tool (SET) at all school levels. Analyzing SET data from 833 elementary, 264 middle, and 93 high schools, the authors focused on (a) describing commonalities and differences in SET data across the school levels, (b) assessing the SET's internal consistency at all school levels, and (c) examining the SET's validity as the extent to which SET scores collected by external observers correlated with Team Implementation Checklist (TIC) scores reflecting internal self-assessments. Results indicated that overall, the SET performs best in elementary schools, shows less cohesion in middle and high schools, and highly correlates with TIC scores. Based on these results, the authors formulated a number of recommendations to improve the utility of SET data for research and implementation decisions across school levels and implementation phases.

The purpose of this study was to examine the technical (psychometric) adequacy of office discipline referrals (ODRs) as a behavioral assessment tool for individual student, data-based decision making within a problem-solving model. Participants were 990,908 students in 2,509 elementary schools. Students were grouped into ODR cut points of 0-1, 2-5, and 6 or more total ODRs. Descriptive analyses indicated consistent mean ODR growth trajectories for each group. Logistic regression analyses showed that intermediate cut points (1 ODR, 2 or more ODRs) were moderately accurate in predicting total ODRs received, and accuracy increased throughout the fall. Specific problem behaviors were less predictive of total ODRs, although adding specific behaviors to intermediate cut points enhanced prediction to some extent. Results are discussed in terms of using ODRs to identify students in need of intervention and monitor progress.

Office discipline referral (ODR) data provide useful information about problem behavior and consequence patterns, social-behavioral climates, and effects of social-behavioral interventions in schools. The authors report patterns of ODRs and subsequent administrative decisions from 1,510 schools nationwide that used the School-Wide Information System in 2005-2006. Sample demographics differed from key demographics for schools nationwide on school enrollment, socioeconomic status, and race and ethnicity. Descriptive analyses showed over 88% of elementary grade students with zero or one ODR for the academic year, 72% for middle schools, and 67% for high schools. ODRs were most likely to be generated from classrooms and more likely to be related to peer-directed problem behavior in elementary schools, student-adult interactions in middle schools, and tardiness and skipping in high schools. Major consequences were suspensions and detentions for middle and high school students and varied for elementary students. The discussion focuses on the utility of ODR databases and implications of the reported patterns.

Although the federal government recently mandated the use of functional behavior assessment (FBA) and positive behavioral interventions for students, this legislation has not defined the key features of FBA and has provided little guidance for how such procedures should be completed in a public school setting. As a result, recent evidence suggests that the FBAs in schools are conducted either with such a lack of rigor and logic as to be worthless or with such complexity and formality as to be unrealistic for the typical school setting. In this article, the authors provide a framework for conducting FBAs in classroom settings in typical schools. They provide an overview of the key concepts and features of FBA, describe how educators can efficiently conduct FBA in a classroom and how the results can be used to develop an individualized function-based behavior intervention plan, and make recommendations for teachers.