The Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders is pleased to host a retirement reception from 3-5 p.m., Monday, May 5 in Room 130 of the Barkley Memorial Center for Dave Beukelman, Barkley Professor of Communication Disorders.

Beukelman has had a distinguished career as an authority on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). He also teaches in the area of motor speech disorders and cleft palate. His research has focused on AAC, dysarthria and oral cancer.

“Dave’s research in augmentative and alternative communication has allowed countless individuals to communicate autonomously,” said Sherri Jones, chair of SECD. “His work continues to impact the assistive technologies for communication that are available today. His teaching and mentorship have produced generations of leaders who serve in clinics, hospitals and university settings throughout the country.”

“His impact in the field of augmentative and alternative communication has been huge,” said CEHS Dean Marjorie Kostelnik. “As a result, he has helped people communicate who otherwise would be locked in a silent world. He is driven by a simple yet powerful question: ‘Is what I’m doing today going to help people communicate?’ It has served Dave and the field quite remarkably.”