Designing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Application for Children with Severe and Multiple Disabilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1281-1287
Author(s):  
Seul-Gi Kim ◽  
Juhye Yook
Keyword(s):  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Multiple Disabilities ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Severe And Multiple Disabilities

Instructional Strategies for People With Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities

2022 ◽  
pp. 98-113
Author(s):  
Laura Roche ◽  
Jeff Sigafoos
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Instructional Strategies ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Adaptive Behavior ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Multiple Disabilities ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Systematic Instruction ◽  
Instructional Programs ◽  
Communication Devices

Educating people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD)creates a number of challenges. One general challenge relates to identifying and successfully implementing instructional programs for developing and enhancing the person's adaptive behavior, such as teaching communication and social skills and increasing their overall level of engagement. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of three main instructional approaches that have been applied to enhance engagement and adaptive behavior functioning among people with PIMD. These approaches are (1) intensive interaction, (2) systematic instruction, and (3) assistive technology. Two case studies are included to illustrate the use of assistive technology—specifically augmentative and alternative communication devices and micro-switches—with two adolescents with PIMD. This overview and the case studies suggest that the use of systematic instructional tactics to establish functional use of assistive technology can be an effective instructional approach for people with PIMD.

Communication and Competence

2022 ◽  
pp. 94-103
Author(s):  
Jamie L. Sibole
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Educational Program ◽  
Multiple Disabilities ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Multiple Disability ◽  
Communication Needs ◽  
Implementing Strategies ◽  
Common Misconceptions

Many factors are important when planning and implementing strategies for teaching in the multiple disability/cross-categorical classroom. No two students' needs are alike; however, two areas are invariably a topic of discussion and lead many of the decisions being made in the individual's educational program: communication and presumed competence. The following chapter includes student narratives for a child with multiple disabilities as well as a child with autism spectrum disorder. Each child exhibits a significant communication delay and is considered to be non-verbal. The narratives along with strategies used to support the students have been included. Common misconceptions about augmentative and alternative communication use and presumed competence among students with significant communication needs are examined as well as research and theory concerning these areas.

Vocabulary Selection in AAC: Application of Core Vocabulary in Atypical Populations

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (12) ◽  
pp. 125-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjan van Tilborg ◽  
Stijn R. J. M. Deckers
Keyword(s):  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Multiple Disabilities ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Typically Developing Children ◽  
High Importance ◽  
Group 12 ◽  
Core Vocabulary ◽  
Language Sample

On the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Community for Special Interest Group 12, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), a community member introduced a discussion related to the selection and use of core vocabulary with students with severe intellectual or multiple disabilities. It was questioned whether or not core vocabulary determined in typically developing children was applicable to AAC intervention in these students. The present article reviewed a vast amount of language sample studies related to core vocabulary in both typical and atypical populations. It was concluded that core vocabulary is comparable for both populations in various contexts, with various communication partners, over various topics, and in various modalities of language use. Core vocabulary is thus of high importance for all AAC users, regardless of physical or intellectual disabilities.

“Knowledge is Power”: Reading, Writing, and Promoting Self-Determination among Adolescents with Multiple Disabilities

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 192-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Ruppar
Keyword(s):  
Emergent Literacy ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Multiple Disabilities ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Literacy Activities ◽  
Age Appropriate ◽  
Authentic Literacy

Emergent readers and writers with multiple disabilities, who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), require many opportunities throughout the day to engage in literacy. The quality of these literacy opportunities is important; to ensure that reading and writing are consistently motivating and students generalize skills, literacy should always serve an authentic communicative purpose. As students enter adolescence and prepare to exit high school, high-priority literacy skills should be targeted and literacy activities must be age-appropriate. This article provides an overview of emergent literacy for early communicators with multiple disabilities and explores ways that educational teams can identify authentic literacy activities for adolescents with multiple disabilities in a variety of inclusive environments.

Comparative Effects of High-Tech Visual Scene Displays and Low-Tech Isolated Picture Symbols on Engagement From Students With Multiple Disabilities

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 693-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Holyfield ◽  
Sydney Brooks ◽  
Allison Schluterman
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Visual Analysis ◽  
Multiple Disabilities ◽  
Visual Scene ◽  
Future Research ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Difference

Purpose Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an intervention approach that can promote communication and language in children with multiple disabilities who are beginning communicators. While a wide range of AAC technologies are available, little is known about the comparative effects of specific technology options. Given that engagement can be low for beginning communicators with multiple disabilities, the current study provides initial information about the comparative effects of 2 AAC technology options—high-tech visual scene displays (VSDs) and low-tech isolated picture symbols—on engagement. Method Three elementary-age beginning communicators with multiple disabilities participated. The study used a single-subject, alternating treatment design with each technology serving as a condition. Participants interacted with their school speech-language pathologists using each of the 2 technologies across 5 sessions in a block randomized order. Results According to visual analysis and nonoverlap of all pairs calculations, all 3 participants demonstrated more engagement with the high-tech VSDs than the low-tech isolated picture symbols as measured by their seconds of gaze toward each technology option. Despite the difference in engagement observed, there was no clear difference across the 2 conditions in engagement toward the communication partner or use of the AAC. Conclusions Clinicians can consider measuring engagement when evaluating AAC technology options for children with multiple disabilities and should consider evaluating high-tech VSDs as 1 technology option for them. Future research must explore the extent to which differences in engagement to particular AAC technologies result in differences in communication and language learning over time as might be expected.

The Effect of Symbol Background Color on the Speed of Locating Targets by Adults Without Disabilities: Implications for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Display Design

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. 1482-1488
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Thistle
Keyword(s):  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
The Other ◽  
Background Color ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Display Design ◽  
Line Drawings ◽  
Research With Children ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Perceptual Factors

Purpose Previous research with children with and without disabilities has demonstrated that visual–perceptual factors can influence the speech of locating a target on an array. Adults without disabilities often facilitate the learning and use of a child's augmentative and alternative communication system. The current research examined how the presence of symbol background color influenced the speed with which adults without disabilities located target line drawings in 2 studies. Method Both studies used a between-subjects design. In the 1st study, 30 adults (ages 18–29 years) located targets in a 16-symbol array. In the 2nd study, 30 adults (ages 18–34 years) located targets in a 60-symbol array. There were 3 conditions in each study: symbol background color, symbol background white with a black border, and symbol background white with a color border. Results In the 1st study, reaction times across groups were not significantly different. In the 2nd study, participants in the symbol background color condition were significantly faster than participants in the other conditions, and participants in the symbol background white with black border were significantly slower than participants in the other conditions. Conclusion Communication partners may benefit from the presence of background color, especially when supporting children using displays with many symbols.

Improving Patient Safety and Patient–Provider Communication

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1017-1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard R. Hurtig ◽  
Rebecca M. Alper ◽  
Karen N. T. Bryant ◽  
Krista R. Davidson ◽  
Chelsea Bilskemper
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care ◽  
Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽  
Health Care Team ◽  
Provider Communication ◽  
Alternative Communication ◽  
Patient Provider Communication ◽  
Acute Care Settings ◽  
Nurses Perceptions ◽  
Communication Needs ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Many hospitalized patients experience barriers to effective patient–provider communication that can negatively impact their care. These barriers include difficulty physically accessing the nurse call system, communicating about pain and other needs, or both. For many patients, these barriers are a result of their admitting condition and not of an underlying chronic disability. Speech-language pathologists have begun to address patients' short-term communication needs with an array of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies. Method This study used a between-groups experimental design to evaluate the impact of providing patients with AAC systems so that they could summon help and communicate with their nurses. The study examined patients' and nurses' perceptions of the patients' ability to summon help and effectively communicate with caregivers. Results Patients who could summon their nurses and effectively communicate—with or without AAC—had significantly more favorable perceptions than those who could not. Conclusions This study suggests that AAC can be successfully used in acute care settings to help patients overcome access and communication barriers. Working with other members of the health care team is essential to building a “culture of communication” in acute care settings. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9990962

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