Effective Augmentative And Alternative Communication Practices

Effective Augmentative and Alternative Communication Practices provides a user-friendly handbook for any school-based practitioner, whether you are a special education teacher, an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) consultant, assistive technology consultant, speech language pathologist, or occupational therapist. This highly practical book translates the AAC research into practice and explains the importance of the use of AAC strategies across settings. The handbook also provides school-based practitioners with resources to be used during the assessment, planning, and instructional process.

Relevant for children and adults at all stages of communication development, this work should be of use to rehabilitation professionals who work with AAC users. It covers linguistic competence, operational competence, social competence, and strategic competence.

The fourth edition of the foundational, widely adopted AAC textbook Augmentative and Alternative Communication is the definitive introduction to AAC processes, interventions, and technologies that help people best meet their daily communication needs. Future teachers, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and other professionals will prepare for their work in the field with critical new information on advancing literacy skills; conducting effective, culturally appropriate assessment and intervention; selecting AAC vocabulary tailored to individual needs; using new consumer technologies as affordable, nonstigmatizing communication devices; promoting social competence supporting language learning and development; providing effective support to beginning communicators; planning inclusive education services for students with complex communication needs; and improving the communication of people with specific developmental disabilities and acquired disabilities. An essential core text for tomorrow's professionals--and a key reference for in-service practitioners--this fourth edition prepares readers to support the communicative competence of children and adults with a wide range of complex needs.

Provides the essential tools for appraising evidence and outlining steps for planning and implementing better efficacy research. This book aims to help researchers and practitioners develop the necessary skills for moving the augmentative and alternative communication field toward evidence-based practice.

Individuals with complex communication needs who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) frequently encounter barriers that limit their ability to achieve their full potential in communication and in life. These barriers include access barriers (limitations in the current capabilities of the AAC user or the communication systems that they use) as well as opportunity barriers (e.g., policy, practice, knowledge/skill, and attitude barriers that extend beyond the AAC user). It is essential to consider both access and opportunity barriers when designing systems and supports for individuals who use AAC. However, often the emphasis of research and practice is on addressing issues related to access barriers with far less attention to opportunity barriers. Supporting Individuals Who Use Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Breaking Down Opportunity Barriers is the first book to focus specifically on practical strategies for breaking down opportunity barriers experienced by individuals who use AAC. The text is divided into four sections, with each section devoted to a frequently encountered opportunity barrier (knowledge/skill, practice, attitude, and policy). Within each section, readers will (a) develop a deeper understanding of the impact of the barrier through the eyes of individuals who use AAC or their families, (b) acquire knowledge based on current research and recommended practices related to addressing the barrier, and (c) learn how professionals have successfully addressed the barrier via case examples from the field. The final chapter provides readers with information (as well as tools and examples) about how to go “beyond the book” and actively address the unique opportunity barriers they encounter. Key Features * Includes in-depth interviews with individuals who use AAC and their families * Identifies evidence-based and promising practices for addressing opportunity barriers * Provides tips, tools, and resources for addressing opportunity barriers * Illustrates successful strategies for addressing opportunity barriers through case examples and step-by-step guidelines for implementation * Includes contributions from professionals in the field who have successfully addressed opportunity barriers in home, school, workplace, and community settings Who Should Read This Book This book is designed to support those who find themselves frustrated by the opportunity barriers experienced by individuals who use AAC and are searching for ways to break down those barriers, including people who rely on AAC, speech-language pathologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, family members, university students, faculty in higher education, and other professionals in school, healthcare, and community settings.

This is a valuable source of information and reference for the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in speech-language pathology. This handbook outlines the history and growth of the field from its beginnings a few decades ago to its current status as an integral element in the clinical and educational programs of individuals with severe communication disabilities. Legislation and funding opportunities which influence the provision of AAC services are presented and discussed along with current legal and ethical issues and future research needs. Speech pathologists, language and communication specialists and therapists.

International Review of Research in Developmental Disabilities, Volume 57 in the series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters written by an international board of authors who discuss Peer mentoring and the development of friendships between individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, Health issues across adulthood in Down Syndrome: a view from multiple databases, Mindfulness interventions in developmental disabilities: issues and possibilities, Reading Interventions for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a review, Communication system identification for individuals with complex communication needs, and much more. Provides the authority and expertise of leading contributors from an international board of authors Presents the latest release in the International Review of Research in Developmental Disabilities series

Are there any constraints known that bear on the ability to perform Augmentative and alternative communication work? How is the team addressing them? Who will be responsible for deciding whether Augmentative and alternative communication goes ahead or not after the initial investigations? Will team members regularly document their Augmentative and alternative communication work? What is Effective Augmentative and alternative communication? What tools and technologies are needed for a custom Augmentative and alternative communication project? Defining, designing, creating, and implementing a process to solve a challenge or meet an objective is the most valuable role... In EVERY group, company, organization and department. Unless you are talking a one-time, single-use project, there should be a process. Whether that process is managed and implemented by humans, AI, or a combination of the two, it needs to be designed by someone with a complex enough perspective to ask the right questions. Someone capable of asking the right questions and step back and say, 'What are we really trying to accomplish here? And is there a different way to look at it?' This Self-Assessment empowers people to do just that - whether their title is entrepreneur, manager, consultant, (Vice-)President, CxO etc... - they are the people who rule the future. They are the person who asks the right questions to make Augmentative and alternative communication investments work better. This Augmentative and alternative communication All-Inclusive Self-Assessment enables You to be that person. All the tools you need to an in-depth Augmentative and alternative communication Self-Assessment. Featuring 699 new and updated case-based questions, organized into seven core areas of process design, this Self-Assessment will help you identify areas in which Augmentative and alternative communication improvements can be made. In using the questions you will be better able to: - diagnose Augmentative and alternative communication projects, initiatives, organizations, businesses and processes using accepted diagnostic standards and practices - implement evidence-based best practice strategies aligned with overall goals - integrate recent advances in Augmentative and alternative communication and process design strategies into practice according to best practice guidelines Using a Self-Assessment tool known as the Augmentative and alternative communication Scorecard, you will develop a clear picture of which Augmentative and alternative communication areas need attention. Your purchase includes access details to the Augmentative and alternative communication self-assessment dashboard download which gives you your dynamically prioritized projects-ready tool and shows your organization exactly what to do next. Your exclusive instant access details can be found in your book.