AAC

Question 1

What is AAC

Answer 1

All forms of communication other than oral speech

Question 2

What are the 5 competencies?

Answer 2

1. Linguistic2. Operational3. Social4. Strategic5. Emotional/Psychosocial

Question 3

What are the 8 areas we investigate to build an individual’s profile of abilities and needs?

Answer 3

• Natural speech
• Language (expressive, receptive)
• Symbol representation
• Literacy
• Cognition
• Motor (includes positioning, seating)
• Sensory/Perceptual (vision, hearing
  -AAC device trials

Question 4

What assessment model do we use when conducting an AAC Capability assessment?

Answer 4

Participation model

Question 5

How do we get assessment information?

Answer 5

• Observe- client/family/other therapist - interviews- Case history- Trial devices

Question 6

What types of tests are almost never needed/used/required/helpful to use to gather info during an AAC Capability Assessment?

Answer 6

STANDARDIZED TESTS

Question 7

What are the two types of vocab people need on AAC system? Give Examples

Answer 7

• Core- Yes, no- Fringe- (Tennis)- volley, alley

Question 8

What is the difference between aided and unaided AAC? Give examples

Answer 8

Unaided AAC- tool is NOT used- Ex. pointing, vocalizations, facial expressions, eye gaze, gesturesAided AAC- Tool is used - EX. communication board, visual scenes, symbols, photos

Question 9

What are access/selection methods and examples of each?

Answer 9

• Direct selection- using finger to touch and select item (finger, stylus, eye tracking, head tracking)- Scanning- allowing device to cycle through selections and use switch to select once it lands on desired item

Question 10

What is the SETT framework and its purpose?

Answer 10

• The SETT framework is used to make the Device personalized to each individual. Make it the most beneficial to them—Student/infant or Toddler/adult—Environments—Tasks—Tools

Question 11

What are some items in your intensive/acute/long-term medical setting AAC tool kit?

Answer 11

• Low, no-, light tech communication boards- Whiteboard - Electrolarynx- Pen and paper- Mounts for communication boards/eye gaze boards

Question 12

What grid size should be used?

Answer 12

Allow the user to access a grid size with the smallest buttons they can visually see and activate successfully/independently

Question 13

What are some tools and/or tips/tricks we can use to help individuals select messages using an AAC grid display?

Answer 13

• Key guards- Wiki stix- Stylus- Masking, vocabulary builder/progressive language/vocab filter- Target practice

Question 14

Will the introduction and use of AAC keep an individual from using or developing his or her natural speech?

Answer 14

No. - Gains in speech production following an AAC device vary. - AAC enhances an individual’s ability to communicate effectively and independently. - AAC is NOT a last resort.

Question 15

What are the 5 opportunity barriers and how are they combated?

Answer 15

1. Policy barriers- Advocacy efforts
2. Practice barriers- advocacy and educational
3. Attitude barriers- education and advocacy efforts
4. Knowledge barriers- educational effort
5. skill barriers- educational efforts

Question 16

What is a prerequisite for AAC use?

Answer 16

Breathing

Question 17

Practice barriers-

Answer 17

restrict AAC user’s communication and participation. Sometimes happens because they are not aware of the laws. Sometimes they result because people have not thought about the restrictions that their practices may impose on others.

Question 18

Policy barriers

Answer 18

legislative or regulatory decisions that do not support the participation of individuals with complex communication needs. Policy barriers are the policies that act as barriers to an individual with complex communication needs

Question 19

Attitude barriers

Answer 19

related to attitudes that restrict or prevent communication participation. Occur when people hold feelings that predispose them to act in ways that minimize the communication opportunities of individuals who rely on AAC. Can persist even when policy and practice barriers do not

Question 20

Knowledge barriers

Answer 20

stem from a lack of information on the part of communication partners that minimizes opportunities for communication partners that minimizes opportunities for communication by the person with complex communication needs. Educate yourself

Question 21

Skill barriers

Answer 21

occur when communication partners have difficulty with actual communicative interaction with individuals who rely on AAC; they can occur even when family members and other communication partners have knowledge of AAC. remediated through education efforts.

Question 22

What does a robust system include?

Answer 22

• Lots of words: hundreds of words that include both core and fringe vocabulary
• • Different types of words/word classes: adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, interjections, nouns, pronouns, verbs, etc
• • Ability to make morphological changes/support grammar: tenses, pluralization, comparatives/superlatives
• • Supports motor automaticity: organization allows users to learn a motor plan (think about the motor plan learned to type on a key board) for each button/word by keeping the buttons/words in the same place but allows for planned growth
• • Access to keyboard: provides access to the entire alphabet to create message- Option for pre-stored message: for users to access frequently used phrases, advocacy and self-talk

Question 23

What are the 3 levels of AAC- list examples

Answer 23

Low/no tech- PECs cards, pen and paper, white board( no voice output)Mid-tech- 7 level communicator, (digital and limited)High-tech- robust system, voice output (synthesized speech)

Question 24

IDEA

Answer 24

Individual with Disabilities Education Act- Equal access to public education

Question 25

ADA

Answer 25

American with Disabilities Act- prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Employment, purchasing goods and services. Requires employers to provide adequate accomodations for these individuals

Question 26

FAPE

Answer 26

Free Appropriate Public Education- under IDEA as a requirement. Guaruntees special education programs to those who qualify under IDEA

Question 27

UDL

Answer 27

Unique Design for Learning- Flexible learning environment to fit the needs of the individual

Question 28

What are the different message type options and when are each used/needed

Answer 28

- Letters- used for literate individuals- Words- beginning communicators, maybe for literate individuals to communicate quicker than letter by letter- Phrases/sentences- common phrases, emergencies, stories

Question 29

What are funding sources for AAC tools?

Answer 29

-m Insurance- device manufacturers have report templates and resources- School- If IEP team determines that an assistive device and/or service is needed for the child to successfully meet the goals and objectives of the IEP, the school system MUST provide the individual with the AT device and/or service at no cost to the parents, as part of the student’s FAPE- Funding guide- Oklahoma ABLE tech financial loan program

Question 30

What are the range of symbols?

Answer 30

Vocalizations/speech→ Gestures→Manual signs→Real objects→partial/associated objects→Photos & videos→Line drawings→Traditional orthography

Question 31

What is language modeling

Answer 31

Language Aided ModelingSMoRRESMaster Pal AAC

Question 32

What are the 2 types of voice output? Explain the difference

Answer 32

- Digital- recorded by the individual/real person while they still can. They can use their own voice- Synthetic - AI created. They can choose their voice/accent