Simplifying Evaluations For AAC Apps & Devices: Tools & Resources Debby McBride, MS, CCC-SLP

1. Simplifying Evaluations For AAC Apps & Devices: Tools & Resources Debby McBride, MS, CCC-SLP

2. Financial disclosure • Relevant financial and • Relevant nonfinancial relationships or lack thereof

5. Focus becomes – “which one do we choose”

6. A Systematic Approach for AAC Evaluations ACESModule Augmentative Communication Evaluation Simplified

7. Communication needs/barriers *

8. Individual who needs AAC

9. Toolkit List

12. Who is the person?

13. How do we engage all? Ask the right questions . • What does the communicator need/want/ DESIRE to say? • Who, Where, When, with WHOM? • What are the communicator’s skills / abilities? • What are their language /linguistic abilities and needs? • Which device features match these skills and needs? • How does one make the “best choice for the best voice?

14. Reference AAC Evaluations and New Mobile Technologies: Asking and Answering the Right Questions by Debby McBride • Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 9-16 • April 2011

15. Question #1 • What does the communicator needs/want/DESIRE to say? • Communication Functions (WHY ?) • FUNctional communication – what is motivating to them? • Behaviors . . . . . What are they communicating?

16. Communication needs/barriers *

18. Question #2 • When • Where • With whom? • (don’t forget the Why) • Don’t forget the FUNctional

19. Other resources • SETT framework – Joy Zabala • Every Move Counts – Jane Korsten • AAC TechConnect (Tools/Resources) • Others . . . .

20. Question #3 • What are the communicator’s skills and abilities? • Communication level (emerging, context dependent, independent) • Summary receptive skills • Current expressive communication modes • Sensory • Vision • Hearing • Physical abilities • Fine motor • Gross motor • Alternate Access

22. * Emerging * Context or Partner Dependent * Independent

23. Access / modification Direct select: touch, swipe, keyguard, pointer, stylus, Headpointer / headmouse Eye gaze Joystick, mouse, trackball Morse code Scanning Wheelchair controls (caution)

24. The Evaluation Toolkit – “Stuff”

25. The Evaluation Toolkit – “Stuff”

27. Toolkit List

28. Miscellaneous items

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

30. Cause-effect items

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

32. Question #4 • What are the language / linguistic needs? • Simple • Predictable TO . . . . . . . . • Generative • Formulation thoughts and ideas

33. Question #5 • What are the device functions and features required?

35. Dynamic Displays • I “stuff” (iPad, iPod, iTouch, etc.) . .. • Android, Windows Tablet, Convertible tablet

36. Evaluate language representation options w/demo software Tobii Communicator DynaVox Semesterware PRC PASS Software Words + SayItSAM & EZ keys

37. TouchChat Lite MyTalk Tools Mobile Lite SoundingBoard SonoFlex Lite

38. Question #6 • How does one make the “best choice for the best AAC voice?”

39. What do they need?

40. 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

43. 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

44. Categories of AAC Devices / Apps

45. Digitized Devices (examples only – not all inclusive)

46. Dynamic Display

48. SoundingBoard