Journal #8 NETS-T IV

This blog post addresses the diverse needs of all learners by using learner centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources.


Journal 8: Adaptive Technology


Communication & Accessibility


Communication:
Augmentative and Alternative Communication or AAC includes all forms of communication (other than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. Every body uses AAC when making any type of facial expressions or gestures, when using symbols or pictures, or writing.
People with severe speech or language problems rely on AAC to supplement existing speech or replace speech that is not functional. Special augmentative aids, such as picture and symbol communication boards and electronic devices, are available to help people express themselves. This may increase social interaction, school performance, and feelings of self-worth. AAC users should not stop using speech if they are able to do so. The AAC aids and devices are used to enhance their communication. There are many tools that students with communication problems can use in the classroom to better their education and understanding. Some examples of tools that can be used include no/low tech tools such as Symbol Display Books as well as high tech tools like an iPad.


No/Low Tech Tool:

Symbol display books are specifically designed for AAC purposes. These books are designed to be just one 'tool' in a person’s 'toolbox of communication methods'. This type of aid is used to assist a person to communicate more effectively. Sometimes it is difficult find the words one wishes to use these books assist with understanding of other people’s spoken language. This tool can be used in the classroom with both the teacher and the student as well as with peers and the student in which a communication partner points to the symbols as they talk to the person with a learning disability.
A child who uses speech will independently select the words she wishes to use from the vast array of words she hears/sees used everyday. A child who uses AAC will independently select the words he/she wishes to use from the vocabulary other people have chosen to model and, for aided symbols, made available for her to use.


High Tech Tool:

The iPad is a computer device that can dowload specific applications that will aid in AAC. One example of such applications include TouchChat HD for iPad. This application is a full-featured communication solution for individuals who have difficulty using their natural voice. TouchChat is designed for individuals with Autism, Down Syndrome, ALS, apraxia, stroke, or other conditions that affect a person's ability to use natural speech.

Another application one could also download that has received great recognition and was actually covered on a piece on 60 minutes is Proloquo2Go. This application also provides a full-featured communication solution for people who have difficulty speaking. It brings natural sounding text-to-speech voices, close to 8000 up-to-date symbols, powerful automatic conjugations, a large default vocabulary, full expandability and extreme ease of use to the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The basic structure of Proloquo2Go is made to utilize the best of both worlds: word based construction and powerful phrases. So whether you are chatting with a friend, answering a question about a current event, or constructing a story to tell later in the day, the system is designed to be easy and effective for a broad range of individuals.
Teachers can download different applications onto a classroom iPad and use it with learning impaired students. These individuals will benefit from any AAC applications possessing so many different features that will address their specific needs. For example, individuals who are advanced communicators may be more concerned with generating fast messages with text-to speech features and do not need symbols or pictures to aid with communication and comprehension while others benefit from the pictures and aids. Variety is the spice of life and I’m so glad that we have a variety of AAC applications to choose from and that technology can do such wonderful things for education. Can you imagine how boring and more difficult life would be if we didn’t have all these choices! This device and can be used for many different educational or personal purposes.


Accessibility:
An input device is any hardware device that sends data to the computer, without any input devices, a computer would only be a display device and not allow users to interact with it, much like a TV.


Hardware Tool:

MegaBee is a simple-to-use writing tablet to aid frequent communication. The tablet uses eye movement and blinking as the method to select letters, which are displayed on the integral screen. It's fully portable and can be used for bed-confined, home-care and chair-mobile situations. Whilst the unit does not require computing equipment for its basic operation it does however have Bluetooth wireless communication ability should the user require to display on a larger screen or input text into a personal computer. For example the letter ‘K’ would be selected by looking first at the blue block where the letter K is located and blinking (the carer then presses the blue button), then, as the letter ‘K’ is black, the user looks at the black block and blinks (the carer presses the black button and the letter ‘K’ appears on the screen). Similar protocols exist for deleting text and adding spaces, as well as accessing various menu functions such as bluetooth, contrast, scrolling and other housekeeping facilities. There is an LCD display on each side of the tablet, visible to reader and writer. A powerful vocabulary facility is also provided. This allows users to compile their own set of shorthand words or phrases which can be uploaded at will. For example ‘T2’ might assigned to ‘Television’, or ‘H1’ means ‘I am too hot’. These phrases can be changed to suit varying situations such as bed care, mobility, or in the case of ward supervision, can be changed for different users.

Software Tool:
Software that can be used for AAC are plenty a website that gives great resoucres for such programs is oatsoft.org. One is example of such a program is, AAC Keys, which is a keyboard and mouse emulation program for Microsoft Windows-based and Macintosh computers. AAC Keys receives commands through your computer's serial port and translates them into keystrokes and mouse movements, giving you full control of your computer from another device such as an AAC system.