1. Augmentative and Alternative Communication

2. Communication is….. • Multi-modal, that is: • Speech/Vocalisation • Writing • Gesture • Facial Expression • Signing • Synthesised Speech • Body Language

3. 4 main purposes are fulfilled in communicative interactions • Communication of needs and wants • Information transfer • Social closeness • Social etiquette

4. Augmentative and Alternative Communication “a set of procedures and processes by which an individual's communication skills (i.e. production as well as comprehension) can be maximised for functional and effective communication”. American Speech and Hearing Association

5. AAC It involves supplementing or replacing natural speech and/or writing with • aided (e.g. picture communication symbols, line drawings, Blissymbols, and tangible objects) • and/or unaided symbols (e.g. manual signs, gestures, and finger spelling)....

6. Regardless of the mode(s) selected, AAC involves the utilization of symbols e.g. • single meaning pictures, • alphabet-based methods, and • semantic compaction to represent individual‘s communication intents

7. Symbols can be classified as: • aided or unaided • acoustic/graphic/manual/tactile • static/dynamic • iconicity/opaqueness

8. The ultimate goal of introducing an AAC system is…. • not to find a technology solution to the communication difficulty, but to enable the individual to efficiently and effectively engage in a variety of interactions.

9. Who uses AAC? Adults and children, whose speech alone is not adequate to support communication with all partners in all environments with all types of messages. • From birth i.e. Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Apraxia of speech, learning disabilities etc. • Acquired i.e. Traumatic Brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury • Progressive i.e. M.S., Parkinson’s etc.

10. A person’s use of an AAC system • Should be evaluated in tandem with other assistive technology requirements • Should utilise the optimal method of access if one is already identified • Should ‘fit’ with expectations of communication • Should always facilitate communication

11. Communicative competence • Light (1995) identified 4 key components which impact on individuals who are working towards being competent communicators: • Linguistic competence • Operational competence • Social competence • Strategic competence

12. Linguistic Competence • Provision of appropriate and sufficient information • Unambiguous communication • Efficient communication

13. Operational competence • Technical operation of the AAC device • Physical access and control • Ease of operation

14. Social Competence • Access to a range of partners • Access to a range of contexts

15. Strategic competence • “Managing” conversations: taking and yielding turns • Repair of misunderstandings • Selection of appropriate modes • Undertaking a range of communicative functions: requesting, responding, commanding

16. Communication is…. • All of the aforementioned But also depends on: • Partner support • Facilitation of the AAC user is central to developing successful communication skills

17. Classification of AAC • Aided or unaided • No tech/ low tech /high tech • Symbols: pictures/text • Language: levels/predictive text/ Minspeak • Portability: hand held/ mounted • Output: synthetic (computerised)/ recorded speech/written • Input: direct/indirect • Flexibility: dedicated/open

18. Light Tech Communication Devices See also Clare Latham: Developing and Using a communication Book. http://www.ace-centre.org.uk/index.cfm?pageid=F93E8841-3048-7290-FEFCA53EBB74035C

19. Single message devices • BigMack • AMDI Partner Plus • Big button • Chipper • Express one • Go Talk Button • Go Talk Card • Go Talk one • Talking Time postcards

20. Single message devices • No Touch talker • Little Mack • Personal Talker • Talking buttons • Talking Labels • Talking tins • Voice pods • VoiSec • Talking Pockets

21. Sequential Communicators • Step-by-steps • Big Step • Little Step • Randomizer • Sequencer • Smooth Talker • Sound shuffle • Story Sequencer

22. 2-4 Location Devices • 4Talk4 • Fl4sh • GoTalk 4 • iTalk2 • One by four • Partner plus/Four • TalkTrac

23. Interchangeable Overlay Devices • AMDi Smart 8/32/128 • AMDi Tech/Scan • Go Talk 4/9/20 • Go Talk Pocket • Go Talk Express 32 • ProxTalker

24. Interchangeable Overlay Devices • SuperTalker • Talara 32 • Tobii 32 • Quicktalker

25. Dynamic Display Devices with Recorded Speech • SpringBoard (Liberator) • M3 (Dynavox)

26. Synthesised Speech Dynamic Display Devices • V, VMax (Dynavox) • Maestro (Dynavox) • Express (Dynavox) • Tango (Dynavox)

27. Synthesised Speech Dynamic Display Devices • V Pen (Ability World) • Tellus 4 (Techcess) • Mobi 2 (Techcess) • Smart II (Techcess)

28. Synthesised Speech Dynamic Display Devices • ECO2 (Liberator) • Vantage Lite (liberator) • Vanguard (Liberator) • Chat PC

29. Synthesised Speech Dynamic Display Devices • PowerBox7 (SmartBox) • Tobii C8 (SmartBox) • Motion Tablet (SmartBox) • Papoo (SmartBox)

30. Text Based Solutions • TouchSpeak (Richard Hill) • Dynawrite (Dynavox) • LightWriter (Toby Churchill) • Alora (Techcess)