Camp Communicate AAC Presentation from 2013 by Kate Ahern.

1. This training is for parents/caregivers of individuals who use low or high technology
augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). We will discuss ways to make AAC part of
your family’s
everyday life, gradually and seamlessly, without disrupting your routine. We will also look at how
to include siblings,
extended family members and personal care attendants to be the best communication partners
possible.
Kate Ahern, M.S.Ed.
Camp Communicate 2013

2.  All photos/videos not created by charities in this
presentation are the respective property of the
individuals in them and/or their parents or
guardians.
 I have permission to use these photos/videos –
that permission does not extend to the audience
photographing or filming them or sharing any
downloaded hand outs
 Please be respectful of the rights of these families
 Special Thanks to Shannon and Jeanne Molloy;
Nik and Beth Anderson; Samantha, Kevin, Alison
and Ana Burke; Graham and Randi Sargent,
Jordan and Stephanie Brown for permission to use
the photos and videos!

3.  AAC Intro/Review (optional)
 Part One:
• Simple Steps for Positive AAC Experiences: The MMM
Method
 Motivate
 Model
 Move Out of the Way
 Part Two:
• Communication Competencies
 Social/Pragmatic
 Linguistic
 Operational
 Strategic
 Bonus Competency – Self-Advocacy
 Bonus One: AAC in the World
 Bonus Two: Becoming a Communication Coach

4.  Augmentative and
Alternative
Communication is any
method of non-verbal
communication with adds
to or replaces spoken
language
 Includes gestures, sign
language, spelling,
communication board,
recorded speech devices,
high technology devices
and more

7. "The least dangerous
assumption is the premise
that (in the absence of
evidence) we believe we not
yet found a way to make it
so a child or adult with a
disability "can" instead of
believing he or she "can't."
AKA
"Presume Competence"
Donnellan, Anne, (1984) "The Criterion of the Least
Dangerous Assumption" Behavioral Disorders, v9 n2
p141-50 Feb 1984 (print copy not available).
Rossetti, Zach and Tashie, Carol (2002) "Outing the prejudice:
Making the least dangerous assumption." The
Communicator: Newsletter of the Autism National
Committee, 2002. downloaded from
inclusivelife.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/least-
dangerous-assumption.pdf on June 30 2010.

8. •Make real choices
•Refuse, reject,
say no
•Ask for what I
want
•Share feelings
•Be heard and
responded to even
if the answer is no
•Ask for and get
attention and
interaction
•Have and use
AAC all the time
•Know and ask
about my schedule
•Be taught how
to
communicate
•Be a full
member of my
community
•Be treated
with respect
and dignity
•To spoken to
and not about
•Be
communicated
with in a
sensitive
manner

9.  Set small goals that work towards full time
communication system use
 Break it down into things you can do
 If possible get AAC training in your home from
school, vendor or an agency like Easter Seals
 Take webinars and online courses
 Join social networking groups with others in
your situation
 If you stumble or stop don’t be afraid to try
again and again… never give up!

10. Set it and forget it!
MMM
• Motivate
• Model
• Move out of the way!
Grow the vocabulary!

11.  Set it and forget it! - Set up
and turn on the speech
device and then take the
focus off of it. The device is
a tool. It is your child's voice
but in reality the focus is on
interaction and
connection. The more you
try to focus on the device
and just asking questions of
your child or insisting they
"find _____" the less
motivating communication
will be. Once the device is
set up...

12.  Focus on the fun or
connection in an activity or
family situation.
 Around the dinner
table? Don't force asking to
pass the peas or for a glass
of milk - boring! Instead tell
jokes, share about your day
and encourage interaction.
 Focus on comments,
descriptions and the AAC
user asking, not answering,
questions.
 Make
communicating irresistible
and then...

13.  Model - language in equals language
out (to paraphrase Linda Burkhart).
 Fancy word for this is Aided Language
Stimulation
 Number one way to increase AAC
skills is ALS!
 The device is set up, you have a topic
at hand and it is fun.
 Now YOU use the device. Have your
other children use the device. Have
visitors use the device.
 Communicate with the device as you
communicate with your voice. Want to
say that something is awesome? Use
the device! Want to tell someone to
quiet down? Use the device!
 Show, don't tell, how to use AAC to
communicate

14.  Leave the device set up, there is
no such thing as "device time
being over" or "being too tired".
 If someone is too tired to
communicate then they just won't
say anything.
 It is fine to have a device set up
and then not say anything!
 Moving out of the way means
letting life unfold and being ready
for the surprises your child throws
are you.
 You never know what someone
will to say until you give them the
time and space to say it!
 Encourage “talking to yourself!”

15.  If there is nothing to say…
then they won’t say
anything!
 Start somewhere between
where you think they are
and where you want them
to be in your wildest
dreams
 Increase vocabulary so
there is always more to
learn to say
 Imagine a life of only
being able to say, “potty”,
“cookie” and “more”!!!

16.  The device is on and
ready at all times,
you may need to
build up to this but it
is the goal
 Family members use
the system when
talking to the AAC
user
 Label everything
possible not just with
nouns but core words
as well
 Have posted core
word boards or other
materials

17.  Harness their innate
tech saavy
 Encourage them to
model using the device
 Insist they respect
communications made
with the device
 Ask for their input on
what cool language
should be programmed
 Teach older siblings
how to program

19.  Spelling boards
 Paper based books
 Core word boards
 Older, but still
useable
communication
systems
 Voice output
switches

20.  One Universal Truth –
high tech systems
break
 And there are some
places high tech isn’t a
great idea
 Have a plan for
communication for
when that happens
• What will you use?
• Where will you use it?
• How will you implement
it?
• When will it be ready for
use? Make it BEFORE
you need it!

21.  Access in unusual places
might take creativity.
 Can you mount the
system?
• In bed
• Near the couch?
• The dinner table?
 Can you add accessories
to make it work out?
 Can you use a lite tech
version?
 The hassle is always
worth allowing the human
right of communication!

22.  Social/Pragmatic Skills
• Ability greet and say good
bye
• Ability to take turns
• Ability to stay on topic
 Operational Skills
• Turn device on and off
• Control volume
• Adjust settings
• Program own device
 Linguistic/Language
• Receptive/ understanding
language
• Vocabulary
• Grammar
 Strategic
• Knowing when others don’t
“get it”
• Ability to fix mistakes
• Ability to problem solve
 Bonus Skill: Self-
Advocacy
• Direct own care
• Give directions
• Abuse prevention/reporting
• Explain needs and how they
should be met
Based on the Research of Janice Light, Ph.D.

23.  Prompt Hierarchy
• natural cue
• gestural cue
• indirect verbal cue
(hinting)
• direct verbal cue
(telling)
• modeling
• light physical/touch
cue
• full physical cue

24. • Need to make self
understood – make results
depend on communication
• Need to ask for more –
materials in view but not
accessible
• Need to ask for help - user
could need assistance with
some materials
• Need to ask for more -
provide small or inadequate
amounts of materials
• Need to explain – sweetly
sabotage a situation
• Need to ask for correction -
provide something the
student doesn’t like/want

25.  Mounting
• Mount should allow access
for the user
• Should be easy (enough) to
set up
• Should allow transfers if
possible
• Putting on mount and
device should be part of
EVERY transfer into the
chair and every arrival out of
the car or van.
• Make set up a habit.
• Hang a card with visual,
step-by-step instruction on
the wheelchair or other
mobility device

26.  Carrying
• Newer devices are lighter
weight
• Child should carry him or
herself if possible
• Make sure carry case or
strap is comfortable for
longer outings, add
padding or adjust as
needed
• Best case scenario is
access to communicate
while walking/moving
around

27.  Life is messy!
• Check with vendor on how
to best prevent scratches
and spills
• Use a stick on screen shield
to prevent scratches
• A gallon ziploc bag (and
some duct tape) can often
prevent splashes in cooking,
art and drizzling rain
• If the military can use
computers in war, in the
desert then our AAC users
can use them at lunch and
at the mall. (The water park
might be another story!)

28.  New people!
• From waitresses to the
pharmacist or dentist your
child should be able to
speak for him or her self
• Consider having cards to
hand out with an
explanation
• Make sure volume is loud
enough to be heard before
you arrive (unless you are
going to the library!)
• Consider “prepping” some
people, especially if you will
see them more than one
and then hanging back
• Have a set of one liners
ready, “Don’t look at me, I’,
just the wheelchair pusher!:
My son uses a device to talk.
• Please read this to yourself
• He has a disability that causes him no to be
able to speak.
• He touches pictures on the screen and it
speaks his selection.
• Please be patient and give him a chance
• Thank you!

29.  Communication Bills
of Rights Posters
http://bit.ly/16AvGvu
 Original Motivate,
Model, Move Out of
the Way
http://bit.ly/SyUpJw
 Living the Least
Dangerous
Assumption Article
http://bit.ly/17dwLxs

30.  Kate Ahern
 kahern@easterseals
ma.org
 More Information on
Easter Seals AAC
Services at:
http://ma.easterseals.
com/site/PageServer?
pagename=MADR_at
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