AAC technologies with visual scene displays and “just in time” programming and symbolic communication turns expressed by students with severe disability

Kathryn D.R. Drager, Janice Light, Jessica Currall, Nimisha Muttiah, Vanessa Smith, Danielle Kreis, Alyssa Nilam-Hall, Daniel Parratt, Kaitlin Schuessler, Kaitlin Shermetta, Jill Wiscount

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The current study investigated the impact of an intervention that included aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies on the frequency of symbolic communication turns of school-age children, adolescents, and young adults with severe disability. Method: Nine students ages 8–20 were engaged in interactive activities using an aided AAC system with visual scene displays (VSDs; concepts embedded within a photograph of a naturally occurring event), and “just-in-time” (JIT) programming (the capability to add new contexts “on the fly”). Effectiveness was evaluated using a single subject multiple probe across participants design. Results: All participants demonstrated increases in symbolic communication turns upon introduction of the AAC technologies with VSDs using JIT technology. Conclusions: AAC with VSDs and JIT programming may be effective in increasing symbolic communication for students with severe developmental disability. The fast and easy creation of VSDs and hotspots to provide communication may be a valuable tool for interventionists.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)321-336
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability
Volume44
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 3 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Education
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • General Psychology

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