Debby McBride, MS, CCC-SLP Presented by AAC TechConnect Inc. Lisa Bardach, MS, CCC-SLP

1. Augmentative Communication Evaluations Simplified: ACES Tools & Resources Debby McBride, MS, CCC-SLP Presented by AAC TechConnect Inc. Lisa Bardach, MS, CCC-SLP Tanya Curtis, MS, CCC-SLP Libby Rush, MS, CCC-SLP (contributions in content & resources)

4. Purpose To give people their VOICE Because we all have something to say!

5. What role do you play in giving people their voice?

6. What does Augmentative/Alternative Communication mean to you?

7. What is augmentative /alternative (AAC) communication? • Refers to the incorporation of techniques that can be used to help individuals with disabilities in general, as well as to very specialized technologies designed specifically for individuals with significant and severe disabilities. These techniques include, for example, the use of communication symbols, aids, strategies, skills, and devices designed to assist disabled individuals. (Sarah Blackstone; 1986)

8. AAC communication includes • Nonverbal • Vocalizations • * Low-tech or no-tech • * Lite-tech • * High-tech

9. Goals include: Your goals for this workshop Write 3 ( on the back of your evaluation form) *

10. Goals include: • Explain the process of obtaining an AAC tool/device • Describe tools/techniques used to determine the AAC candidate’s skill • Complete many of the components with templates provided for gathering, compiling and reporting the results. • Identify components on AAC devices such as common features and categories of devices (i.e. dynamic display, digitized, integrated, etc.) • Identify local resources and consultants for trials, support, and funding assistance for AAC devices.

11. A Systematic Approach for AAC Evaluations • ACES Module Augmentative Communication Evaluation Simplified • Toolkit List • Forms for summarizing evaluation information • Individual skills • Device Features

12. ACES Module examples

13. Tools and Resourcesyou will leave with: • ACES Module (handouts & on CD) • A Toolkit List • The Communicator • Device Features • Other Considerations • Resources on CD • Handouts (including the above) • AAC device flyers • Templates • Other resources • Websites: free resources

14. Challenges you have? Why… *

15. AAC Evaluations - Challenges Availability of systematic assessment protocols Acquire premade materials/resources (vocabulary, overlays, etc) Not organized / equipment available when needed / working when needed Training ??? Knowledge??? Experience??? Keeping up with technology Overwhelming ? ? ?

16. Process – Beginning to end Person • Referral • Gathering information • Deciding on skills to assess • Choosing the “toolkit items” used • Evaluating the individual's skills (sensory, physical, language, communication functions/needs, etc.) • Summarizing individual’s skills

17. Process continued Communication Tools / Devices • Matching skills to communication tools (feature - matching) • Voice / no voice • Trialing communication tools / voice output devices • Making recommendations • Writing appropriate documentation • Completing funding paperwork as needed • Use of your equipment reps

19. Evaluation • Who are they? • What do they want to say? • Where do they want to say it? • How do they want to say it? • What are their current skills? • What technology can bridge the gap?

20. Feature Matching – Determine what the individual needs, then find the technology with the requisite features and match the technology to communicator. SDT

21. The Communicator

22. The Communicator

23. Level of communicator • Emerging • Context/Partner Dependent • Independent

24. Emerging No RELIABLE means of EXPRESSIVE communication through SYMBOLIC language • Have some functional non-verbal communication (gestures, vocalizations, other nonsymbolic communication) • Able to attend, even briefly, to individuals, conversations, pictures, or symbols • Yes/no (acceptance/rejection) depicted with body language; i.e. no reliable yes/no for more complex communication

25. Context- or Partner-Dependent Has SYMBOLIC communication that is RELIABLE but limited to particular CONTEXTS or PARTNERS • Rely on partners to provide limited response set • Need frequent instruction and cueing • Difficulty with initiation • May only be functional in particular settings • Wide range with regard to # of partners and # of settings

26. Independent (Generative) Can communicate ANYTHING on ANY TOPIC to ANYONE in ANY CONTEXT • Locate, select, and convey messages on their own • Can interact with familiar / unfamiliar partners equally well • Can sequence symbols or letters to generate novel messages

27. Scanning options • Auditory / visual • Linear / row-column / group • Step / inverse / auto • Other

28. Who is your person?

29. Video • Questions ? ? ? ? ?

30. Evaluation - What’s in your toolkit? What do you currently use?

31. Toolkit List

32. Gathering your Toolkit • Help you organize what you have - toolkit list • Help you decide what to add to your resources • Give you additional ideas for premade materials / resources • Give you additional resources you can access: • CD • AAC TechConnect- web

33. The Evaluation Toolkit Toolkit #1: Low-to Lite-tech Tools Toolkit #2: Digitized devices Toolkit #3: Computer & accessories to emulate variety of communication devices (evaluation ONLY)

34. Let look at some examples • TOOLKIT #1 – “Lite – Tech” components

35. Low-tech physical access components • Keyguard • Pointing light • Partner Assisted Scanning • Eye gaze • PECS • Positioning (motor – visual)

36. Miscellaneous items

37. Augmentative Resources

38. Switches & accessories • Variety of switches • Switch interface • Switch mount

39. Switch Mounting System

40. TOOLKIT #1continued – “Lite – Tech” components • Battery adaptor • Array of Switches • Switch Interface • Switch activated devices (toy or fan or vibrating Pillow) . . . . . • Switch Mounting system

41. Cause-effect items

42. Switch Activated Devices

43. Battery Adapter

44. Switch Interface

45. Switch Computer Application • RJ Cooper • Linda Burkhart • Marblesoft/Simtech • Judy Lynn

46. Voice output – does it make a difference ? ? ? • Single message sequential communicator • Multiple message communicators (progressive message key setups) • Consider ones with levels

47. Simple voice output –w/ sequencing capabilities • Single message communicators (Sequencers, Step-by-Step, etc.)

48. Progressive Communicator- Digitized device(s) • Start simple – 2 pictures • Add more pictures • Has levels • Direct select • Recorded speech (voice) • Uses overlays

49. Static Display Progressive Communicator

50. Simpler voice output devices Digitized Devices & Accessories