Non-speaking individuals who are:

• Physically involved but cognitively able
• Multiply involved with unknown cognitive abilities
• Physically able: dispraxic, language delayed
• Pre-verbal or emergent-verbal
• Autistic
• Developmentally delayed
• Behavior disorders related to inability to communicate effectively

• Physically involved but cognitively able
• Physically involved with unknown cognitive abilities
• Multiply involved with unknown cognitive abilities
• Fine Motor difficulties
• Developmentally delayed

1) Technology and Augmentative Communication Systems can be very powerful, but they are useless in enabling children to realize their potential without appropriate training and a supportive environment.

2) Augmentative language or assistive technology system means: multiple systems.

• The use of multiple systems is vastly more effective than use of a single system. System choice depends on the individual's situation, environment, needs, fatigue, and the communication partners,

3) Assessment and evaluation are on-going TEAM processes.

4) Vocabulary and Symbol selection are ongoing processes.

5) Experiencing receptive use of augmentative systems is important for those children developing language for the first time. Augmentative communication is effectively taught in an environment comparable to foreign language immersion.

6) Augmentative Communication and Assistive Technology is most effective if taught in an interactive and pragmatic format.

• learning in functional situations facilitates generalization
• anything that has some intrinsic motivation for the child is more likely to be practiced in different settings and used by the child.
• motivation is governed by the amount of control and connection the child feels in the communicative interaction.

7) Partner training can play an important role in the success of communication and adaptations.

8) Classroom and home integration are crucial to success.

• Children learn to use augmentative communication and assistive technology more effectively if it is integrated into all aspects of their day.
• Communication needs and access needs will vary in different situations and need to be planned for ahead of time.

9) The art and science of augmentative communication and Assistive Technology is still a developing field.

• we are still learning new strategies
• equipment/technology is rapidly changing
• we don't have all the answers, research in this field is just beginning
• we learn from the children and their reactions and preferences

10) Implementing augmentative communication and assistive technology consumes an enormous amount of time and energy from therapists, teachers, parents and the child.

• This is especially true if it is an addition to the curriculum instead of an integral part of it.

But it's worth it!

• improves self-concept and self esteem
• provides motivation
• reduce frustration and behavior problems
• increase participation in daily life
• facilitates learning by making learning interactive instead of passive
• changes expectations of others for child's potential
  

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