Bethany Semmler | Faculty Profiles

Diplomas/Degrees

Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Science, The Ohio State University (2023)

M.A. in Speech Language Pathology, The Ohio State University (2020)

B.S. in Spanish, Missouri State University (2017)

B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Missouri State University (2017)

Licenses and Certifications

CCC-SLP - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Licensed in New York State

Personal Statement

Bethany Frick Semmler is an assistant professor at Adelphi University. She previously served as the AAC Research and Outreach Coordinator with the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (RERC on AAC) at Penn State. She graduated from The Ohio State University with her PhD in Speech and Hearing Science. She received her B.S. in Spanish and Communication Sciences and Disorders from Missouri State University and an M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from The Ohio State University. During the Masters program, Bethany was part of the Leadership in Education and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. Her research is focused on early language learning on augmentative and alternative communication, features on speech generating devices, and literacy.

Recent Courses

Communication Disorders In Children

Development Of Speech And Language

The Speech,Language And Hearing Professions

Research Interests

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) System Design and Implementation

Autism

Language Development

Literacy

Articles

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. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2025.2499504

Frick Semmler, B.J., Boster, J.B., & Bean, A (2025). Vocabulary selection and intervention implementation practices used by US SLPs who work with early symbolic communicators who use AAC. International Journal of Speech Language Pathology

Frick Semmler, B.J., Kitsmiller, H., & Bean, A (2025). Seeing into the future: Stakeholders’ accuracy predicting the vocabulary of early symbolic communicators who use AAC. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology

Frick Semmler, B.J., Faieta, J., Culter Harris, K., Mance, E., Stojkov, A., Anderson, S., Vega, O., Metzler, S., & DiGiovine, C.P. (2024, online access). Developing a training program for a personal navigation intervention for individuals with disabilities. Transportation Research Record

Frick Semmler, B.J., Bean, A.F., & Wagner, L. (2024). Examining core vocabulary with language development for early symbolic communicators. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 26(1), 28-37 DOI: 10.1080/17549507.2022.2162126

Culter Harris, K., Frick Semmler, B.J., Anderson, S., Mance, E., Stojkov, A., Metzler, S., & DiGiovine, C.P. (2024). Innovative solutions to support individuals with disabilities accessing public transportation: A case study. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology Journal, 36(4), 285-294. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400435.2024.2305977

Frick Semmler, B.J. & Bean, A (2023). Vocabulary selection and implementation in vocabulary interventions for speech generating devices: A scoping review. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups

Frick, B.J., Bean, A., & Sonntag, A. (2023). Multicultural considerations in augmentative and alternative communication. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology Journal, 35(5), 434-450.

Frick, B.J., Boster, J.B., Thompson, S. (2023). Animation in AAC: Previous research, current availability, and future potential. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology Journal, 35(4), 302-311

Mills, M.T., Moore, L.C., Chang, R., Kim, S., & Frick, B. (2021). Perceptions of black children’s narrative language: A mixed-methods study. Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools.