Since its inception in 1982, Laureate has been dedicated to publishing innovative software of the highest quality, specifically designed to improve the lives of children and adults with special needs. Laureate's research-based programs combine the latest linguistic theory and research with years of clinical experience, superior instructional design, digital speech, engaging graphics, and amusing a
nimation. They are noted for their integrity and effectiveness in clinical settings. Over the years, Laureate has received national recognition and many awards, including those from the Council for Exceptional Children, Johns Hopkins National Search, and the Software Publishers Association. Laureate's team of professionals is led by the company's founders, Dr. Mary Sweig Wilson and Mr. These pioneering speech-language pathologists were among the first to recognize the important contributions computer technology could make to the lives of individuals with special needs. In 1980, Wilson and Fox completed research which demonstrated that microcomputer-based language intervention programs could provide an excellent means to supplement the efforts of clinicians, teachers, and parents who work with children with language disorders, and could provide a highly cost-efficient delivery system for effective individualized language intervention. Two years later, they founded Laureate Learning Systems, and thereby began to realize their common dream of expanding the use of technology to assist people with disabilities. To date, Laureate has produced more than 60 software titles. All Laureate software is designed by professional clinicians and incorporates treatment strategies derived from contemporary theory and research. Headquartered in Winooski, Vermont, Laureate has experienced significant growth since its founding in 1982. Laureate now employs 18 people, including curriculum designers, computer programmers, computer artists and animators, and customer support personnel. Laureate's new Sterling Edition programs were developed with the assistance of grants awarded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). This "next generation" of software combines a curriculum informed by recent developments in linguistic theory, sound and visual elements designed to take advantage of advances in computer technology, and an artificial intelligence component inspired by Laureate's association with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Software Technology Branch at the Johnson Space Center.
