The Benefits Of Alternative And Augmentative Communication

There are times when we need to adapt our communication style to meeting the needs of individuals and use aids to help them enhance their communication.

This article focuses on the many forms of technology in relation to special education. The article discusses the “high” and “low” forms of technology that is available for students with special needs to help “bypass” or “compensate” for their disabilities. The article goes on to survey the current status of assistive technology for the special education population. In the end, the article uncovers that the use of assistive technology for the special education population is promising though uncertain. Assistive technology has proven to be beneficial for students with learning disabilities, as it would empower them to work beyond their normal capabilities (Lewis, 1998).

The equipment could be hazardous if it is not used in the correct manner. Plus, there could be a limited amount of equipment to go around to the students and it could be expensive if it becomes lost or

People from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communication methods in different ways because every family has their own way of communicating together. For example: some children might hear or speak more than one language at home or they could hear others swearing. This can affect children’s communication and how they communicate as adults.

Augmentative-Alternative Communication (AAC) is the description for communication strategies or physical tools that ASD individuals use to enhance their capability of understanding others and enhancing the ability of ASD individuals to make their needs, wants and intentions known (DynaVox 2009). AAC aids people who have some type of problem with writing or speaking so their uses are not only restricted to ASD children and adults. The no-technology version of AAC does not require a physical aid because AAC is when pointing or making gestures is used to show what is needed or wanted. The low technology version is the use of communication books and electronic communication boards. High technology AAC

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) encompasses those forms of communication excluding oral speech which enable an individual to express themselves (Bondy & Frost, 1994). It replicates non-functional speech for those individuals with verbal or language difficulties through augmentative aides (Light & Drager, 2007). Recent technological advances have resulted in the availability of electronic devices which can convert text and picture and communication boards, to generate voice output. As a consequence, individuals with communication challenges accessing alternative means with which to express themselves, and in effect improve their social interaction, academic achievements, whilst gaining increased self-determination (Light & Drager, 2007).

Children become aware that their feelings and desires are essential and must be accounted for. Growing up in a supportive environment enables children to form open and trusting relationships with their parents. However, sometimes parents fail to meet emotional or physical needs of their children. Through the failure of meeting the child’s need, eventually, leads to a more dysfunctional relationship.

(112) Parents shape their children’s development by meeting their emotional, physical and social needs.

By supporting children in their development we can help them become happy and safe, well rounded individuals growing into well socialized adults who

Distracted parenting is the newest hazard caused by the normalization of cell phone usage in our everyday life according to Deborah Fallows in her article “Papa, Don’t Text: The Perils of Distracted Parenting” originally published in The Atlantic. The article directed at parents in the technological age. She claims that parents are spending more time focusing on their phones and less time talking with their babies. This situation can potentially cause long-term problems for their children’s linguistic skills. Fallows herself has a Ph.D. in linguistics from Harvard. In her article, she also includes research from two other reputable sources to further validate her claim. Fallows delivers her argument in a short article with appeals to logos, pathos, and ethos, but her article lacks any real opinions put forth by the author, which weakens the impact of the piece.

A study was conducted to understand AAC use in preschoolers. Barker, Akaba, Brady, and Thiemann-Bourque wrote “Support for AAC use in preschool, and growth in language skills, fir young children with developmental disabilities”. There main purpose was to see the affects AAC use had at a young age. They wanted to see the different uses and assistants had any affect on the user. Also they wanted to see the effect of having the teacher use the AAC device more in the classroom setting.

“Our central premise is that “family” is the most fundamental factor influencing the lives of children. Aside from children’s educational needs, they also need a

that families can be encouraged to spend more time together and place family values first.

Speech and language disorders, as with any learning disability, can cause embarrassment and social hindrance for students along with the educational setbacks. Unfortunately there is yet to be a cure discovered, but luckily there are many ways in which individuals with learning disabilities can seek treatment and aide. For example a child could receive therapy from a speech pathologist to help them articulate more clearly. There is also assistive technology available for all types of disorders. Assistive technology can help motivate students to overcome the barriers in learning that they face by compensating in the area that they lack. When choosing which type of device that a student should use, it is very important that it is one that will accommodate to the specific disability of the student (Fleming, 1999). For individuals with speech and language disorders, either an electronic communication device or a personal FM listening system would be appropriate. An electronic communication device allows one to type their ideas into a machine so they

Communication is a part of everyday life. Not only is it present in our personal lives, but in the