Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology in the Inclusion Classroom

Who Needs Augmentative Communication?

Children with Cerebral Palsy

Children with Autism

Children with Apraxia

Children who are learning English

Children with language delays

The Goals of Augmentative Communication

Increase the quantity of communication

Increase the quality of communication

Circles of Communication

5. Other people inthe environment

4. Paid associates

3. Acquaintances

2. Close Friends

1. Immediate Family

What is Augmentative Communication?

Assistive technology

Supports verbal communications

Receptive language

Expressive language

What is Assistive Technology?

Devices and aids which can help a person with a disability.

Communication SkillsLinguistic

Social

Operational

Strategic

Teaching Augmentative Communication

Aided Language Stimulation

PECS

Supported Reading

Social Scripts

Communication Circles

Using the Techniques to Help All Children

Universal language

Strategies for linguistic competence

Strategies for social competence

Strategies for emerging literacy Phonic awarenes Print awareness

Strategies for reading and writing

Strategies for linguistic competence

Categorization

Describing games

Symbol sequencing

Barrier games

Initial letter games

Practice questions

Assisted Scanning and closed-ended questions

Strategies for Social Competence

Social scripts

Vocabulary for social closeness

Topic setter notebooks

Facial Expression Game

Software List - Samples

Social Skills

Social Strategies for Students with Autism

Strategies for Emerging Literacy

Symbols for pre-readers

Symbols as support for text

Adapted books increase participation

Strategies for ReadingTechnology for support of phonics

Rhyming activitiesMaking Words

Increasing reading independence

Related reading activitiesBook talkGuess the covered word/cloze activities

• Perfect for children who rely on gross motor control rather than their fine motor control.

Using Page Turners with Books

Reading Books on the Computer

• Students have access to the entire classroom library electronically.

• Book shelves can be accessed using one or two switch scanning or with a mouse so all students can read independently.

Reading Books on the Computer

Magnetic Letters

Students match letters to copy or create words

Magnetic letters are backed with foam and easy to grasp as well as light weight.

Copying familiar names, sight words and high frequency words help children to feel successful.

Strategies for Writing

Adapted keyboards

Providing writing structures

Writing with symbols/pictures

1. Communication Boards

Boards in different areas of the classroom with

Picture Communication Symbols from Mayer-Johnson.

2. Eye Gaze

Eye gaze to communicate; from one word responses to full sentences and ideas.

3. “Low Tech” Story Boards and PECS

4. Big Mac Switch

Big Mac switch used for communicating short or repetitive messages.

5. Step-By-Step

Step by Step device used to record up to 7 sequential

messages on 3 separate channels.

6. TechSpeak

With enough room for

8 - 32 messages

7. Very High Tech: Communication Devices

Using the Mini-Mercury…

Mini Mercury Examples

8. The Newest in “High Tech”

Similar to Palm Pilot

Dynamic: screens change

Easy to program: can be synched with a computer

Switches to Scan and Access Information

Single Switch

Joy stick

HeadlightString Switch:Easily accessed by a light pull of the string

Magnetic Recordable Button

Spinner It is easy to attach a switch to this spinner, making it possible to activate with a light touch. 

The spinner makes it possible for students who have difficulty flipping a card over or manipulating a deck of cards to play games with greater ease.

Classrooms frequently work with Adaptive Design Association to create adaptive furniture for the classroom.

Adaptive Furniture

The height of the desk is perfect for students in wheelchairs or wooden chairs.

Extra storage is perfect for switches and other adaptive equipment.

Links to Home

Teachers can send home recordable devices with a slot

for a picture. Easy to record and send home to relay events that

happened in school.

A small camera is attached to a bear that can be sent home to

take pictures and then sent back to school to share with friends

and teachers.