Supporting Positive Employment Outcomes for Individuals Who Use AAC

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
David McNaughton ◽  
Anthony Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Good Match ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Support Teams ◽  
Employment Success ◽  
Over Time

Abstract As a result of innovative efforts by individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and their support teams, there are growing numbers of documented cases of employment success for individuals who use AAC. We review recent research on employment and AAC and discuss three key components for obtaining and maintaining employment: (a) developing employee knowledge and skills that are valued in the workplace, (b) identifying jobs that are a good match for the skills and interests of individuals who use AAC, and (c) ensuring that needed supports are available to maintain employment success. I like to believe my transition to adulthood, independent living and employment started to happen on the day my parents learned of my diagnosis of cerebral palsy—they started taking me to therapies, and a preschool program, and to expand their expectations over time … the longer you put off educational and rehabilitation activities, the less likely it is that you will witness the things that you want …(Arnold, 2007, p.94)

Prevalence of Speech Problems and the Use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Registry-Based Study in Norway

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guro Andersen ◽  
Tone R. Mjøen ◽  
Torstein Vik
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Gross Motor ◽  
Gross Motor Function ◽  
Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Communicative Abilities ◽  
Normal Speech

Abstract This study describes the prevalence of speech problems and the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Norway. Information on the communicative abilities of 564 children with CP born 1996–2003, recorded in the Norwegian CP Registry, was collected. A total of 270 children (48%) had normal speech, 90 (16%) had slightly indistinct speech, 52 (9%) had indistinct speech, 35 (6%) had very indistinct speech, 110 children (19%) had no speech, and 7 (1%) were unknown. Speech problems were most common in children with dyskinetic CP (92 %), in children with the most severe gross motor function impairments and among children being totally dependent on assistance in feeding or tube-fed children. A higher proportion of children born at term had speech problems when compared with children born before 32 weeks of gestational age 32 (p > 0.001). Among the 197 children with speech problems only, 106 (54%) used AAC in some form. Approximately 20% of children had no verbal speech, whereas ~15% had significant speech problems. Among children with either significant speech problems or no speech, only 54% used AAC in any form.

Positioning Students with Cerebral Palsy to Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication

1990 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene R. McEwen ◽  
Lyle L. Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Communication Intervention ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Primary Position ◽  
Communication Aid

Many students who use augmentative and alternative communication have severe forms of cerebral palsy which make it necessary to consider positioning as part of their communication intervention. This paper reviews the interrelated communication and positioning needs of these students, and then proposes the wheelchair as the primary position for use of a communication aid. Guidelines for good wheelchair positioning are presented.

scholarly journals Video Visual Scene Displays With Dynamic Text: Effect on Single-Word Reading by an Adolescent With Cerebral Palsy

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 1272-1281
Author(s):  
Kelsey Mandak ◽  
Janice Light ◽  
David McNaughton
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Word Reading ◽  
Visual Scene ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Academic Vocabulary ◽  
Single Word ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Communication Devices ◽  
Single Word Reading

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the Transition to Literacy (T2L) feature within video visual scene displays (VSDs) on the single-word reading of academic vocabulary concepts (i.e., weather concepts) by a preliterate adolescent with cerebral palsy and minimal speech. Method A single-subject, multiple-probe, across-word-sets design was used to evaluate the effects of the intervention. The intervention used an augmentative and alternative communication app programmed with video VSDs embedded with hot spots with the T2L feature to teach the adolescent 12 academic vocabulary words. Results The adolescent acquired all target words successfully with only minimal exposure to the written words through the app and was able to generalize her learning to two novel tasks. Using Tau-U to evaluate the size of the observed effects, there were very large effects across all word sets. Conclusions The findings from this study demonstrate the effectiveness of the T2L feature to improve single-word reading in preliterate individuals with minimal speech. The use of video VSDs and T2L technology together may offer professionals a unique way to complement current augmentative and alternative communication devices and literacy instruction for adolescents with minimal speech who are preliterate.

Physical functionality of alternative communication resources on people with cerebral palsy: A systematic review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Rosana Carla do Nascimento Givigi ◽  
Edênia Menezes da Cunha ◽  
Jerriany Tainá Pereira de Souza ◽  
Lillian Muniz Oliveira ◽  
Solano Sávio Figueiredo Dourado
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Functional Performance ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Cochrane Collaboration ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Data Registration ◽  
The Cochrane Collaboration

BACKGROUND: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems are used by people with motor disabilities, such as those with cerebral palsy (CP). The assessment of physical functional skills is crucial for appropriately choosing the computer access tool. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to do a systematic literature review addressing the importance of the analysis of physical functional performance for the construction of specific tools to support communication. METHODS: The review followed PRISMA guidelines. We searched articles from 2009 to 2021 using three databases (PubMed, Lilacs in Portuguese, and SciELO). Three reviewers extracted the data. Registration was made to PROSPERO. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. RESULTS: We found 132 articles in the databases. First, we excluded 31 articles because they did not provide evidence for the use of alternative communication in people with CP and did not use high technology resources. We also excluded 57 duplicated articles. At the end of this first step, 44 articles were left, 38 of them were excluded because they are not clinical trials. We selected 6 articles for the final analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The systematic review had a positive impact on the precise dissemination of knowledge ensuring comparisons of interventions and articles such as assistive technology programs.

scholarly journals Experiences of Adults Living with Cerebral Palsy in Accra Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-72
Author(s):  
Christabel Tonugble ◽  
◽  
Gifty Nyante ◽  
Samuel Koranteng Kwakye ◽  
Jonathan Quartey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Health Care Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Adult Care ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Municipal District ◽  
Making Sense

Background:Cerebral palsy is a neurologic condition resulting from brain injury that occurs before cerebral development is complete. The life expectancy of children with cerebral palsy is increasing rapidly and most live into adulthood. The transition to adulthood, together with the change in roles and responsibilities, have been identified as challenges for young adults with cerebral palsy. These include health care, education, employment, independent living, and community engagement. However, there is a gap in understanding the experiences, perceptions, and needs of individuals with cerebral palsy as they transition toward adulthood. This studyTo explore the life experiences of adults living with cerebral palsy. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative study was carried out involving 6 participants recruited from the La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal District, Osu Klottey and La Dade Kotopon Municipal District in the Accra Metropolis. Semi –structured interviews were conducted with each participant, after which the interviews were transcribed and analysed using the Colaizzi method.Results: Two main themes emerged: the ‘realisation of self’ and ‘developing coping strategies to deal with living with cerebral palsy. Under the first theme, four sub-themes emerged: making sense of the condition, feeling of belongingness, self-pity and constraints from people because of the condition. The second theme generated two sub-themes: internal coping mechanisms or behaviour and external coping mechanisms.Conclusion: Adults living with cerebral palsy face different problems compared to children living with the same condition. Adults with cerebral palsy are aware and have more understanding of their condition. They have a good perception of societal attitudes towards them and also are able to develop their peculiar means of dealing with it.The study suggests the necessity to enhance support of adults living with cerebral palsy and enhance their integration into the community-based adult care from paediatric care.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document