Publications
Pope, L., Light, J., & Exton, K. (2025). Incorporating visual scene display augmentative and alternative communication supports into naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 34, 2260-2279.
Pope, L., & Light, J. (2025). Comparison of learning text vs. picture symbol AAC representations for young children on the autism spectrum. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1-13.
Holyfield, C., Pope, L., Frick Semmler, B., DeLuca, T., Zimmerman, B., Jakobs, E., & Light, J. (2025). Effect of AAC technology with embedded literacy supports on the participation of children who are emerging symbolic communicators during shared reading. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 1–13.
Pope, L., Light, J., & Laubscher, E. (2024). The effect of naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions and aided AAC on the language development of children on the autism spectrum with minimal speech: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-22.
Brittlebank, S., Light, J., & Pope, L. (2024). A scoping review of AAC interventions for children and young adults with simultaneous visual and motor impairments: Clinical and research implications. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1-19.
Laubscher, E., Light, J., & Pope, L. (2024). “You just want to be able to communicate with your child”: Parents’ perspectives on communication and AAC use for beginning communicators on the autism spectrum. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 33(2), 716-735.
Holyfield, C., Pope, L., Light, J., Jakobs, E., Laubscher, E., McNaughton, D., & Pfaff, O. (2024). Effects of an AAC feature on decoding and encoding skills of adults with Down syndrome. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 1-15.
Holyfield, C., Pope, L., Light, J., Jakobs, E., Laubscher, E., McNaughton, D., & Pfaff, O. (2023). Effects of an AAC technology decoding feature on single-word reading by individuals with Down syndrome and limited functional speech. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 32(3), 1195-1211.
Pope, L., Light, J., & Franklin, A. (2022). Black children with developmental disabilities receive less augmentative and alternative communication intervention than their white peers: Preliminary evidence of racial disparities from a secondary data analysis. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 31(5), 2159-2174.
Holyfield, C., Light, J., McNaughton, D., Caron, J., Drager, K., & Pope, L. (2020). Effect of AAC technology with dynamic text on the single-word recognition of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 22(2), 129-140.
O'Neill, T., Light, J., & Pope, L. (2018). Effects of interventions that include aided augmentative and alternative communication input on the communication of individuals with complex communication needs: A meta-analysis. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 61(7), 1743-1765.
Therrien, M. C., Light, J., & Pope, L. (2016). Systematic review of the effects of interventions to promote peer interactions for children who use aided AAC. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 32(2), 81-93.
Presentations
Pope, L. (2026, June 27). Supporting communication and participation across settings using visual scene display AAC [Keynote presentation]. Autism Research Consortium on Communication Conference in Philadelphia, PA.Pope, L., Pak, N., & Ulven Hopkins, K. (2026, November 19). Incorporating aided augmentative and alternative communication supports into naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions [Invited short course]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Indianapolis, IN.
Holyfield, C., & Pope, L. (2026, November 19). Not just faster communication: Opportunities to promote emerging language development using AI in AAC [Invited oral seminar]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Indianapolis, IN.
Brittlebank, S., & Pope, L. (2025, October 30). Literacy assessment, goal-writing, & intervention for people who need or use AAC [Virtual professional development course]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Brittlebank, S., & Pope, L. (2025, June 5). Adapting literacy instruction and assessment for AAC [Virtual professional development course]. Speech Therapy PD.
Brittlebank, S., & Pope, L. (2025, March 7). Adaptations for people who use AAC to participate in literacy assessment and intervention [Virtual education session]. Communication Sciences and Disorders Convention, Molloy University.
Pope, L., Frick Semmler, B. (2025, January). Infusing literacy supports into AAC across the developmental trajectory [Poster presentation]. Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference in Orlando, FL.
Pope, L., & Holyfield, C. (2023, July). AAC symbol representation for individuals on the autism spectrum: Is there fault in the default? [Short session]. International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Conference in Cancún, Mexico.
Pope, L., Light, J., & Laubscher, E. (2023, May). Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions and augmentative and alternative communication for children on the autism spectrum with minimal speech [Poster presentation]. International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.
Pope, L., Baker, G., & Light, J. (2025, November 20-22). Engagement during shared storybook reading for young children on the autism spectrum with minimal speech [Technical session]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Washington, DC.
Baker, G., & Pope, L. (2025, November 20-22). Literacy experiences of caregivers of pre-school aged children on the autism spectrum with minimal speech [Poster presentation]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Washington, DC.
Pope, L., & Light, J. (2024, December 5-7). Language characteristics of children on the autism spectrum with minimal speech within naturalistic AAC interventions [Oral seminar]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Seattle, WA.
Pope, L., Brittlebank, S., Holyfield, C., Light, J., Jakobs, E. (2024, December 5-7) Transition to literacy features for AAC users learning to read: Current evidence and applications [Oral seminar]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Seattle, WA.
Pope, L., & Light, J. (2023, November 16-18). Naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention including visual scene display AAC for children on the autism spectrum [Technical session]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Boston, MA.
Pope, L., Holyfield, C., DeLuca, T., Jakobs, E., Light, J., Schweizer, G., Brittlebank-Douglas, S., & McNaughton, D. (2023, November 16-18). Integrating an AAC literacy feature into shared storybook reading for children on the autism spectrum [Technical session]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Boston, MA.
Pope, L., & Light, J. (2022, November 17-19). Comparison of text vs. picture symbol AAC systems to maximize outcomes for children with ASD [Technical session]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in New Orleans, LA.
Pope, L., Light, J., & Laubscher (2022, November 17-19). Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions and AAC for children with ASD: A systematic Review [Poster presentation]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in New Orleans, LA.
Pope, L. & Light, J. (2021, November 18-20). Preliminary evidence for racial disparities in augmentative and alternative communication services [Poster presentation]. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Convention in Washington, DC. Virtual.
Graduate Theses
Rachel Rodriguez (2027). How Childhood Social Experiences of AAC Users Have Influenced Social Relationships During Adulthood. Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Auburn University.
Emily Powell (2027). Exploring the Effects of Symbol Representation Type on Vocabulary Generalization in AAC Systems. Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Auburn University.
Gracie Baker (2026). The Literacy Experiences of Caregivers of Preschool Aged Children on the Autism Spectrum with Minimal Speech. Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Auburn University.
Sarah Wren (2026). Current Practices by Speech-Language Pathologists in AAC Assessment and Intervention for Young Children on the Autism Spectrum with Minimal Speech. Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Auburn University.
Janea’ Clark (2025). The Relationship Between Race, Rural Living Status, and Access to AAC Services. Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Auburn University.
Media Outreach
Carnet, A., Raulston, T.J., & Moeyaert, M. (2025) AAC-enhanced NDBIs have potential for supporting language development of autistic children. Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention. Abstracted from: Pope, L., Light, J. & Laubscher, E. The effect of naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions and aided AAC on the language development of children on the autism spectrum with minimal speech: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55, 3078–3099.
Knapp, E. (2025, October 1). If you give a preschooler AAC…chances are their expressive language will improve! The Informed SLP. Abstracted from: Pope, L., Light, J., & Exton, K. (2025). Incorporating visual scene display augmentative and alternative communication supports into naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 34, 2260-2279.
Pope, L. (2025, July 16). Communication supports in storybook reading for children on the autism spectrum with minimal speech. ASHA Showcase on Kudos.
Fowlkes, T. (2025, January 21). Her son was denied speech therapy classes. The school didn't give her the full story. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Penrod, E. (2024, October 23). Better together: NDBIs and AAC. The Informed SLP. Abstracted from: Pope, L., Light, J. & Laubscher, E. The effect of naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions and aided AAC on the language development of children on the autism spectrum with minimal speech: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55, 3078–3099.
Frick Semmler, B. (Host). (2024, August 29). NDBIs and AAC interventions for children on the autism spectrum (No. 6) [Audio podcast episode]. In AAC Chats. RERC on AAC.
Frick Semmler, B. (Host). (2024, April 28). Racial disparities in access to AAC intervention (No. 3) [Audio podcast episode]. In AAC Chats. RERC on AAC.
Lynch, Y. (2022, October 11). AAC and the opportunity gap. The Informed SLP. Black children with complex communication needs face instructional deficits. Penn State Today. Abstracted from: Pope, L., Light, J., & Franklin, A. (2022). Black children with developmental disabilities receive less augmentative and alternative communication intervention than their white peers: Preliminary evidence of racial disparities from a secondary data analysis. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 31(5), 2159-2174.
Wagner, A. (2022, September 6). Black children with complex communication needs face instructional deficits. Penn State Today. Abstracted from: Pope, L., Light, J., & Franklin, A. (2022). Black children with developmental disabilities receive less augmentative and alternative communication intervention than their white peers: Preliminary evidence of racial disparities from a secondary data analysis. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 31(5), 2159-2174.