Enhancing the Communication Skills of Students with Moderate, Severe and Multiple Disabilities. Monday March 24, 2008 Presenters: Leann Todd

Assistive Technology Devices for Augmentative Communication in the Academic Setting This document was developed by the Georgia Project for Assistive Technology, a project of the Georgia Department of Education, Division for Exceptional Students. This site was updated January 2006

Assistive Technology Devices for Augmentative Communication in the Academic Setting This document contains information on the range of assistive technology devices that can be used by augmented communicators to increase the intelligibility, complexity and accuracy of their spoken language and written language. Promotes increased productivity and independence. In most instances, students use a combination of assistive technology devices to meet their communication and language needs. The types of assistive technology devices used to support communication are determined by individual students abilities and needs as well as the required communication and language tasks across all instructional environments. Standards addressed; Phonics, Vocabulary, Writing, Listening/Speaking, Conventions. Additional information about some of the assistive technology devices referred in this document is available on the Georgia Project for Assistive Technology’s website at:

AAC Strategies Criteria for considering picture-based symbolic skills levels 1. The expressive use of pictures: Does the student understand that touching or looking at a symbol is communicative? 2. The receptive understanding of pictures symbols: Is the student able to discriminate between pictures symbols? 3. The understanding of picture symbols sequencing: Can the individual combine 2 or 3 pictures to communicate a message? 4. The understanding of categorization and association used with picture symbols: Does the student understand semantic, syntactic, and functional vocabulary categories as they relate to picture symbols? 5. The use of complex picture symbol sequencing: Can the individual use categorization and association concepts to encode language using a picture-based system?.

Literacy AAC communicators can be considered in 3 general groups. 1. Those who are preliterate, such as young children who have not yet learned to read and write. 2. Those who are nonliterate, such as individuals who are not able to read or write. Vocabulary should focus on ensuring functional communication. 3. Those who are literate. Questions to ask 1. Is the selected vocabulary functional given his/her literacy skills? 2. Is the vocabulary likely to promote learning? A functional AAC system should enable the user to initiate communication, respond and make requests. Include core ( words and phrases commonly used) and fringe (words that meet the specific communication needs and interests).

AAC Strategies Communication efficiency Selecting and organizing vocabulary is critical to the successful implementation of an AAC system. Vocabulary should be organized to promote the efficient and effective communication. Cognition and language need to be evaluated before and during the vocabulary selection process. Three common ways to organize 1. Environmental or activity based. This type of display system has proven to expand language development and creation of more complex utterance. (Going to the zoo) 2. Grammatical category display encourage the AAC user to learn language by mapping the symbols according to spoken word order and/or usage. One commonly used grammatical category strategy is the Fitzgerald key which organizes symbols from left to right into categories such as who, doing, modifiers, what, where, when and so forth with frequently used phrases and letters clustered along the top or bottom of the display. Symbols are colored coded. 3. Semantic category displays group symbols according to semantic categories such as people, locations and activities. This method is for AAC users who understand semantic categories. Visual and motor function greatly influence the organization of vocabulary. Careful consideration of color, size, spacing, area of placement, and complexity can promote the AAC’s user’s ability to see and access the display.

Types of Communication Systems Types of displays Static displays are made up of communication overlays or pages that do not change. Changing vocabulary sets requires the physical removal and/or changing of overlays, or coding or retrieve messages. Dynamic displays change based on the AAC’s user’s selections. By activating certain areas on the electronic display, the selection set can be changed to a new set of vocabulary items. Voice Output Access Methods Non-Voice OutputDirect Selection DigitizedSingle Switch SynthesizedDual/Multi Switch Scan Method Symbol Systems Visual Objects, Photographs AuditoryLine Drawings, Words Keyboard/Letters

General Tips Use everyday items to encourage use of the AAC system. Use consistent color-coding and symbols placement as a teaching strategy. You MUST know the organization of the communication system. Encourage exploration of the system. Make a plan. Know when, where, why and how. 80% is planning 20% is programming. Provide guided practice using the “Least to most” prompting hierarchy.

Use Appropriate Prompting Step 1: Natural Cue Step 2: Expectant Delay Step 3: Point Step 4: Model

Lite/Low Tech AAC Lite/Low Tech AAC devices are static-display devices that offer single and multiple messages. These devices typically use digitized (recorded) speech. Step-by Step with Levels by AbleNet TalkTrac by AbleNet 4 Compartment Scanning Communicator by Enabling Base Trainer 7-level Communication Builder by Enabling Devices BigMack & LittleMack by AbleNet CheapTalk8 By Enabling Devices Go Talk 4 Plus By Attainment HipTalk Plus By Enabling Devices iTalk 2 By AbleNet Pocket Go Talk by Attainment

AbleNet.com Go to Type in device you are looking at Many devices have step-by-step directions, manual and a video.

Step-by-Step

SuperTalker

Enabling Devices Featured Products

Lite/Low-Tech AAC SuperTalker by AbleNet Simple Communication Board Eye Gaze Board Communication Picture Schedule Object Communication Devices Take ‘n’ Talk Go Board by Enabling Devices Talking Symbols by AbleNet

Mid-Tech AAC Mid-Tech AAC Devices contain multiple levels and more possible messages for users. These devices may offer digitized (recorded) or synthesized (computerized) speech. Digicomm 2000 Tech/Talk&Tech/Speak by AMDi Tech/Scan 32 by AMDi 6-Level, 32 Message Communicator by Enabling Devices

Mid-Tech AAC L*E*O by Assistive Technology, Inc. Tech/128 by AMDi LightWRITER by Zygo Industries, Inc. Dana by AlphaSmart, Inc. Go Talk 4+TM by Attainment Company

Text-to-Speech AAC The devices contained in this category are ideal for spellers who have difficulty communicating verbally. These devices often offer features such as abbreviation expansion and word prediction. DyanWrite by DynaVox Lightwriter by Toby Churchhill LinkPlus by Assistive Technology Incorporated

High-Tech AAC High-tech AAC devices are typically dynamic display devices that offer users an almost limitless vocabulary. DynaVox M3 ChatPC 2 DynaVox V and V Max Springboard by Prentke Romich Vantage by Prentke Romich

Electronic Aids for Daily Living Electronic Aids for Daily Living are tools that assist users in the completion of everyday tasks. Battery Device Adapter by AbleNet Powerlink3 by AbleNet SwitchLatch and Timer by AbleNet

Reading The tools contained within this category can assist students with the tasks of reading, from identifying and learning individual words to listening to a book as it's read aloud. The Bookworm by AbleNet The Reading Pen by WixCom Technologies

Writing Tools to assist your struggling writers. Alpha Smart 3000 Dana by AlphaSmart NEO by AlphaSmart The Writer

Feature match TECHMATRIX.org Search by feature Assistive Technologies software

Boardmaker Top 1O New Features Go to Go to training Go to Web Classes Go to Scheduled Web Classes Click on “You’re ready!....” Scroll down to Top 10 New Features Click and register You can do a live or recorded session

Intellitools Classroom Suite 4 Curriculum Activities Templates Early Learning Writing Reading Math Intellitools Classroom Suite Go to Click on Intellitools Classroom Suite ( at the top of the page) Scroll down and click on Classroom Suite 30 day trial ( on the right side of the page) Click on Windows download. (It will take approximately 21 minutes) This is a 30 day trial. You can also order a Demo CD Intellitools activity exchange.

Intellitools Activity Exchange Activity Exchange Go to Click on activity exchange on the left hand side of the page Choose “join now” Click on “I agree to the terms of service” Fill out the form Upon completion of the form you will be sent an activation Click on the activation link in your This will take you to a congratulation page Click on the purple highlighted text “activity exchange”

Literactive

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