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"To date, there are few guidelines to support clinicians and manufacturers in the design of effective AAC systems for beginning communicators. When AAC systems are well designed, they may enhance communication and language outcomes for beginning communicators with complex communication needs. However, poorly-designed AAC systems may potentially interfere with language learning and communication effectiveness. In this session, we will discuss guidelines for the design of effective AAC technologies for beginning communicators with complex communication needs, including infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with developmental disabilities (e.g., autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome) as well as older individuals with significant cognitive impairments. The session will present research results from recent studies and will suggest clinical guidelines to improve the design of AAC systems based on these research results. "

"Materials, Aids and AAC Devices to Enhance Communication and Language Clear Pocket Picture Communication and Hook (&Loop) fastener Receptive Devices, Literacy Learning Aids, Visual Aid Displays, Picture Choice Boards and Picture Schedules Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, Picture Communication Books, Visual Aid Displays, Picture Choice Boards, Literacy Learning Aids, Picture Schedules for individuals with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Nonverbal Learning Disability (NLD), and Low Incidence used with Picture Symbols, The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Mayer-Johnson Boardmaker® Picture Communication Symbols™ (PCS) "

"Welcome to the Communication Matrix Community: an online community of support for professionals and family members of individuals with complex communication needs.  Log in or join now to start contributing!"

"Enabling Devices announces four information-packed brochures to use with our communicators:   Making the most of:  Single Message Communicators Two Message Communicators Multiple Message Communicators Sequencers"

"Although students may not become augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) clinical specialists, they often will work with individuals demonstrating complex communication needs who benefit from AAC. This necessitates knowledge of some basic principles of assessment including AAC assessment as a team process involving planning and implementing interventions for current and future communication needs; the inclusion of no-tech, low-tech, and high-tech communication systems; and assessing communication needs with partners in the individual's social network. The assessment also must include a capability profile and feature matching to select the appropriate components of the AAC system. Because the system we provide for today will become the system we use tomorrow, assessment must be considered an ongoing process throughout the lifespan of the individual."

"PECS allows individuals to communicate by using pictures instead of, or in conjunction with, speech. PECS provides a functional outlet of expression for individuals who otherwise have difficulty communicating. It is used to initiate conversation and to communicate wants or needs to another person. It may be used with young children but has also successfully been taught to adults with similar communication needs."

"In my work, I define "independence" in communication as: "the ability to communicate anything on any topic to anyone" It doesn't matter whether or not the individual relies on a communication aid or device, as long as he or she can communicate anything to anyone he/she chooses. Since most of us able-bodied speakers take this for granted, it might be easiest to understand independence by seeing its absence in some cases..."

"The Communication Supports Inventory-Children and Youth (CSI-CY)is a tool designed to make goal writing easier for teachers and speech-language pathologists who work with students who rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to communicate effectively. By itself, it is not an assessment, but rather a guide to organize your understanding of the impact of a student's communication strengths and limitations on participation at school and home. The CSI-CY consists of an Inventory and a Report. "

Resources to promote all methods of AAC "We also believe that communication is a basic need in life. When an individual does not have fluent, natural speech, it is urgent that other methods of communication, often called augmentative or alternative communication (AAC), be explored exhaustively." sponsored by ICON Community Services in Alexandria, Virginia.

"Communication applications (apps), designed to be used on an iPhone, iTouch or iPad (iDevices), fit different cognitive and learning profiles just like all programs and devices do. Today, most people use multiple devices to address their daily communication needs. The idea that ANY one device can (or should) "do the job" for individuals with communication needs no longer makes sense. "

"Many people who have disabilities require a diverse set of strategic supports and resources in order to realize their full potential. It is through such supports and resources that these individuals can realize goals such as full, integrated competitive employment. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), such as communication boards and devices, give a "voice" to people who experience challenges communicating in more traditional ways. This website provides on-line multimedia resources to support your journey in successfully achieving vocational goals through more independent communication. "

Welcome to AAC at Penn State! The Penn State AAC community of faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students are dedicated to enhancing communication and improving the overall quality of life for individuals who have complex communication needs and their families. We are seeking to improve outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental apraxia, traumatic brain injuries, aphasia, ALS /Lou Gehrig's disease and many other disabilities through the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)  such as signs, light tech symbols, high tech speech generating devices, etc.

"PODDs are intended to be as much for receptive communication as they are for expressive communication.  Communication partners of individuals using a PODD also use the PODD to communicate. "

"The Communication Matrix is an assessment tool designed to pinpoint exactly how an individual is communicating and to provide a framework for determining logical communication goals. It was first published in 1990 and was revised in 1996 and 2004 by Dr. Charity Rowland of Oregon Health & Science University. It was designed primarily for speech-language pathologists and educators to use to document the expressive communication skills of children who have severe or multiple disabilities, including children with sensory, motor and cognitive impairments."

"Tobii launches Sono Primo - the comprehensive and motivational content package for emerging communicators Today Tobii Technology AB announced the launch of Sono Primo, a brand new vocabulary system for assistive and augmentative communication. Sono Primo offers situational communication with core vocabularies, social scripts, visual scenes and more for emergent communicators."

"The Communication Matrix is an assessment tool designed to pinpoint exactly how an individual is communicating and to provide a framework for determining logical communication goals. It was first published in 1990 and was revised in 1996 and 2004 by Dr. Charity Rowland of Oregon Health & Science University. It was designed primarily for speech-language pathologists and educators to use to document the expressive communication skills of children who have severe or multiple disabilities, including children with sensory, motor and cognitive impairments."

"All individuals who use AAC can benefit from having access to a manual communication board either as their primary mode of communication or as a back-up to their high tech AAC device. To help clinicians new to designing communication boards, two sample boards are provided. "

"The Social Network Package is an assessment and intervention planning tool. The Manual and Inventory Booklet are designed to help professionals work with family members and individuals who have complex communication needs. Use this resource to help determine appropriate communication strategies and technologies for clients to use with their communication partners. "

This site is dedicated to people who are still waiting for a means to communicate more effectively. We hope this site helps to bring access to communication to more people so that someday soon everyone will have the opportunity to communicate effectively, and no one will have to spend days or years or a lifetime in silence.

"Communication Assessment for Parents & Professionals An easy to use assessment instrument designed for individuals of all ages who function at the earliest stages of communication and who use any form of communication."