Vita/Bio:
Dr. Patricia Politano is a speech-language pathologist and augmentative communication specialist with over 20 years experience providing community-based clinical service and over 15 years experience providing graduate level course work and presentations on assistive technology and augmentative communication. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), is a visiting clinical assistant professor at Northwestern University and complementary faculty at Rush.
Politano is the author of the “Inventory of Functional Communication”(IFC). It was developed to guide professionals in the identification of functional communication programs and is currently used by professionals at treatment centers around the world.
Internationally, Politano is actively involved in the Emerging AAC Nations Committee of the International Society for AAC (ISAAC) in order to support international efforts to establish AAC services in developing countries around the world. She has traveled to India and Singapore to work with AAC service providers on the development of communication strategies, aids, and techniques.
Service:
2008-present Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Disability and Human Development, University of IL at Chicago, Chicago, IL. Responsibilities include coordination of AAC clinical services, instructor for graduate AT/AAC coursework (including DHD 554: AAC assessment and DHD 594: Use of Mobile technology for AAC), advancement of AT Certificate Program online track.
2004-present Visiting Lecturer, Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston IL. CSD 440: Augmentative Communication (Summer Session)
1998-present Complimentary Faculty, Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL
1998-2008 Clinical Instructor, Department of Disability and Human Development, College of Health and Human Development Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
1991-present Project Coordinator for Augmentative Communication Services and Training, Assistive Technology Unit, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
