This is the first virtual meeting.
Agenda to be discussed but could include:

• Welcome
• Work packages:
  1. Early selection of participants and stakeholders known to HMC with collaboration from the Mada AAC forum as user participation was cited as a plus in comments from reviewers.
  2. Discuss the need for an advisory group and if so – who?
  3. Discuss need for systems to support the research and development phases as well as the actual Arabic Symbol Dictionary – Do we need a forum, blogs, a wiki and other social networking sites plus a dedicated website for the dictionary?
  4. Making Symbol Choices – Further research into available symbols sets to assess suitability, availability and development prospects – so far we only have three free choices and even these will need adaptations.
  5. Core vocabulary – select words that can be shown in each symbol set chosen as possibly being suitable for use by Arabic AAC and other symbol users. Prepare selections for participants as a series of the symbols representing similar concepts via an online portal and in print format.
  6. Gather a group of participants (AAC users, carers and stakeholders) to observe choices of symbols.  Discuss outcomes with the team and if possible have the results available as an online voting system so that we can clearly show which symbol set was the best for the users.
  7. Symbol systems ranked in order of preference with particular reference to symbols that have proved to be inappropriate – mini report of outcome.
  8. Decisions around the development of a Gulf Arabic Core Vocabulary for AAC users – how this will be achieved so that we can then start to develop the dictionary.
  9. Appointment of additional staff.
  10. AOB.  Date for next meeting.

   

Agenda

Welcome

1.  Focus group discussions taken from items 1 & 6 from last week – expectations on what can be achieved from each group – impact on timeline (April)

2. Advisory Group – Further decisions – letter to each of the advisors explaining the project and involvement as an advisor.

3. Web services – update on progress – online database for symbol comparisons.

4. Symbol choices taken from items 4 & 6 – update from the partners – impact on timeline (April).

5. Core Vocabulary taken from items 5 & 8 – Availability of Arabic vocabulary – implication of the types of words within the core vocabularies and how this affects symbol sets – impact on timeline (April)

6.  Staffing update

7. Development of a timeline for work packages once contracts in place.

8. AOB and next meeting – Doha March 15-18th, 2014.

This virtual meeting will allow us to get over the minutes from the time we had in Doha. We will be able to discuss the issues that have been arising with core vocabularies and multi-word symbols.

The planned Agenda includes

1.            Focus group

Update from Tullah regarding meetings with members of the forum since its inception.

2.            Advisory Group

Dr Sarah Parsons and Dr Chris Abbott have confirmed their acceptance as critical friends -Discussion about other possible critical friends.

3.            Discuss need for an online discussion group system for the forum

Who will be setting up the Google Group and were the forum members happy with this idea as a way of spreading news and gaining feedback.

4.            Making Symbol Choices

Discussion about the website for making symbol choices with example pages. 

5.            Staffing update

Interviews for a speech therapist/linguistics specialist.  Possible support for symbol/graphic designs

6.            Development of a timeline for work packages once contracts in place.

Are there any necessary changes to be made to the timeline – Gantt chart

1st year Gantt chart

7.            First six month report.

Mike has sent round the template – we need to discuss the main points to be included.

8.            AOB

9.            Next meeting date and time

Arabic Symbol Dictionary – Agenda May 12^th 2014,1pm Qatar time and 11am UK time

 Welcome

1. Those attending and apologies
2. Minutes of the last meeting – changes and acceptance
3. Matters arising from the minutes that do not come into the following items in the agenda such as 1st biennial report, staffing update and resources
4. Focus group and interviews for core / fringe vocabularies – Tullah/EA – issues around Arabic and English lexicons and symbol collection.
5. Advisory Group – further confirmations – need to send members a version of 1st biennial report and updates on the project
6. Mail list serve for AAC Forum participants
7. Making Symbol Choices – Symbol Manager update – link using my home email address and password which we will change after this event!  ea@emptech.info password ead123 http://symbolmanager.ecs.soton.ac.uk/symbolmanager
8. Dissemination –
   1. AAATE  workshop on Care and Technology – Holland – Poster
   2. ICCHP 2014 – Poster – Paris http://www.icchp.org/
   3. ISAAC 2014 – Portugal https://www.isaac-online.org/english/conference-2014/
   4. Arabic Natural Language Processing Workshop
      collocated with EMNLP 2014, Doha, Qatar http://www.emnlp2014.org/workshops/anlp/call.html
   5. RAATE 2014  UK – http://www.raate.org.uk/
   6. Communication Matters 2014 UK  – http://www.communicationmatters.org.uk/page/conference
9. Next Telemeeting – Phone number for Southampton #4402380593667

AAATE Workshop 2014: Education in “Care and Assistive Technology”, Heerlen, The Netherlands, May 22 and 23 2014 (The program for this workshop can be found here.)

Professionals across Europe play a critical role in the successful application of AT for people with disability. The level of their knowledge and expertise regarding Assistive Technology is therefor essential. Education is a key element in building and maintaining the required expertise.

The 2014 AAATE workshop focusses on various aspects of AT education in Europe. The inspiring program highlights best practices and seeks discussion among members of the AAATE, ISG and their colleagues.

The program of the workshop addresses education covering technology aspects regarding both Assistive Technology supporting individual end-users but also the related field of Care Technology, supporting care providers. It will cover both the application of existing technology and the development of technological innovations. It will address both primary education as well as lifelong learning. A special interest will be given to Multi-disciplinary collaboration in support of development and application of AT and CT.

The workshop is of interest for healthcare professionals, technical developers and professionals and researchers in the domains of Assistive technology and Care technology. We look forward meeting you all in Heerlen, the Netherlands.

The ISAAC Biennial Conference program offers something for everyone with an interest in AAC. Presentations feature leading edge research, and clinical and educational interventions and innovations. People who use AAC share their experiences and perspectives. Posters focus on a wide range of topics, and the Exhibition showcases new technologies or applications of technology, products and services.

People who use AAC, individuals from emerging AAC nations (BUILD) and emerging researchers are eligible for travel grants. Details on the Awards and Scholarships page.

Further information http://www.aaate.net/sites/default/files/u10/aaate2015_v7.pdf

AAATE is proud to announce the AAATE 2015 conference to be held in Budapest Congress Center with Novotel Hotel City
10 – 13 September 2015