Implementing AAC for Adults with Neurocommunication Disorders

Renee Garrett is a native of Hampton Roads, VA. She graduated with her Bachelors and her Masters, both from Old Dominion University. She worked in a variety of medical settings, providing care for adults across the lifespan with dysphagia and a variety of communication and cognitive disorders. Renee has a special interest in cognitive retraining post-TBI. She holds certification as a certified brain injury specialist from the Brain Injury Association of America and is active in educating families, friends, and patients about dysphagia, communication, and cognitive disorders. She has served the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia in several roles, including president. She is the secretary for the Communication Disorders Foundation of Virginia. Renee is the recipient of the 2023 Darden Fellow award from Old Dominion University.

Rachel Johnson, Ph.D. CCC-SLP is an associate professor of speech-language pathology at Old Dominion University with clinical research interests involving the implementation of person-centered care and augmentative and acquired communication with persons who have acquired neurogenic communication disorders. Her research investigates the cognitive and procedural aspects of learning with specific interests in the structure of practice, schedule of feedback, and motivation, focusing on optimizing communication, participation, self-efficacy, and quality of life.