AAC Spotlight is a series of interviews. Reading about other people who are interested in AAC (augmentative-alternative communication) can help us connect with each other and share experiences and concerns. NWACS will occasionally interview people to help all of us learn more about each other and AAC.

By Molly Menzie, MS, CCC-SLP ; NWACS Contributor

reading time: 3 minutes

The views expressed in this post are that of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of NWACS. No endorsement by NWACS is implied regarding any device, manufacturer, resource, or strategy mentioned.

In the Spotlight: Alicia Alverson, MS, CCC-SLP, ATP

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Alicia Alverson, SLP (speech-language pathologist). She is the Washington state regional representative for Smartbox Assistive Technology. Alicia started working for Smartbox in November 2021. She has a passion for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) that dates back to the days before graduate school. Alicia worked with a family with a child who required a robust communication system with auditory scanning. She helped to create the system, which sparked her journey into the field of AAC. At that time she had her bachelor's degree in kinesiology. She then went on to get a degree in speech-language pathology.

Before Smartbox, Alicia worked at Providence Children's Development Institute in Portland, OR. She specialized in AAC and working with children with complex communication needs (CCNs) and complex access needs (CANs). She learned about a variety of access methods, including integrating power mobility and using environmental switches. The AAC/AT world incorporates her interests in the fields of speech, occupational, and physical therapy.

Alicia's main roles at Smartbox include:

• supporting SLPs and families with device training,

• supporting SLPs in the evaluation process,

• doing community outreach to support the needs for demos,

• troubleshooting, and

• providing implementation and assessment strategies.

When asked why she wanted to work for Smartbox, Alicia remarked that it is "a little bit of a dream job" for her. Working for Smartbox gives her the opportunity to:

• look at assistive technology (AT) at the forefront,

• be a resource for the community,

• do trainings, and

• work with families on implementation and device set-up.

She enjoys talking with members of the AAC/AT community about what they want and need. She also enjoys exploring and tinkering with AAC/AT products to best meet user's wants and needs.

​Alicia describes several characteristics and features of Smartbox's AAC products that she believes are effective for the pediatric population.

• Smartbox​ has several different symbol based communication systems with robust vocabularies.

  • SuperCore 50 and SuperCore 30 are based on core vocabulary and developmental language research. These programs provide children with access to a wide range of words with minimal navigation.

  • VocoChat is also symbol based. It uses a pragmatic based organizational system meant to help a user communicate efficiently. It does not rely on typical sentence building structure, and is not necessarily grammatical. But it allows people who may have access challenges to communicate more quickly.

  • A third program that is motivating for children is a symoji based application. It provides the ability to communicate without words!

• Other products by Smartbox for the pediatric population include:

  • learning games that support becoming familiar with the technology (such as cause and effect games, choice games, and leveled games), and

  • literacy programs (such as Look to Read and Phonics For All) that provide phonics based instruction.

Smartbox software programs are all compatible with eye gaze technology on the GridPad 12 or the GridPad 15. There are two different cameras that offer well rounded solutions for eye gaze integration.

Now the nitty gritty, the stuff the SLPs want to know about! Trialing, funding, and getting started. Trialing Smartbox products should be easier with Alicia now working in Washington. SLPs can reach out to her to set up evaluation loaner devices and receive demonstrations. Or log on to the website to request a loaner device. The waitlist is relatively short and loaner devices are available for 2-3 week trials. All Smartbox products can be funded through insurance. A funding packet is available online. The Smartbox funding team is based out of Pennsylvaina. They have a new funding coordinator who has a wealth of knowledge on funding durable medical equipment (DME).

To get in touch with Alicia, you can reach her at: ​alicia.alverson@thinksmartbox.com or (971) 277-5713.

Below are links to access the loan form and funding packet.

• ​Loan form: https://thinksmartbox.com/loan-request-form-us/

• Funding packet: https://thinksmartbox.com/funding/united-states/download-funding-packet-washington/

Thank you Alicia for taking a moment to participate in our AAC Spotlight series! We are excited to have you as part of our AAC community.

Do you have a suggestion of someone you would like to see us interview for AAC Spotlight? Let us know in a comment below or send us an email.