Choosing and usingAAC devices
- including iPadsCentral Queensland Region
Special Educators Conference
Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC)
Augmentative communication is the use of materials or techniques that supplement existing verbal abilities
Alternative communication is communication methods used by a person without any verbal ability
(Vanderheiden and Yoder, 1986)
What?Signing, symbols, iPad, computers, communication devices
When to use AAC?No age prerequisiteAs speech is developing - AAC won't stop a child talking!To support speech that is hard to understandWhen no speech has developedAs a tool for comprehensionCan still use in conjunction with low tech methods
Where?
Everywhere. Anywhere.
Who?Everyone. Anyone.
A communication disability does not just belong to the individual but belongs to the entire environment of which the individual is the focal point.
Sandwell, Communication Aids Centre, UK
What can we use?What can we use?
Low tech
Battery operated - static display
Mobile device
Dedicated SGD
How do we choose?How do we choose?
Volume
Durability
Access options
Dedicated
Support and training
Periodic table of AAC
By Kate Ahernhttp://teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com.au/
How do we choose?How do we choose?
www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/apps-and-mobile-learning/app-feature-matching-an-essential-step/
www.spectronicsinoz.com/blog/tools-and-resources/handy-aac-assessment-tools-for-you/
Before you do anything....
Team collaboration and assessment
Trial
Invest time and money
Since April 2010
Feature matching resources Voice
OutputVoice Output
Symbol Set
Symbol Set
Rate Enhancem
ent
Rate Enhancem
ent
LanguageFeaturesLanguageFeatures
Access BarriersAccess Barriers
DisplayDisplay
bit.ly/aacfeaturematching
APPraised AAC Apps
Using AACUsing AAC
AAC - sequence AAC - sequence messagesmessages
www.spectronicsinoz.com/article/101-ways-to-use-a-sequential-message-aac-device-to-access-the-curriculum-3
Let me tell you Let me tell you somethingsomething
Thinking outside Thinking outside the boxthe box
AAC - support AAC - support communication communication
partnerpartner
Access to AACAccess to AAC
Head mouse Eye gazeSwitch
Touch
Accessing AACAccessing AAC
AAC possibilitiesAAC possibilities
Switching to Switching to communicatecommunicate
http://talksense.weebly.com/switching-skills.html
Switch interfaces Switch interfaces for the iPadfor the iPad
Switch appsSwitch apps for the iPadfor the iPad
www.janefarrall.com/html/resources/switch%20accessible/Switch_Accessible_Apps_for_iPad.pdf
Switching to Switching to communicatecommunicate
What works?What works?Helping others to communicateHelping others to communicate
What works?What works?Helping others to communicateHelping others to communicate
What works?What works?Helping others to communicateHelping others to communicate
What works?What works?Helping others to communicateHelping others to communicate
What works?What works?Helping others to communicateHelping others to communicate
What works?What works?Helping others to communicateHelping others to communicate
sandpit
So What?So What?So What?So What?What?What?What?What? What next?What next?What next?What next?
facebook.com/Spectronics
twitter.com/Spectronics
Spectronics.com.au/Blog
spectronics.com.au/online
SubscriptionSubscription
Join the Spectronics team for four full-on days of immersion in the world of technologies Join the Spectronics team for four full-on days of immersion in the world of technologies
to support diverse learners!to support diverse learners!
Thank you!