AAC Assessment is holistic. Student’s abilities Current communication system – all modalities Receptive language Physical abilities Preferences Literacy Communication environments—home, school, work, leisure

Communication partners—WE NEED THEM! They have information about the student. They will be supporting the student’s current and future communication systems. Barriers to communication Internal—speech and physical impairments, cognitive impairments, learned helplessness, fear of failure External In the physical world In the attitudes and unexamined beliefs of other people

Background Information Medical Diagnosis Vision Acuity Cortical Vision Impairment Hearing History of middle ear infections Languages spoken at home

Life Domains Home Family members Languages spoken by relatives School Projects and homework Extracurricular activities Leisure activity settings: Travel? Outdoor activities? Religious activities?

Motor Skills Gross Motor Walks Independently? Walker? Crutches? Can carry device? Uses a wheelchair Manual: self propelled or partner propelled? Power chair? Mounting?

Fine Motor Can the student Write? Draw? Point with an isolated finger? Use a standard keyboard? Point with the whole hand or fist? Use a pointer? Use eye gaze to point? Size of targets Spacing of targets

Current Communication System Receptive Language Can the student understand the speech of others? Can she follow directions without gestural or contextual cues? Does he follow directions with gestural or contextual cues? Has she completed any formal language assessment?

Speech & Language Unaided Expressive Language Spoken words or word approximations Intelligibility in context? With familiar listeners With unfamiliar listeners Intelligibility when the topic is unknown? With familiar listeners With unfamiliar listeners

Speech & Language Expressive Language (cont.) Manual signs Intelligible to unfamiliar communication partners who know basic signs? Intelligible to unfamiliar communication partners?

Pre-symbolic communication Vocalizations Gestures Facial Expressions Muscle tone

ALL Behavior is Communication Tantrums Meltdowns Self injurious behaviors What is the message? I don’t want this. I want that. I’m overwhelmed. I need a break. I’m frustrated, angry, confused…

Written Language—the best AAC system ever! Reading skills Writing & spelling skills

Feature Matching Identifying the client’s strengths or needs Matching them to the features available in various AAC tools: Language representation: Text to speech (with or without word prediction) Picture symbols—PCSs, Wigit symbols, Pictographs, Symbol Stix, Pixons, Bliss Symbols Photographs Braille, Morse Code Access method: eye control, touch screen, single switch, two switches Accessories: mounting system, pointer, key guard, sun shield, carrying case

Assessment Tools Online and FREE!!! Pragmatic Profile odule-2.4-Assessment-monitoring-and- evaluation/All/downloads/m08p080c/th e_pragmatics_profile.pdf odule-2.4-Assessment-monitoring-and- evaluation/All/downloads/m08p080c/th e_pragmatics_profile.pdf Communication Matrix

Assessment Tools APPS AAC Communication Genie genie/id ?mt=8 genie/id ?mt=8 Receptive Language with Splingo

AAC Assessment Tools for Purchase Blackstone, S., & Hunt Berg, M. (2012). Social Networks: A Communication Inventory for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs and Their Communication Partners. Verona, WI: Attainment. Bloomberg, K., West, D., Johnson, H., & Iacono, T. (2009). Triple C Manual and Checklists, Revised. SCOPE: Victoria. Bruno, J. (2010). Test of Aided-Communication Symbol Performance. Pittsburgh, PA: Dynavox Mayer Johnson. Kleiman, L. (2003). Functional Communication Profile, Revised. East Moline, IL: LinguiSystems Kovach, T.M. (2009). AAC Profile: A Continuum of Learning. East Moline, IL: LinguiSystems.

Features: Speech Output Synthesized speech Allows users to generate unique spoken messages Appropriate to user’s age, gender and (in many cases) ethnicity Delivered at consistent pace and volume Doesn’t sound like a real person Digitized speech Each message is recorded individually Great for singing Happy Birthday, telling jokes, making animal noises and vocal interjections (Ahem! Ha! Doh!) Not consistent, rarely age and gender appropriate.

Features: No Speech Output Technology free means: You can drop it, throw it, get it wet! Never needs recharging! Sometimes users get more social attention and face to face interaction with tech free modes. PECS—Picture Exchange Communication System Communication book Eye gaze board Alphabetic Encoded w/ auditory scanning Picture based

Access: Switch Access Scanning methods: Automatic scanning Step scanning (with one or two switches) Inverse scanning Row column, sequential (linear), rotary, block, other Scanning mode—auditory, visual Type of switch—button style, wafer, sip and puff, pillow, squeeze, proximity, motion sensing Switch access point—hand, head, chin, foot….

Access: Alternative Pointers Stylus Hand held Head Foot Pointing Device Trackball Joystick Footmouse

Access: Head Tracking (Gesture Tracking) Camera tracks head or other body movements Click can be staying still or switch activation Requires head control (which requires some postural control)

Access: Eye Gaze Tracking Infrared light reflects off the pupils and is tracked by one or two cameras Click is by dwell or switch

Accessories