Journal 8

 

AAC, also known as Augmentative and Alternative Communication, incorporates all forms of communication that are used to express thoughts, needs or wants excluding oral speech. As humans, we all use AAC through facial expressions, gestures, or even write. AAC is used to help those with severe speech or language problems communicate their vital needs.

There are different categories of AAC which include no tech, low tech and high tech devices. No tech is a form of natural communication which includes gesturing, eye communication or sign language. This should be administered and translated by someone close to the child to identify the problem or want at hand.

Low tech is the use of physical materials such as pointing to particular pictures or the use of speech output systems. An example of a low tech device would be a communication board. Communication boards have familiar pictures of people, words, objects, symbols and numbers with words printed on top of the picture. The boards, pictured on the right, resemble large cards, folders, or books. The way the child communicates his or her thought is by looking at the picture/symbol, pointing with their fingers, or using a pointer stick. This could be used in the classroom to get by with asking or answering basic questions.

High Tech AAC devices can be activated by a pointer stick, body part, eyes, or an infrared light pointing tool. The child can select his or her option by turning on a switch on the device. Once the option is selected by the child, the high tech device can generate computer speech by the particular selection. An example of a high tech device would be DynaVox M3 displayed to the right. This device is primarily utilized by children and uses a voice output transmission. They have a dynamic display screen that includes a tracker system, touch screen, and scanning. It has word prediction and spelling that can initiate conversations, questions, and expression of feelings. This device is primarily used for those children just discovering their journey to speech output. This could be used in the classroom when there is an art project, group work, or for any verbal communication amongst the student’s peers. The digitized speech sounds are much more natural sounding which makes the transition of public use easier on the student.

The primary goal for children with special needs would be their inclusiveness into the general education population and the ease of being able to access their appropriate communication aids. One resource I found that would be most helpful in achieving this would be the Profiler Mounting System for AAC devices. This piece of hardware allows its users to mount their device to just about everything and anything. It has special tubing that is formulated to maneuver the device any which way. This hardware system fits with just about any communication device available on the market.

A software that I found very useful for those who have trouble speaking or can not speak at all was called EZ Keys by Words +. With its time saving and easy to use software, EZ Keys includes a dual word prediction and abbreviation expansion. This system learns your speaking patterns and adapts it to future use. For example, it displays a list of the last four to  five words used in conjunction with the previous word. Teachers could use this device in the classroom for those children who have a hard time participating or being involved in class activities. It allows them to stay up to pace with the rest of the children without feeling left out or disadvantaged.

I commented on Lindsey and Kara's Journal 8