Janice C. Light, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders

photo of Janice C. Light

Ph.D., University of Toronto, 1990

Contact Information
401H Ford Building
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-2010
Fax: 814-863-3759
jcl4@psu.edu
Courses Taught
CSD 451, Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication
CSD 462, Clinical Bases of Language Disorders
CSD 497C, Transdisciplinary Experience with People Who Use Augmentative Communication
CSD 500, Research Methods in Communication Disorders
CSD 547, Language Disorders in Children
CSD 550, Doctoral Seminar in Grant Writing
CSD 551, Assessment and Intervention in Augmentative and Alternative Communication
CSD 597A, Special Topics in AAC: Research and Clinical Issues
CSD 597B, Lab on Augmentative and Alternative Communication Technology
CSD 597C, Perspectives of Consumers Who Use AAC and their Families
CSD 597D, AAC Research and Clinical Issues
Research Interests
My research is focused on improving communication outcomes and enhancing quality of life for individuals who have significant speech and language impairments and require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) (e.g., signs, communication boards, voice output assistive technologies).
Specifically, I am involved in a series of multidisciplinary collaborative research projects designed to: (1) enhance language development for beginning communicators who require AAC; (2) improve literacy outcomes with individuals who require AAC; (3) enhance the communicative competence of people who require AAC; (4) improve employment outcomes for people who require AAC; and (5) improve the design of AAC technologies for individuals with significant speech and motor impairments.
Examples of Collaborative Projects
Improving AAC technologies for beginning communicators with significant disabilities, Improving literacy outcomes for individuals who require AAC, and Enhancing employment outcomes for individuals who use AAC. (J. Light, Principal Investigator; D. McNaughton and K. Drager, Co-Investigators). These three research projects are funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and the AAC-RERC II: The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Communication Enhancement (2003–2008). The AAC-RERC II is a virtual multicenter collaborative research center. The mission of the AAC-RERC is to improve outcomes for people who require AAC across the life span. For further information, visit the AAC-RERC Web site.
Partnerships in AAC: A graduate training program for special education teachers and speech-language pathologists to improve services and results for children from diverse backgrounds who use augmentative and alternative communication. (J. Light, Principal Investigator; D. McNaughton, K. Drager, B. Roberts, and K. Wilson, Co-Investigators). This project is designed to address the urgent need for qualified professionals who have expertise in the delivery of high quality AAC services within the school system to children who require AAC and their families. The project is a multidisciplinary grant involving collaborations between speech-language pathologists and special education teachers. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (2003–2008).
Personalized multimodal interface platform for people with severe communication disabilities. (R. Sharma, Principal Investigator; J. Light, D. McNaughton, K. Drager, Co-Investigators). This project investigates techniques to use computer vision software to recognize the movements (e.g., gestures, head movements, vocalizations) of individuals with disabilities and to use these movement patterns to control assistive technologies to improve access to communication. Funded by the Life Sciences Greenhouse of Pennsylvania (LSGPA), 2004-2005.
Enabling personalized multimodal access for people with severe communication/motor disabilities. (R. Sharma, Principal Investigator; J. Light, D. McNaughton, Co-Investigators). This project will develop, implement, and evaluate a personalized multimodal recognition system to improve access to assistive technology for people with significant speech and motor impairments. The proposed system will use multiple sensors to capture head movements, hand movements, vocalizations, and so forth, as well as adaptive software control to permit the user to use the system from a variety of positions. Adaptive software will allow the system to "learn" the user's specific behavior patterns and motions, filtering out involuntary gestures and sounds. The project is funded by the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Department of Commerce (2004–2007).
Recent Publications


Higginbotham, D. J., Beukelman, D., Blackstone, S., Bryen, D., Caves, K., DeRuyter, F., Jakobs, T., Light, J., McNaughton, D., Shane, H., & Williams, M. (2009). AAC technology transfer: An AAC-RERC report. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 25, 68-76.

Light, J. & McNaughton, D. (2009). Accessible literacy learning: Evidence-based reading instruction for learners with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other disabilities. San Diego, CA: Mayer Johnson.

Light, J., & McNaughton, D. (2009). Addressing the literacy demands of the curriculum for conventional and more advanced readers and writers who require AAC. In G. Soto & C. Zangari (Eds.), Practically speaking: Language, literacy, and academic development for students with AAC needs (pp. 217-245). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

Light, J., McNaughton, D., Weyer, M., & Karg, L. (2008) Evidence-Based Literacy Instruction for Individuals Who Require Augmentative and Alternative Communication: A Case Study of a Student with Multiple Disabilities. Seminars in Speech and Language, 29, 120–132.

Binger, C., & Light, J. (2008) The Morphology and Syntax of Individuals who use AAC: Research Review and Implications for Effective Practice. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 24, 123–138.

McNaughton, D., Rackensperger, T., Benedek, E., Krezman, C., Williams, M.B., & Light, J. (2008). "A child needs to be given a chance to succeed": Parents of individuals who use AAC describe the benefits and challenges of learning AAC technologies. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 24, 43–55.

Dattilo, J., Estrella, G., Estrella, L., Light, J., McNaughton, D., & Seabury, M. (2008). "I have chosen to live life abundantly": Perceptions of leisure by adults who use augmentative and alternative communication. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 24(1):16–28.

Finke, E.H., Light, J. & Kitko, L. (2008). A systematic review of the effectiveness of nurse communication with patients with complex communication needs: A systematic review and focus on the utilization of augmentative and alternative communication. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17, 2102–2115.

Light, J., Page, R., Curran, J., & Pitkin, L. (2007). Children's ideas for the design of AAC assistive technologies for young children with complex communication needs. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 16, 1–14.

Light, J. & Drager, K. (2007). AAC technologies for young children with complex communication needs: State of the science and future research directions. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 23, 204–216.

Lund , S. & Light, J. (2007). Long-term outcomes for individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication: Part III ­ Contributing factors. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 23, 1–15.

Binger, C. & Light, J. (2007). The effect of aided AAC modeling on the expression of multi-symbol messages by preschoolers who use AAC. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 23, 30–43.
McCarthy, J., Light, J., & McNaughton, D. (2007). The effects of internet-based instruction on the social problem solving of young adults who use augmentative and alternative communication. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 23, 100–112.
Lund , S. & Light, J. (2007). Long-term outcomes for individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication: Part II - Communicative interaction. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 23, 1–15.
 
Light, J., McNaughton, D., Krezman, D., Williams, M., Gulens, M., Galskoy, A., & Umpleby, M. (2007). The AAC Mentor Project: Web-based instruction in sociorelational skills and collaborative problem solving for adults who use augmentative and alternative communication. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 23, 56–75.
McNaughton, D., Symons, G., Light, J., & Parsons, A. (2006). "My dream was to pay taxes": The self-employment experiences of individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 25, 181–196.
Lund , S. & Light, J. (2006). Long-term outcomes for individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication: Part I - What is a "good" outcome?, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 22, 284–299.
McCarthy, J., Light, J., Drager, K., McNaughton, D., Grodzicki, L., Jones, J., Panek, E., & Parkin, E. (2006). Re-designing scanning to reduce learning demands: The performance of typically developing two-year-olds. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 22, 269–283.
Binger, C. & Light, J. (2006). Demographics of preschoolers who require augmentative and alternative communication. Language Speech and Hearing Services in Schools, 37, 200–208.
Millar, D., Light, J., & Schlosser, R. (2006) . The impact of augmentative and alternative communication intervention on the speech production of individuals with developmental disabilities: A research review. Journal of Speech Language Hearing Research, 49, 248–264.