What is known about the effectiveness of AACs?

Advantages of AAC systems are:

■ They do not interfere with speech development and may encourage it.

■ They may involve modality, specific styles and strategies.

■ They can provide:

■ a means of communication for people at an early stage of development.

■ a means of communication and language for those whose speech is unintelligible.

■ a bridge to spoken language.

■ They require interdisciplinary assessment, coordination and monitoring.

■ Teachers, teaching assistants and therapists, schools and families can make a difference.

Discussion

■ Make a list of advantages you have noticed in a classroom or other learning environment, where a learner with a speech and language difficulty has been given either an aided or unaided means of communication.

■ Then discuss with a colleague how the educators managed to implement this specific strategy for the learner.

■ Who else was involved before it could be initiated? Was training required?

Disadvantages of AAC systems are:

■ If learners have to use their AAC system away from the rest of their school peers, the system user can feel isolated.

■ If learners cannot use their AAC system freely, but are tied to subject timetables or school terms for availability, they become less useful and less productive.

■ Limited speech and language therapy input and training.

■ Negative attitudes towards the use of AAC systems.

■ Lack of training for professionals may drastically restrict the use or effectiveness of AAC systems.

(Chinner et al., 2001: 6)

Discussion

If you know of an incident when a learners AAC system has unsuccessfully been introduced into the learning environment, identify the reasons why you feel this was not successful.

مواضيع ذات صلة

Discussion and questions

Expectations and suggestions

Problems encountered with portfolio assessment

Advantages of portfolio assessment

Similarities and differences between portfolio assessment and prior assessment experiences

Reflective questions with regard to the course practical relevance

Trainer comments

Discussion of a problem-solving experience

"Critical" course synthesis

Portfolio content

Results, analysis and discussions

Context and goals