Journal 8: AAC

The acronym AAC refers to "alternative, augmentative communication." It is used amongst educators to describe alternative methods of communication between teachers and students. Students have a learning and communication impediment that prohibits them from communicating in what we would consider a "normal" way; devices thus enable a student and teacher to effectively communicate.

Communication

No-Tech AAC Option:

Sign Language

Sign langauge is an effective way for students and educators to communicate. Hand gestures and movements allow students who lack verbal communication to communicate. Students are able to say and convey what they want in the classroom, as long as an adult is trained in sign.

High-Tech AAC Option:

Tech-Scan 8 Plus

This is a data-board, with images/pictures and voice recordings to go along with it. Individuals can select certain images, scan them into a device, and then record an appropriate message or saying. For example, a picture two kids smiling is scanned in, with the word being "friends" and recording being "friends" when the button is pushed. This effectively allows students with speech impediments to learn vocabulary, and also have the option to self-teach with self-guided vocabulary and phrases. In the classroom, this helps teachers teach vocabulary to students who might need it repeated half a dozen times, without the teacher being the repeater.

 Accessibility
An alternative input device is any device that connects to a computer to help an individual with limited physical abilities to still use a computer. 

Software

An example of a program that would allow students with communication barriers to effectively learn and communicate with their teachers is the Inkwell feature of a Mac computer. Mac has addressed a number of learning disabilities, including literacy, vision, hearing, and physical/motor skill impediments, but I am going to focus on Inkwell. This feature is most helpful and useful for those who have motor skill impediments. Students are given a pad of sorts, which allows them to draw onto a screen; the screen then converts their strokes into words. I really think this feature is useful because students can write as large, illegible, or slowly as they want and the end result is a typed-up document that has an adjustable size, is legible, and does not have shakey pencil marks because of the speed the information was copied down.

Aside from these programs, there are dozens of other "apps" popping up for I-products, and parents, educators, and supporters can search through dozens of applications based on the need time- visual, auditory, kinesthetic, language, sign language and scheduling apps, just to name a few. Easy Stand Blog has put together a thorough and comprehensive of apps based on need.

Hardware

The Magic Touch Screen is a screen that when inserted upon the computer screen, allows for individuals to touch the screen and navigate the computer. The 'touching' aspect of the screen serves as a mouse. Students who have limited motor coordination can use the movement of their fingers or hands to navigate a computer rather than rely on a clunky mouse. As a classroom device, this would be a great resource for students and teachers; this screen reduces frustration incured when students cannot use a mouse to click on what they want to click on.

Blogs I commented on:

Tara S.
Gina B.