AAC (Augmentative and Alternate Communication) : is a method for helping with communication. The AAC helps those without a voice to have a voice. It can be done electronically or through pictures and words. AAC devices reach their audience either through the help of voice output or through the use of pictures or simple sentences to help communicate with others.
NETS: 1, 2, 3, and 4
1. No/Low-Tec Tool-
No/Low-Tec tools are the tools that don't need a power source and help to facilitate with communication. An alphabet board is one such device that helps children with aphasia to communicate. It does this by spelling out answers or simply answering yes or no questions. The children who use the alphabet board do this by pointing to the pictures on the board. Once the child is able to use the images to spell out answers or answer yes or no questions the alphabet board can move the child forward and help the child to express their wants and needs. Using no/low-tec devices are inexpensive, easy to use, and can be personalized to the child's needs. No/low-tec devices are used for children with a limited vocabulary. The alphabet board can be personalized for the child using it, so in the classroom it will help students learn how to spell and understand their vocabulary words. It allows the student to answer yes or no questions that the teacher can ask the child, thus, having the student participate in class. Later the students can use the alphabet board to express what they want like pencil or paper.
2. High-Tec Tool-
One AAC technological device that helps children with autism communicate is DynaVox V+ or DynaVox Express (the portable version). Both the DynaVox V+ and DynaVox Express are speech generating tools. The DynaVox V+/ Express help children with autism by helping the child select pictures, symbols, letters, words, or phrases to illustrate verbal communication. In some cases with the help of these two devices, some children have been able to develop natural speech. Due to the fact that the DynaVox Express is portable this tool can be used in the classroom. For example, if the student with autism is in a teachers first grade class and the lesson is learning how to put a proper sentence together this student would be able to use DynaVox Express to put pieces of the sentences together. It may start with symbols or pictures, but with the help of DynaVox Express it will move into letters and then sentences and maybe even verbal words.
Accessibility (Hardware and software)
The ultimate goal is to transition children with special needs into the mainstream classroom. It doesn't matter if the child has mild, moderate, or saver disabilities, all are to be incorporated into the classroom. With technology in the classrooms there are some input devices to help students with special needs.
1. Hardware:
Students who have saver motor disabilities where a mouse won't work can use switches. These switches work with the computer along with the software scanning program. The switches come in all shapes and sizes. The switches are also able to be used on multiple points on the body: foot, hand, head, eyebrow, and mouth. One example is Eyetec SGD, it's an input device that students can use simply by the movement of their eyes. For instance, the child can either stare or blink, which acts as a click if you are using a mouse. This will help students control environments, play games, and synthesize speech.2. Software:
A tool students can use is word prediction software. This software helps to limit the keystrokes a student needs to make a word. It does this by using the initial letter of a word that is typed and producing a list of possible words from the students history of words. To select the word that the student wants, the student just needs to type in the number in front of the selected word to have it appear. An example of this tool is buddy button, which students can use in the classroom to create essays, answer short answer questions on tests, and more.
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