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“Your Words”: Bringing importance to AAC Device
gspinoso
5/31/2017 1:20 PM
Many of our students with disabilities require Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) to communicate. This can come in a various forms such as picture book, PECS, switches, tablet with communication program, and Dynovox to name a few. To others in outside community the AAC appears to be just a photo or iPad, but for our students it is their VOICE. Without AAC our students may not have other appropriate means to express themselves.
We want to empower our students to view their AAC as a respected way to communicate. Calling their AAC their “words” or “voice” may help students view their devices or PECS as communication. More importantly, others in the community may learn to respect students’ AAC as communication if we referred to the device as the students’ words or voice. Unfamiliar community members look at the device and only think of it as a typical iPad or a big red button not TouchChat or Big Mack. One step to changing the minds of others is changing what you call AAC.
Simply changing your language from “Use your device” to “Use your words” may cue others to know that the pictures, iPad, switch, etc. is how our students communicate. It is a small change we can make that may have a much larger impact.
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Statement A
My child doesn't seem to have real control over his body yet.
The only way I know that he wants something is because he fusses or whines when he's unhappy or uncomfortable, and he smiles, makes noises or calms down when he's happy and comfortable. Does this statement describe your child?
Statement B
My child has control over her own behaviors, but she doesn't use them to try to communicate to me.
She doesn't come to me to let me know what she wants, but it's easy for me to figure out, because she tries to do things for herself. She knows what she wants, and her behavior shows me what she wants. If she runs out of something to eat, she will just try to get more, rather than trying to get me to give her more.
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Statement C
My child clearly tries to communicate his needs to me through gestures, sounds or language.
He knows how to get me to do something for him. He uses some of the kinds of behaviors below to communicate:
- Gestures such as pointing, shaking his head, tugging at my arm or looking back and forth between me and what he wants
- Sounds such as squealing to show you he wants something or fussing when he doesn't want something
- Language or symbolic forms of communication such as speech, written words, Braille, picture symbols, 3-dimensional symbols or sign language
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How to score your child
Each question you will see is related to a certain message that your child might be able to express using a variety of behaviors. Read the question and decide whether your child is able to express the message described using any of the listed behaviors. If the answer is YES, then you must also decide whether your child has mastered the use of each behavior or whether it is still at an emerging stage. Check either the mastered or emerging box next to any behaviors your child uses to express the message. Use the following definitions to decide whether a behavior is mastered or emerging
Mastered
– Does this independently most of the time when the opportunity arises
– Does this in a number of di erent contexts, and with di erent people
Emerging
– Does this inconsistently
–
Only does this when prompted or encouraged to do so. Only does this in one or two contexts or with one person.
Tips on Communication Devices
Each question you will see is related to a certain message that your child might be able to express using a variety of behaviors. Read the question and decide whether your child is able to express the message described using any of the listed behaviors. If the answer is YES, then you must also decide whether your child has mastered the use of each behavior or whether it is still at an emerging stage. Check either the mastered or emerging box next to any behaviors your child uses to express the message. Use the following definitions to decide whether a behavior is mastered or emerging