Empowering Children with Communication Limitations: A Summer Camp Experience at the University of Arkansas

Two professors from the University of Arkansas’s College of Education and Health Professions have established a research lab focused on improving the lives of individuals with communication limitations. As part of their efforts, they are hosting a free camp for children this summer. The WE CARE-sponsored camp is designed for children ages 4-10 who are Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users or candidates. The camp will take place on campus from July 8-26, running from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Children participating in the camp do not need to be experienced AAC users. They can be new users or simply children who would benefit from AAC supports. AAC devices allow individuals with limited speech to communicate by selecting photos or words on a tablet, improving interaction with family, friends, and others in various contexts.

During the camp, children will be paired with non-AAC user peers for a STEM-themed experience. Families are encouraged to sign up for all three weeks of the camp, but they must commit to at least two weeks. The camp will be staffed by students from the college’s teacher education, communication disorders, and occupational therapy programs.

The camp facilitators are Elizabeth Lorah, an associate professor in special education and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and Christine Holyfield, an assistant professor in communication sciences and disorders and a speech-language pathologist. They developed the Augmentative and Alternative Communication research lab at the U of A, focused on developing and evaluating strategies and technologies for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have limited speech, such as autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome.

For more information about the camp or to apply