Book by Billy Ogletree published on augmentative alternative communication
Billy Ogletree
As a professor of communication sciences and disorders at Western Carolina University, Billy Ogletree has special insight into and experience with speech and language.
Ogletree now has taken that knowledge and experience and put it into a newly edited book. He is lead author of “Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Challenges and Solutions,” published by Plural Press. It examines communication treatment options – which can be as simple as sign language or communication boards or may include more complex technological devices. The book includes evidence-based solutions for ready application in clinical contexts and provides tools for implementing certain strategies.
The book is expected to serve as a supplemental classroom text to illustrate challenges and solutions for students in preparing for working in communications disorder fields, as well as help inform and guide speech pathologists and other language professionals, as well as family, friends and colleagues of those with disorders.
Ogletree also is the author of “Mean Christianity: Finding Our Way Back to Christ’s Likeness,” about faith and daily commitment to others, and contributor to or co-author of numerous publications on speech, learning and language.
“I think anytime one takes on coordinating an edited volume, there are roadblocks,” Ogletree said. “A colleague said editing a book is like herding cats. For example, just getting everyone to respond in a timely manner and with some consistency in terms of proposed guidelines can be difficult. For this experience, I also think making sure the book consistently included voices of those providers of augmentative and alternative communication and their stakeholders was challenging. That said, including these voices lent incredible authenticity to the book. Simply put, hearing from users and providers gave an entirely different perspective on challenges.”
WCU’s nationally ranked Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers a bachelor’s degree in communicationsciences and disorders, and a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.
