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AUGMENTATIVE
AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION
Augmentative
and Alternative Communication (AAC) refers to all communication that
supplements natural speech.
Augmentative communication may enhance spoken and/or written
language abilities, may improve social/pragmatic language development, may
stimulate the use of speech, and may facilitate the educational and
vocational process.
Augmentative communication may make use of symbols, aids,
techniques and strategies to compensate for impairment and disability
patterns that are common to people with severe expressive communication
disorders.
MSHA
AAC committee includes members from University, school, clinic, private
practice, and MATR work settings.
Diversity gives our committee access to information and experience
from many viewpoints.
MSHA
AAC Committee Mission Statement
Philosophy:
The mission of the AAC subcommittee of The Hospital and Community Services
Committee is to promote awareness of and education about AAC in Michigan.
It will strive to achieve and maintain the highest of standards for
the quality of services provided.
The purposes of the subcommittee shall be as follows:
· To promote education of SLPs in identification, assessment, and
intervention of non-speaking individuals
· To encourage use and application of AAC for non speaking
individuals
· To disseminate information regarding AAC to SLPs in order to
increase awareness of AAC activity within the state.
· To stimulate education, service and research in AAC
· To advance knowledge of current trends in the area of AAC for SLPs,
professionals in other disciplines, and consumers across the state.
· To facilitate advocacy for non-speaking individuals.
· To support independence of non-speaking individuals through AAC
· To advocate creative funding alternates/options for individuals in
need of AAC technology
If
you wish to have more information about AAC, potential resources include:
· Local
public schools
· Local
intermediate school district
· Local
hospital or rehabilitation facility
· Community
speech and hearing clinic
· Nearest
university
Additional
resources:
· MATR
· COUNCIL
FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN
· MSHA
· PROJECT
ACCESS
· ASHA
· ISSAC
· CAMA
· RESNA
· YAACK
· U
OF NEBRASKA
MSHA
AAC committee meets 3-4 times per year. Meetings are held in various
locations.
One meeting is held in conjunction with the MSHA conference.
Membership
is open to any MSHA member with an interest in Augmentative/Alternative
Communication.
Selected
Webs Sites of Interest for AAC
Barkley
Augmentative and Alternative Communication: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
http://aac.unl.edu/
University of Nebraska-Lincoln site with information related to
Augmentative and Alternative Communication. The site includes AAC Device
programming tutorials, definitions of AAC terms, frequently used
vocabulary lists for different age groups and other resources and other
information related to augmentative communication
Closing
the Gap
http://www.closingthegap.com
They have an online, searchable version of their Resource Directory for
computer-related products for people with special needs, including
software and hardware. They also have an online archive of articles from
Closing the Gap Newsletter.
RESNA
Technical Assistance (TA) Project
http://www.resna.org/hometa1.htm
This project provides information and consultation to assistive technology
programs in states and territories funded under The Technology- Related
Assistance For Individuals With Disabilities Act Amendments of 1994 (P.L.
103-218). Locate the AT program in your state and read articles relating
to legislation and assistive technology.
http://www.lburkhart.com/sr.htm
Selected Vendors and Manufacturers with annotations and links, Selected
Books on Augmentative Communication and Adaptive Play, Selected
Organizations and Publications. Compiled by Linda J. Burkhart.
Trace
Research & Development Center
http://trace.wisc.edu/
This site contains a Cooperative Electronic Library of selected disability
documents and resources. They also offer Designing an Accessible World
with suggested guidelines for designing a wide variety of technologies for
use by individuals with disabilities. There are also online searchable
databases of assistive technology products as well as freeware and
shareware to download.
Glossary
of Adaptive Technologies, Adaptive Technology Resource Centre at the
University of Toronto
http://www.utoronto.ca/atrc/tech/techgloss.html
This is a glossary of Assistive Technology Terms and description of
products. The site is maintained by the Adaptive Technology Resource
Centre at the University of Toronto.
Illinois
Assistive Technology Project (IATP)
isaac-online.org
ISAAC
(International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication) is
an organization devoted to advancing the field of Augmentative and
Alternative Communication (AAC). ISAAC has over 2,800 members in more than
50 countries. Membership is open to all who are interested in AAC.
Communication
Aid Manufacturers Association (CAMA)
P.O.
Box 1039
Evanston, Illinois 60204
1-800-441-CAMA
(2262)
cama@northshore.net
Augmentative
Communication, Inc.
Augmentative
Communication News (ACN) and Alternatively
Speaking (AS) together provide the latest information on hot topics
in the field, discussion of vital issues for AAC stakeholders and news
from the AAC community.
Augmentative
and Alternative Communication (AAC) Connecting Young Kids (YAACK) is a
website that covers issues related to AAC and young children. Its purpose
is to provide information and guidance to families, teachers,
speech/language pathologists and anyone else who is involved with a child
with special communication needs. It is intended to be easy to understand
and practical, and to cover a wide range of topics dealing with AAC and
AAC-related issues of children at various ages and stages of communication
ability, and with different strengths, disabilities and learning
characteristics.