Welcome to the AAC ToolKit, compiled by me: Hanna Bogen! This is an evolving ToolKit of AAC resources (most of which were not developed by me) for children and adult clients who currently use or are being evaluated to use AAC! Stay posted for continual updates! Each post is a resource that can be used for either children, adults, or all AAC users!

In case you're wondering how to use this site most effectively, here are a couple pointers! Just below this "blurb" and to the right is a section called Types of Resources. This is a general categorization of the posts/tools into populations: adults, children and young adults, and all AAC users (both adults and children) and eval/assessment vs. intervention tools. You can click each of those general categories to find specific posts/tools that relate to those categories. Below that area is the Blog Archive, a list of all posts/tools on this site, in case you'd rather navigate through the resources in that way!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Tips for Communication Partners When Communication with AAC Users


Resource Toolkit Assignment:  Resource Summary Sheet

1.     Name of the tool, or a brief description: Tips for Communication Partners When Communicating with an AAC User

2.     What type of patient(s) would you use this tool/technique with?  (Describe by characteristics or by etiology.) This resource is designed to be handed out to communication partners of individuals who use AAC to communicate. Adjusting to communicating with a loved one in a very new and different way can be extremely overwhelming and can cause lots of communication breakdowns, and this tool can be a great way to provide support to the communication partners during a difficult transition time.

3.     How/why would you use this tool?  In what way will it be helpful? I would use this tool during a counseling portion of the therapy session with both the AAC user and the communication partner present. I would explain each tip and clarify any questions the client or communication partner(s) has. I would then recommend that the tips get posted somewhere visible (e.g., on the fridge) to serve as a regular reminder for effective communication.

4.     What are the advantages of this tool/technique?  During a very overwhelming time for communication partners, this list is concise and simple to understand. It can also be individualized for each client by adding personal tips they have for their particular partners!

5.     Are there any disadvantages to this tool/technique? The tips may be more relevant for partners of individuals who use speech generating devices, and some of the ideas may not be specifically helpful for individuals who use other forms of AAC.

The next several questions relate to how you obtained this resource:
6.     If you used an existing tool, answer these two questions:
a)     Source/citation for this tool:   (whether published, or from a course, or SPHSC materials) This list came from an article published on the Speech Language Pathology-Audiology Advance website called The Communication Partner in AAC (website address: http://speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com/Article/The-Communication-Partner-in-AAC.aspx).

b)    Did you modify this tool?  If so, in what way? I made mild modifications by changing pronouns like “I” and “me” to “the AAC user” in the second list to make it more general.

c)     Anything you still don’t like about it and may change in the future? Although I might individualize the list of tips while working with each client and his/her communication partner(s), I think this list is a great start!


Tips For Communication When You Meet an AAC User:
1. Introduce yourself.
2. Ask the person to show you how he or she communicates.
3. Say how you indicate 'yes.'
4. Wait for the communicator to construct a message.
5. Give the person an opportunity to ask questions or make comments.
6. Don't finish the person's message unless you first ask permission.
7. Interact at eye level.
8. Pay close attention to facial expressions and gestures.
9. Be honest. If you don't understand, admit it.
10. Talk directly to the person.
–Sarah Blackstone, PhD, CCC-SLP

Favorite Communication Partners Do The Following When Communicating:
• Have real conversations with the user.
• Have a genuine interest in what the user says.
• Have an ease to their communication.
• Understand the user’s speech speech.
• Are patient when the user operates the devices.
• Are comfortable with moments of silence.
• Make an effort to interpret gestures and signs.
• Admit when they don't understand what the user has said.
–from a 1999 survey of AAC users by Sarah Blackstone, PhD
Social Networks: Five Circles of Communication

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