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2. Augmentative Communication Evaluations:  A Toolkit Approach Debby McBride, MS., CCC-SLP Lisa Bardach, MS., CCC-SLP

3. Purpose To give people their VOICE Because we all have something to say! l

4. A Systematic Approach for AAC Evaluations • ACES Module Augmentative Communication Evaluation Simplified • Toolkit List • Forms for summarizing evaluation information • Individual skills • Device Features

5. ACES Module examples

7. Evaluation • Who are they? • What do they want to say? • Where do they want to say it? • How do they want to say it? • What are their current skills? • What technology can bridge the gap?

8. Feature Matching – Determine what the individual needs, then find the technology with the requisite features and match the technology to communicator.

9. Type of communicator • Emerging • Context/Partner Dependent • Independent

10. Emerging No RELIABLE means of EXPRESSIVE communication through SYMBOLIC language • Have some functional non-verbal communication (gestures, vocalizations, other nonsymbolic communication) • Able to attend, even briefly, to individuals, conversations, pictures, or symbols • Yes/no (acceptance/rejection) depicted with body language; i.e. no reliable yes/no for more complex communication

11. Context- or Partner-Dependent Has SYMBOLIC communication that is RELIABLE but limited to particular CONTEXTS or PARTNERS • Rely on partners to provide limited response set • Need frequent instruction and cueing • Difficulty with initiation • May only be functional in particular settings • Wide range with regard to # of partners and # of settings • May be able to generate novel utterances in specific situations

12. Independent (Generative) Can communicate ANYTHING on ANY TOPIC to ANYONE in ANY CONTEXT • Locate, select, and convey messages on their own • Can interact with familiar / unfamiliar partners equally well • Can sequence symbols or letters to generate novel messages

13. The Communicator

14. Vision / Hearing Modifications Vision modifications • Tactile • Auditory cueing • Zoom • Symbol modifications • Other Hearing • Volume access • Voice type/quality • Headphones • Other

15. Access / modification • Direct select: keyguard, pointer, stylus • Headpointer • Eye gaze • Joystick, mouse • Morse Code • Scanning

16. Current communication • Facial/body language • Point to / take / look at • Gestures / signs • Vocal / verbalizations • Board / book • Device • Other

17. Fine and gross motor Fine motor • Points • Writes • Limited (describe) Gross motor • Ambulatory • Wheelchair • Other

18. Switch access • Location of switch • Type of switch • Mount / attachment • How many switches?

19. Questions ? ? ?

20. And evaluate using a toolkit

21. Toolkit List

22. Cause-effect items

23. Switch Activated Devices

24. Switches & accessories • Variety of switches • Switch interface • Switch mount

25. Array of Switches

26. Switch Interface

27. Switch Mounting System

28. Simple voice output • Single message communicators (Sequencers, Step-by-step, etc.) • Multiple message communicators (progressive message key setup

29. Other single message voice output

30. Static Display Progressive Communicator

31. Simpler voice output devices Digitized Devices & Accessories

32. Miscellaneous items

33. “Higher Tech” • Emulate devices (large, medium, small) • Tablet notebook (touch w/finger) • Laptop computer • Desktop • Accessories • Touch Screen • Switch interface d

34. Laptop Computer, Touch Screen and AAC Software

35. Software • Emulate dynamic display devices • 3rd party software which does the following: • Make a variety of configurations of overlays and message key sizes • Able to link them together to evaluate navigation skills • Can do scanning of all types • Spelling & word prediction - optimum

36. Software for purchase- which meet previous criteria • Tobii Communicator (formerly VS Communicator) • SayIt! Sam Software • Boardmaker Plus • Speaking Dynamically Pro

37. Free software/ demos Manufacturers (some examples) • Meets all of the criteria (downloadable for free demos) • Series 5 Semesterware (DynaVox) • PASS software (Prentke Romich) • SayIt! Sam (Words+) (request CD) • Tobii Communicator (Tobii ATI)

38. Meets some of the criteria Downloadable • EZ keys (Words+) • Overboard (GUS) Request CD • Polyana (Zygo)

39. Questions about the Toolkit?

41. Symbols • Objects • COPPS • Photos • Pictures • Words • Letters • Media (video clips, etc.)

43. Alphabet boards Alphabet/Spelling • Alphabet boards • Keyboard arrangements • ABC • QWERTY • Frequency of occurrence

44. Language Representation • Single meaning pictures • Semantic Compaction • Alphabet / spelling • Visual scenes • Phrase-based • Grammar-based boards

45. Single meaning pictures

46. Semantic Compaction

47. Visual scenes

48. Phrase Based

49. Grammar - Based