Martin Pistorius and Alecia SamuelsMartin Pistorius and Alecia Samuels

30 March 200630 March 2006

Martin Pistorius and Alecia SamuelsMartin Pistorius and Alecia Samuels

30 March 200630 March 2006

What Is Augmentative And Alternative Communication?

The use of less frequently used The use of less frequently used means or modes of communication means or modes of communication to facilitate the functioning of to facilitate the functioning of people with little or no functional people with little or no functional speech in societyspeech in society

The use of less frequently used The use of less frequently used means or modes of communication means or modes of communication to facilitate the functioning of to facilitate the functioning of people with little or no functional people with little or no functional speech in societyspeech in society

Who Can Benefit From AAC?

Persons with little or no speech e.g.Persons with little or no speech e.g.severe mental or physical disabilitiessevere mental or physical disabilitiesmultiple disabilitiesmultiple disabilities

Persons with little or no speech e.g.Persons with little or no speech e.g.severe mental or physical disabilitiessevere mental or physical disabilitiesmultiple disabilitiesmultiple disabilities

Who Can Benefit From AAC?

Persons with little or no speech e.g.severe mental or physical disabilitiescongenital disorders e.g. CP, Syndromesacquired disorders e.g. stroke, Parkinson's disease

and motor neuron disease.

Persons with little or no speech e.g.severe mental or physical disabilitiescongenital disorders e.g. CP, Syndromesacquired disorders e.g. stroke, Parkinson's disease

and motor neuron disease.

Who Can Benefit From AAC?

Persons with little or no speech e.g.severe mental or physical disabilitiesmultiple disabilitiescongenital disorders e.g. CP, Syndromesacquired disorders e.g. stroke, Parkinson's disease

and motor neuron disease.

Persons with little or no speech e.g.severe mental or physical disabilitiesmultiple disabilitiescongenital disorders e.g. CP, Syndromesacquired disorders e.g. stroke, Parkinson's disease

and motor neuron disease.

Why AAC?

Communication is a human rightTHAT a person communicates is more

important than HOW he communicatesAAC provides a person with a means to

communicate and can also facilitate speech development

AAC can facilitate entrance in to literacyAAC facilitates interactions and greater

independenceAAC provides access to different

communication contexts and partners

Communication is a human rightTHAT a person communicates is more

important than HOW he communicatesAAC provides a person with a means to

communicate and can also facilitate speech development

AAC can facilitate entrance in to literacyAAC facilitates interactions and greater

independenceAAC provides access to different

communication contexts and partners

AAC Classification

AAC SystemsAAC Systems

UnaidedUnaided AidedAided

Unaided Systems

Unaided SystemsUnaided Systems

SpeechSpeech VocalizationsVocalizations Gestural SystemsGestural Systems Facial ExpressionsFacial Expressions

Natural SignsNatural Signs Sign LanguageSign Language Key word signingKey word signing

AIDED SYSTEMS

Symbols used on aided systems are perceptually graded : Real objects Least Difficult

Miniatures Parts of objects / associated objects Photographs Pictures Line drawings Traditional Orthography Most Difficult

Symbols used on aided systems are perceptually graded : Real objects Least Difficult

Miniatures Parts of objects / associated objects Photographs Pictures Line drawings Traditional Orthography Most Difficult

Technology

Aided SystemsAided SystemsReal objects, Photos, PCS, PrintReal objects, Photos, PCS, Print

Low TechnologyLow Technology Light TechnologyLight Technology High TechnologyHigh Technology

Communication boardsCommunication boardsAlphabet boardsAlphabet boards

Bracelets & NecklacesBracelets & NecklacesRemnants booksRemnants books

Dial scanDial scanDigitized VOCA’sDigitized VOCA’s

ChatboxChatboxMacawMacaw

DynamoDynamo

Synthesized VOCA’sSynthesized VOCA’sVantageVantage

PathfinderPathfinder

Non Dedicated Devices

Accessing AAC systems

Direct selectionDirect selection

Alternative - Direct selection

CAAC ACTIVITIES

We impact on the lives of individuals and families by multi-professional

training and research in:

-AAC and severe disabilities

-Early childhood intervention

-Technologies for communication

- Policy implementation

We impact on the lives of individuals and families by multi-professional

training and research in:

-AAC and severe disabilities

-Early childhood intervention

-Technologies for communication

- Policy implementation

Our mission

Core Focus Areas

Multi-professional

team

Research

Formal Training

Consultations

Assistive Technology

Informal Training

Contact us!!!

www.caac.up.ac.za

www.caac.up.ac.zaPhone: 012 420-2001Phone: 012 420-2001

Fax: 012 420-4389Fax: 012 420-4389

“Crushing the personalities of speechless individuals is very easy: just make it impossible for them to communicate freely”

Crossley & McDonald, 1984, p.142

“Crushing the personalities of speechless individuals is very easy: just make it impossible for them to communicate freely”

Crossley & McDonald, 1984, p.142