The DynaVox Series 5 devices feature integrated Windows 7 technology, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and loud speakers. They come in three sizes with a variety of touch screens from 21.3cm to 30.7cm. The InterAACT framework provides language structures and messages to encourage interaction and language development across different skill levels from emergent to independent communicators. It uses visual scene displays and incorporates research in areas like aphasia, autism, and child development.

2. DynaVox Series 5 With InterAACT

3. Jane Farrall Speech Pathologist AAC Support Services Manager Barbara Landsberg Occupational Therapist Sales and Marketing Director

4. DynaVox Series 5 Express Yourself!

5. V+, Vmax+ and Maestro Fully integrated Win7 technology Built-in WiFi for access to Internet: Free e-mail account Integrated web browsing Built-in Bluetooth for text messaging Remote technical support InterAACt Loud speakers and a range of voices

6. V+ and Vmax+ Vmax+ – 30.7cm screen V+ – 21.3cm screen 23 X 20 X 7cm 2kg 32 X 25.4 X 7.6cm 3.12kg

8. Maestro Maestro – 26.4cm screen 27cm x 21.6cm x 4.76cm 1.25kg, 1.56kg with Ext. batt

9. Speak and Be Heard Voices: Nuance Australian voices (Karen & Lee) AT&T Natural Voices Acapela HQ Child Voices Legacy Voices: DECtalk by FONIX VeriVox Digitized Speech Loud, dual front-facing, high clarity speakers

10. Connections to our world Email -free DynaVox account with every device plus a variety of pre-programmed email pages Computer access –integrated or with Access IT Control of your environment Text messaging via Bluetooth TS Phone access

11. Accessible to Everyone! Touch screen Visual and Auditory Scanning Mouse Pause Joystick Selection Morse Code EyeMax option with Vmax+

12. Incorporate What You Know! Ability to import from: Boardmaker with SDPro 3100 Users Series 4 Communication pages

13. We Have You Covered Remote-Access Tech Support Lifelong Tech Support DynaCare Phone, Chat, and Email Support Getting Started videos, on-board searchable help, web-based training, 24/7 on-line knowledge base and more!

14. Language and Communication Framework AAC Linking Interaction and Technology

15. As part of the AAC community, DynaVox believes: At the heart of every AAC device is the language system that is used. That this system should: encourage successful day to day, face to face, real time interaction support timely language and literacy skill use and development be age and level appropriate

16. The InterAACT Framework Built on two core elements: Language Use Language Structure

17. Language Use Relies on conversational messages that are designed to encourage interaction It focuses on interaction, conversation, quick messages and messages that are based on pre-programmed phrases and sentences Allows the ability to maintain and managethe flow of a conversation

18. Language Structure Building blocks for developing higher level language skills Includes grammatical components that are designed for language and literacy learning Allows composition of novel messages for either spoken or written communication Keyboards, core word vocabularies and dictionaries

19. Why Language Use and Language Structure? To provide a balance Every system should support successful day to day “language use” as well as supporting the “language structure” elements needed for generating novel messages and developing and using language and literacy skills

20. Language Use – quick access to messages Common Constructions Messages that allow me to interact quickly in a conversation in a particular situation Watching TV Bedtime Quickfires/Generic small talk (Beukelman) Messages that allow me to interact quickly in any conversation any time, any place Fillers Interjections Generic Comments

21. Young Child Quickfires

22. Teen Quickfires

23. The InterAACT Framework Relies on the understanding and use of the continuum of communication independence Segmented by age to include communication across the lifespan.

24. The InterAACT Framework 3 Broad levels of communicative independence: Emergent: (Beginner; partner dependent) Contextual: (transitional; context-dependent) Independent: (creative; independent)

25. How do these levels affect content presentation Emergent: Scenes are simple and primary and set the context for interaction Few levels to traverse Primarily functional utterances Facilitator master for partner assisted/partner dependent communication within context

26. How do these levels affect content presentation Context Dependent Scenes are simple and primary and set the context for interaction Greater number of levels to traverse Introduction of message building using common constructions Increase in the number of utterances presented Broader representation of language structure using Gateway Facilitator master for partner assisted navigation

27. How do these levels affect content presentation Independent Scenes play a role for Young Child, Child, and to some extent Teen due to the anticipated literacy levels. All other age ranges are text based. Equally reliant on Structure and Use Linguistically complex skills based on the norm for the age range

28. Skill Levels within The Continuum Changes between these levels take into consideration many different skills: Level of awareness Communicative intent World knowledge Memory skills Symbolic representation skills Metacognitive skills

29. Presentation of Communication Pages

30. Emergent Scenes are simple and primary and set the context for interaction Few levels to traverse Primarily functional utterances Facilitator master for partner assisted/partner dependent communication

31. Context Dependent Scenes are simple and primary and set the context for interaction Greater number of levels to traverse Introduction of message building using common constructions Increase in the number of utterances presented Broader representation of language structure using Gateway Facilitator master for partner assisted navigation

32. Independent Scenes play a role for Young Child, Child, and to some extent Teen due to the anticipated literacy levels. All other age ranges are text based Equally reliant on Structure and Use Linguistically complex skills based on the norm for the age range

33. Age Ranges For each level of communication independence, the InterAACT system supports “5 life stages” Differences in these “stages” determine vocabulary selection, typical range of contexts, and social roles (rituals) represented.

35. Backgrounds

38. New Symbols

39. InterAACT is: Interactive and context based A unique work based on solid yet diverse pieces of research from a wide variety of fields About the joint construction of meaning and sees communication as co-constructed by both partners in the interaction

40. Visual Scene Displays Different areas of research Young children (2 – 7 years)* People with aphasia* People with Autism Spectrum Disorder VSDs can be used by “groups [who] are unserved or underserved by current AAC technologies” Blackstone, 2006 *Sponsored by AAC RERC

41. VSDs and young children Janice Light and Kathryn Drager Series of research studies over a number of years Looked at difficulties children with typical development have with existing AAC systems Currently investigating VSDs to support the language and communication development in young children with severe communication impairments

42. VSDs in Aphasia Beukelman et al have been investigating how VSDs support the social conversations of individuals with severe aphasia

43. VSDs and children with ASD Visual scene displays have tremendous potential as a way to improve communication and communication instruction for persons with autism spectrum disorders Can be used successfully as aided language displays Using visual scenes to provide elaboration about the surroundings, people, and structure of activities gives those on the autism spectrum the greatest amount of support to safely and effectively interact in their environment (Shane, 2006)

44. What InterAACT is NOT! A prescription Gateway (although Gateway does represent a piece of InterAACT) A duplication of anyone’s work A lock step program

45. What InterAACT IS! Interactive and context based A unique work based on solid yet diverse pieces of research from a wide variety of fields About the joint construction of meaning and sees communication as co-constructed by both partners in the interaction Real people, real words, real situations

46. Let’s go hands-on….