W344d, Olmsted Building
Middletown, PA 17057
Biography
Tara has worked as a licensed speech-language pathologist for the past 10 years in Missouri and Pennsylvania primarily in school-based settings. In 2020, Tara began pursuit of her PhD to investigate communication solutions for individuals with multiple disabilities and concomitant brain-based visual impairments. Tara's research and clinical experiences while completing her PhD focused on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solutions for individuals with multiple disabilities and cortical visual impairment (CVI). Specifically, Tara has focused on training communication partners such as parents, paraeducators, and peers, as well as optimal AAC system design solutions for individuals with brain-based visual impairment.
Research Interests
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for individuals with multiple disabilities
- AAC system design for individuals with cortical visual impairment (CVI)
- Communication partner training to support individuals who use AAC
Publications
Wilkinson, K. M., Elko, L., Elko, E., McCarty, T.V, Sowers, D. J., Blackstone, S. W. & Roman-Lantzy, C. (in press). An evidence-based approach to augmentative and alternative communication design for individuals with cortical visual impairment. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.
McCarty, T. V., & Light, J. (2023). "It's like a guessing game all the time:" Parent insights on barriers, supports, and priorities for children with cortical visual impairment and complex communication needs. Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
McCarty, T. V., & Miller, C.A. (2023). Reason-based recommendations from a developmental systems approach for students with needs across functional domains. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 14, 1-10.
McCarty, T. V., Sowers, D. J., Wolf, S. J., & Wilkinson, K. M. (2021). A preliminary study of the relation of visual attention to stimulus complexity and functional vision in individuals with Cortical Visual Impairment: Implications for augmentative and alternative communication. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 1-15.
McCarty, T.V. & Light, J. (2021). Supporting peer interactions for students with complex communication needs in inclusive settings: Paraeducator roles. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 1-16.
Education
Ph.D in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Penn State University)
M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology (University of Pittsburgh)
B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Penn State University)
Papers and Presentations
McCarty, T.V., & Elko, L. (2023, April). Laying a foundation for family centered and evidence based AAC interventions for individuals with cortical visual impairment and complex communication needs. [Conference Session]. AAC by the Bay Conference, San Jose, CA.
McCarty, T.V., & Sowers, D.J. (2023, February). Cortical visual impairment: Aligning AAC system design with parent perspectives and research. [Technical Session]. Assistive Technology Industry Association Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.
McCarty, T.V., Brittlebank-Douglas, S., & Pope, L. (2023, February). Four simple strategies to promote social inclusion for students who use augmentative and alternative communication. [Poster Session]. Assistive Technology Industry Association Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.
McCarty, T.V., & Miller, C.A. (2022, November). Reason-based recommendations from a developmental systems approach for students with complex needs. [Poster Session]. American Speech-Language Hearing Association Convention, New Orleans, LA.
McCarty, T.V., & Light, J.C. (2022, November). Paraeducator teletraining to offer opportunities to communicate choices to students with cortical visual impairment and complex communication needs. [Technical Session]. American Speech-Language Hearing Association Convention, New Orleans, LA.
Blackstone, S., Kingsbury, E. & McCarty, T.V. (2022, June). Impact of cortical visual impairment on communication and implications for AAC. [Conference Session]. CVI AAC Institute, The Bridge School, Hillsborough, CA.
McCarty, T.V., & Light, J.C. (2021, November). Collaborating with paraeducators to support positive peer interactions for students with complex communication needs. Poster presented at the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Convention, Washington, D.C.
McCarty, T.V., Sowers, D.J., Wolf, S.J., & Wilkinson, K.M. (2021, November). Visual attention to images of varying complexity by individuals with CVI: Considerations for AAC design. Poster presented at the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Convention, Washington, D.C.
McCarty, T.V., & Light, J.C. (2021, November). Cortical visual impairment & communication: Parent perspectives on supports and barriers related to complex needs. Poster presented at the American Speech-Language Hearing Association Convention, Washington, D.C.
McCarty, T.V., Sowers, D.J., & Wilkinson, K.M. (2021, August). The impact of stimulus complexity on visual engagement patterns in individuals with CVI.
Poster presented at the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Connect Conference, Virtual.
Blackstone, S., McCarty, T.V., Roman-Lantzy, C., Sowers, D.J., Wilkinson, K.M., & Wright-Ott, C. (2021, August). Children with CVI who use AAC: An interprofessional collaborative practice approach. Research panel presented at the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Connect Conference, Virtual.