Carole Zangari

• Doctor of Philosophy, Purdue University—West Lafayette
• Master of Education, College of New Jersey
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Pittsburgh

Carole Zangari has research and clinical interests related to the support of people who are unable to communicate effectively through speech alone due to congenital or acquired conditions. Her areas of interest are augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), assistive technology, literacy, and implementation science. A member of the MS SLP faculty since 1994, Zangari is the course director for AAC, AAC in Educational Settings, Capstone, and Directed Research. She mentors doctoral students in the area of AAC, partner training and coaching, and professional development.

Since 2014, Zangari has served as the executive director of the NSU Satellite of the UM-NSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD). The NSU CARD program provides training, consultation, technical assistance, and resource support to individuals affected by autism and the organizations that serve them. Currently, over 6,000 Broward families are registered with CARD, with many participating in the support groups, social experiences, and training experiences provided by CARD personnel.

Zangari values service to the profession and the disability community. Selected contributions are listed below.

• American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA)
  • chair of the AAC Topic Area for two annual conventions, and served on several conference program committees
  • program coordinator for two online AAC conferences
  • former coordinator of the AAC Special Interest Group
• US Society for AAC (USSAAC): Liaison to ISAAC and longtime member of the AAC Disaster Relief Committee
• International Society for AAC (ISAAC): Chair for Region 1 (USA, Spanish-speaking countries, Brazil, Canada)
• Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA): AAC Strand Advisor for annual conferences (2015-present)
• Hope for HIE: Medical Advisory Board
• The Friendship Initiative: Board of Directors
• The Nika Project: Advisory Board
• Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST): Board of Directors (several terms)
• U.S. Department of Education: Advisory Board Member for Development and Testing of a Professional Development and Telepractice Intervention to Support Family Member Use of AAC project funded by the Institute of Education Sciences

Zangari’s articles/chapters have appeared in AAC, Perspectives on AAC, The ASHA Leader, and several books. She coauthored and coedited books on AAC implementation.

• Zangari, C., & Wise, L. (2025). Teaching Early Language and Literacy and Literacy through Multimodal Expression: Elementary and Middle School Edition (TELL ME, Too). Verona, WI: Attainment Publishers.
• Zangari, C., & Wise, L. (2021). TELL ME Más: CAA en el Aula Preescolar. Verona, WI: Attainment Publishers.
• Zangari, C., & Wise, L. (2017). AAC in the Preschool Classroom: TELL ME. Verona, WI: Attainment Publishers.
• Soto, G., & Zangari, C. (2009). (Eds.) Practically Speaking: Language, Literacy, and Academic Development for Students with AAC Needs. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

Her recent collaboration with NSU alumna Erin Lozott, a multimedia course on AAC for people with autism, was commissioned by OCALI and is available online. The educational website, PrAACtical AAC was started by Zangari and the late Robin Parker in 2011. For more than 10 years, Zangari has maintained this site, posting informational articles and videos each week. It is home to the Stepping Into AAC materials, created as part of a project she led in collaboration with the Angelman Syndrome Association.