OVERVIEW

Background Information:

Although ISAAC has set up in its Bylaws and governance many opportunities for leadership (e.g. board membership, committee membership, committee chairmanship, Executive Committee membership) it does not have any program in place to assist in the development of leadership skills for people who use AAC.

In 2004 the Executive Director presented the need for leadership development for people who use AAC  to the ISAAC Vice President for People Who Use AAC and the President, who overwhelmingly supported efforts to identify critical individuals who use AAC to participate in the development of such a program. The Executive Director then sought input from several ISAAC members and wrote an overview of the issue.

The Executive Director, with assistance from the VP for People Who Use AAC, was invited by the Conference organizers to present this initiative at the Pittsburgh Employment Conference in August 2005, at Pittsburgh, PA, USA. She gained interest and support from several individuals who participated in this conference.  Other individuals who use AAC have also been identified as interested in a “Leadership Project for People Who Use AAC”. This area of interest was also supported as an area in which ISAAC could provide assistance in the 2005 Member Survey.

Project development tasks, as outlined below, address the following questions:

1. Who should be and is involved in moving this project forward?

2. What has been learned about leadership and leadership development from those who use AAC and have had leadership opportunities?

3. What needs to be done to assist in leadership development for people who use AAC?

4. How will this be done?

Three phases in this project have been identified:

Phase I:  Brainstorming.  Through input from people who use AAC, issues and barriers will be identified and prioritized.

Phase II:  Program Development.  Based on the first phase results a program to address this important area will be developed, along with individuals who will guide this program development.

Phase III:  Program Implementation and Evaluation: The developed program will be implemented and evaluated.