+

Alternative Methods of Communication (AAC)Jennifer LozierM.S. CCC-SLP

+What is AAC?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Augmentative- to facilitate, help along Alternative- replacing

+Why we communicate

1. Needs and wants

2. Info transfer

3. Social closeness

4. Social etiquette

+Competencies needed for use

Linguistic- receptive and expressive language skills

Operational- technical skills/maintenance

Social- conversational desire/skills

Strategic- communication repair

+Symbols

Something that stands for or represents something else

*Need to know cause and effect and concept of “same” to represent objects

+System levels

No tech- paper, gestures

Low tech- needs a battery, has a switch

Mid tech- layers of recordability, like a tape recorder

High tech- iPad, it is already programmed

+System levels

Fixed Display Type Choices on the page are presented in one, unchanging way.

No and low-tech

Dynamic Display Type Page changes when something is selected. Ex. Click “Food” and a whole new page of different foods

pops up High-tech

+

+

+

+Considerations for display

Number of items

Size

Spacing and arrangement

Orientation

+Beginning communicators

Symbolic Approaches Visual Schedule- good to give concrete meaning and to help

with transitions Basic message- very concretely attached to what it means

Choice making Teach to choose:

Elicited- “push bubble” Independent- them pushing “bubble” on their own to

indicate want Give choice making opportunities

Start with real then to partial then to pic then to symbol

+

Requesting Very basic skill Related to behavioral issues Naturalistic teaching PECS- they request items using pictures

Rejecting Most negative behaviors actually mean this Teach no, break, all done- they need a way to tell you they

don’t want the item.

Yes/no Use highly motivating and highly undesirable stimuli

+Lessonpix.com

Picture cards

Picture schedule

First-then boards

Books and stories

Motivation cards

Bingo cards

Puzzle cards

And more!

+

http://www.interactingwithautism.com/section/understanding/voices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2KF1ZfRip4 2:45