AAC Augmentative And Alternative Communication Bonnie Young Wendy Homlish AT Consultants – CLIU 21

What is AAC? Used to describe communication modes other than verbal speech Sign language Gestures Alphabet systems Symbol or picture systems

Used to describe communication modes other than verbal speech

Sign language

Gestures

Alphabet systems

Symbol or picture systems

AAC is… Aided or unaided communication modes used as a supplement to or as an alternative to oral language, including gestures, sign language, picture symbols, the alphabet, and computers with synthetic speech.

Aided or unaided communication modes used as a supplement to or as an alternative to oral language, including gestures, sign language, picture symbols, the alphabet, and computers with synthetic speech.

Augmentative Communication Any approach designed to enhance an individual’s already existing speaking skills. Not designed to replace existing communication abilities, but rather to support them.

Any approach designed to enhance an individual’s already existing speaking skills. Not designed to replace existing communication abilities, but rather to support them.

Alternative Communication Those communication approaches that are an individual’s primary means of communication. Utilized when an individual possesses no oral communication abilities.

Those communication approaches that are an individual’s primary means of communication. Utilized when an individual possesses no oral communication abilities.

AAC System An integrated group of components, including the symbols, aids, strategies, and techniques used by individuals to enhance communication

An integrated group of components, including the symbols, aids, strategies, and techniques used by individuals to enhance communication

Candidates for AAC Congenital disabilities CP Autism Mental retardation Developmental apraxia Sensory impairments Acquired neurogenic disorders Progressive disabilities Temporary structural changes

Congenital disabilities

CP

Autism

Mental retardation

Developmental apraxia

Sensory impairments

Acquired neurogenic disorders

Progressive disabilities

Temporary structural changes

Symbol Methods used for visual, auditory, and/or tactile representation of conventional concepts Can be gestures, photographs, manual sign sets/systems, printed words, objects, spoken words, Braille

Methods used for visual, auditory, and/or tactile representation of conventional concepts

Can be gestures, photographs, manual sign sets/systems, printed words, objects, spoken words, Braille

Aid A physical object or device used to transmit or receive messages Can include communication book, board, chart, mechanical or electronic device, computer

A physical object or device used to transmit or receive messages

Can include communication book, board, chart, mechanical or electronic device, computer

Strategy Specific way of using AAC aids, symbols, and/or techniques more effectively for enhanced communication. A plan that can facilitate one’s performance

Specific way of using AAC aids, symbols, and/or techniques more effectively for enhanced communication.

A plan that can facilitate one’s performance

Technique A method of transmitting messages Linear scanning, encoding, signing, natural gesturing, direct selection

A method of transmitting messages

Linear scanning, encoding, signing, natural gesturing, direct selection

Output The information AAC users transmit to communication partners Synthesized speech (computerized) Digitized speech (recorded) Hard copy print Computer screen messages

The information AAC users transmit to communication partners

Synthesized speech (computerized)

Digitized speech (recorded)

Hard copy print

Computer screen messages

Array An organized display of symbols, pictures, letters, or other information on an AT device; often in a row-column matrix

An organized display of symbols, pictures, letters, or other information on an AT device; often in a row-column matrix

Selection Techniques Direct Selection Touching, pointing, headsticks, eye gaze Scanning Circular, linear, group-item

Direct Selection

Touching, pointing, headsticks, eye gaze

Scanning

Circular, linear, group-item

Central Goal of AAC To communicate messages so users can interact in conversations Participate at school, home, work, recreational activities Establish and maintain social roles Meet personal needs

To communicate messages so users can interact in conversations

Participate at school, home, work, recreational activities

Establish and maintain social roles

Meet personal needs

Purpose of Communicative Interaction Communication of needs and wants Information transfer Social closeness Social etiquette Janice Light, 1988

Communication of needs and wants

Information transfer

Social closeness

Social etiquette

Janice Light, 1988

Message Selection Learning to Communicate vs. Communicating to Learn Factors to be considered Environments Gender Age Cognitive/linguistic levels Activities/involvement level Cultural issues

Learning to Communicate vs. Communicating to Learn

Factors to be considered

Environments

Gender

Age

Cognitive/linguistic levels

Activities/involvement level

Cultural issues

Messages Should Be… Age appropriate Fun and motivating Purposeful and meaningful Natural and useful to the activity Promote active and natural participation in the activity Generic and reusable

Age appropriate

Fun and motivating

Purposeful and meaningful

Natural and useful to the activity

Promote active and natural participation in the activity

Generic and reusable

Messages… Promote communication – not activity sequencing skills Have high frequency of occurrence Driven by the individual Continually updated and revised

Promote communication – not activity sequencing skills

Have high frequency of occurrence

Driven by the individual

Continually updated and revised

Participation Model Academic Participation Competitive Active Involved None

Academic Participation

Competitive

Active

Involved

None

How do we know which is best? Feature match Team involvement SETT Framework

Feature match

Team involvement

SETT Framework

Fixed Display Symbols and items on board are in a fixed location Number of items varies Must typically use a variety of fixed displays to accommodate communication needs Compensate for limitations with levels, encoding

Symbols and items on board are in a fixed location

Number of items varies

Must typically use a variety of fixed displays to accommodate communication needs

Compensate for limitations with levels, encoding

Dynamic Displays Computer screens with visual symbols that , when activated, automatically change the screen to a new set of symbols

Computer screens with visual symbols that , when activated, automatically change the screen to a new set of symbols

Including the Student Who Uses AAC Structure the environment to support communication Proper positioning Access to AAC Access to partners Involvement in motivating activities Respond to the individual’s communication attempts Confirm the intended message

Structure the environment to support communication

Proper positioning

Access to AAC

Access to partners

Involvement in motivating activities

Respond to the individual’s communication attempts

Confirm the intended message

Including the Student… Ensure shared focus of attention Provide opportunities for communication Wait and provide enough time to communicate Model appropriate use of AAC

Ensure shared focus of attention

Provide opportunities for communication

Wait and provide enough time to communicate

Model appropriate use of AAC

No Tech Solutions (Unaided) Gestures Body language Eye gaze Manual signing

Gestures

Body language

Eye gaze

Manual signing

Low Tech Solutions Manual communication board/book Single message vocal output communication devices PECS vs. PCS

Manual communication board/book

Single message vocal output communication devices

PECS vs. PCS

Mid-Tech Solutions Multiple message vocal output communication systems, including: TechTalk Message Mate Speak Easy

Multiple message vocal output communication systems, including:

TechTalk

Message Mate

Speak Easy

High Tech Solutions Dynavox products (DV4, MT4, MightyMo) Dynamic display Categorical Dynasyms vs. PCS Pathfinder/Vanguard/ Vantage Fixed/Dynamic Display Semantic Compaction - MinSpeak

Dynavox products (DV4, MT4, MightyMo)

Dynamic display

Categorical

Dynasyms vs. PCS

Pathfinder/Vanguard/ Vantage

Fixed/Dynamic Display

Semantic Compaction - MinSpeak

Remember: “ Incidental teaching episodes are brief, positive, and oriented towards COMMUNICATION rather than language-teaching, per se.”

Partner Characteristics Communication Interaction Style Adults Tend to dominate the interactions Preempt the student’s or young child’s turn Don’t give students or young children time to formulate messages Often fail to respond to student’s or young child’s initiations Often anticipate the student’s or young child’s needs and thoughts, making it unnecessary for them to communicate

Adults

Tend to dominate the interactions

Preempt the student’s or young child’s turn

Don’t give students or young children time to formulate messages

Often fail to respond to student’s or young child’s initiations

Often anticipate the student’s or young child’s needs and thoughts, making it unnecessary for them to communicate

Solutions Understand how partners can facilitate the effective use of communication through the use of: environmentally-based cues a unique, least-to-most prompt hierarchy the use of appropriate descriptive feedback

Understand how partners can facilitate the effective use of communication through the use of:

environmentally-based cues

a unique, least-to-most prompt hierarchy

the use of appropriate descriptive feedback

The Prompt Hierarchy 1. Pause 2. Open Question 3a. Partial Prompt 3b. Request for Communication (Mand) 4. Full Model * Descriptive Feedback

1. Pause

2. Open Question

3a. Partial Prompt

3b. Request for Communication (Mand)

4. Full Model

* Descriptive Feedback

“ Communicative competence is about people. It is not about computer technology, or AAC systems. Technology is just the tool , it is the people and the interactions between them that must be our main focus.” Janice Light