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

Financial disclosure Relevant financial and Relevant nonfinancial relationships or lack thereof

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Focus becomes – which one do we choose

A Systematic Approach for AAC Evaluations ACES Module A ugmentative C ommunication E valuation S implified 6

Communication needs/barriers 7 *

Individual who needs AAC 8

Toolkit List 9

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Who is the person?

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 communicators 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?

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

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?

Communication needs/barriers 16 *

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Question #2 When Where With whom? (dont forget the Why) Dont forget the FUNctional

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

Question #3 What are the communicators 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

* Emerging * Context or Partner Dependent * Independent

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 26

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

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

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

TouchChat Lite MyTalk Tools Mobile Lite SonoFlex Lite SoundingBoard

Question #6 How does one make the best choice for the best AAC voice?

What do they need?

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 41

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

Digitized Devices (examples only – not all inclusive) 46

Dynamic Display

SoundingBoard

Touring the 2 new vocabularies: Core Word & Basic Communication: 53 vocabularies-core-word-and-basic-communication

Autismate 54

Alexicom; page sets

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 56

Text-to-Speech (examples only – not all inclusive) 59

Narrow 30+ devices down to just a few

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Device Assistant

Trial AAC Apps Assistant & AAC Device Assistant 7 days free trial of each AADA7dayTX us and say you were in this session –

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Final Question... If device/app provided, is the communicator currently using the device optimally (or at all)? If not.... Go back to

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?

Summary Person -Centered Device Feature-Matching

Goal – Make the best choice for the best voice. HOPE YOU > > >> Leave with new resources... Ideas... Perspectives....

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