The Survival Guide to Communication Matters 2010

The Survival Guide to Communication Matters (2010)

Don’t Panic! • Communication Matters – Intro to the charity • AAC – What is it? – How? • Conference Overview – Range of topics covered

CM Track Record • Established since 1986 • Communication Matters is THE national organisation for AAC • Sole focus, cradle to grave • UK Chapter of ISAAC and NGO status • Strength of associate membership • Strength of trans-disciplinary approach

CM Mission Statement • Our Vision A world where all individuals have a right to a 'voice' through the provision of equipment and ongoing support services. • Our Mission Statement Matters values people who use any form of communication and promotes the individual’s right to participate in all aspects of life by using their most appropriate means of communication to express their thoughts, feelings, needs and desires.

CM is more than a conference …. • • • Sources of information Exchange of information Awareness raising Education Campaigning Research

…. and here’s how! • • Information Journal Networking Road Shows Study Days Website Discussion Forum

What is AAC? “a means by which an individual can supplement or replace spoken communication. Communication may range from any movement or behaviour which is observed and interpreted by another person as meaningful, to the use of a code agreed upon between people where items have specific meanings i. e. a language. ” (Glennan and de Coste 1997 “Handbook of AAC”)

AAC • Unaided Communication – Doesn’t involve other stuff, just you – Gesture – Signing • Aided Communication – Involves extra bits and bobs – Graphic symbols – VOCAs

Aided Communication • Low Tech – Communication Charts – Communication Books – Communication Passports • High Tech / Voice Output Communication Aids – Anything with a battery that speaks!

What do you see? Signing Photographs Pictures Symbols Text

Sign Systems

Symbol & Graphics Photos Clipart Objects of Reference

Symbol & Graphics

Communication Charts,

Communication Books

Communication Books

Talking Mat

Social Stories and Visual Timetables

Conversation Supports

Communication Passports

Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCAs)

Dedicated Communication Aids • Specifically for communication – Symbol or Text based – Recorded or Synthesised voice • Different sizes and weights

Computer based VOCAs • Various Platforms – PDA – ‘Ultra Mobile’ PCs – Tablets – Laptops

Phones i. Phone Qwerty Keyboard phones

Communication Software • Runs on computer based systems • Can show or hide the rest of the computer

Symbol Based VOCAs • Simple message systems with small vocabularies: – WYSIWYG!!

Symbol Based VOCAs • Complex systems with large vocabularies – Dynamic screen systems – Coded systems (Minspeak)

Text Based Aids

Features of text based systems • Rate enhancement – Word Prediction/Completion – Word Banks – Abreviation Expansion • Phrase Banks • Keyboard type • Integration with computers

Other (VERY IMPORTANT) parts of AAC • Seating and Positioning • Access and Control – How do you control the communication aid • Mounting and Usability – What other things do you need to consider ab out using a device?

Jargon Buster - AAC Abnormal Accruals (accounting), Academy of Art College (San Francisco, CA), Acceptable Ambient Concentration, Accordion Association of Calgary, Account Activity Code, Acculink Access Controller (AT&T), Accurate Automation Corporation, Acquisition Advice Code, Action Alliance for Children, Activity Address Code, Actual Acquisition Cost, Actual Audible Chuckle (chat), Adaptive Antenna Control, Adaptive Arithmetic Coding, ADC Access Concentrator (Kentrox), Adjusted Asphalt Content, Advance Audio Coding, Advanced AERA Concepts, Advanced Airborne Course, Advanced Airspace Concept, Advanced Analytical Centre (James Cook University, Australia), Advanced Audio Coding, Advanced Audio Compression, Aerial Ambulance Company, Aeronautical Administrative Communication (MITRE), Aeronautics Advisory Council, Affiliated Acceptance Corporation, African-American Council, Agility Association of Canada, Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, aka AAFC), AIDS Action Council, Air Agency Certificate, Air Ambulance Company, Air Armament Center (USAF), Airborne Activity Confinement, Airborne Aircraft Controller, Aircraft Armament Change, Airline Administrative Communications, Alaska Administrative Code, Alaskan Air Command, Albany Anthrocon, Alberta Aviation Council (Canada), Alkyl Ammonium Compound, All African Convention, All Aluminum Conductor (type of cable), Augmentative or Alternaitve Communication, Aluminum Alloy Conductor (type of cable), Aluminum Anodizers Council, American Adoption Congress, American Airlines Center (Dallas, TX sports venue), American Alpine Club (Golden, Colorado USA), American Anglican Council, Anesthesia Awareness Campaign, Inc (Reston, VA), Anno Ante Christum (Latin: In the Year Before Christ), Annual Allowable Cut (forestry), Antiaircraft Common (Ammunition), Antibiotic-Associated-Colitis, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (journal), Apiary Advisory Committee (Washington State Beekeepers Association), Apple Audio Codec (common, but incorrect), Applicant Assistance Center (DHS/FEMA), Appoint A Committee, Aquaculture Association of Canada, Architecture Advisory Committee, Area Above the Curve, Arlington Aquatic Club (Virginia, USA), Armament Accuracy Check, Army Accessions Command, Army Acquisition Corps, Army Air Corps (British), Army Aviation Center (Fort Rucker, Alabama), Art Academy of Cincinnati, Asian Athletics Championships, Assessment Accommodations Checklist (education), Assignment Availability Code, Assistant Area Commissioner (UK scouting), Associação Academica Coimbra (Portugal), Associação Académica de Coimbra (student organization), Association for Assessment in Counseling, Association of Airline Consolidators (UK), Association of American Colleges, Association of Asian Communicators, Atlanta Area Council (Boy Scouts of America), Atlanta Athletic Club, Audiology Awareness Campaign, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (journal), Australian Agricultural Council, Australian Army Cadets, Austrian Association of Cinematographers, Authorization and Access Control, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, Automated Accounting System, Automatic Amplitude Control, Automatic Aperture Control, Automatic Approach Control, Automatic Attenuation Control (analog devices), Automotive Applications Committee (American Iron and Steel Institute), Autonomous Activation Condition, Auxiliary Air Control, Average Acquisition Cost, Aviation Armament Change, Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Abbreviated Address Calling, Adaptive Ata Control, Adobe Acrobat Connect, Advanced Access Control, Advanced Activity Concept, Alarm Conversion Circuit, Apple Assistance Center, Arkserve Appliance Centre, Authentication and Accounting Client, Authorizing and Access Control, Automatic Area Control,

Jargon Buster – Organisations • ISAAC • PCT • LA • RCo. E

Jargon Buster – Organisations • ISAAC: International Society of Augmentative and Alternative Communication • PCT: Primary Care Trust • LA: Local Authority • RCo. E: Regional Centre of Excellence

Jargon Buster – People • • Pwu. AAC: SLT/SALT/SLP: SLTa: OT: Physio/PT: RE: LSA:

Jargon Buster – People • Pwu. AAC: People who use Alternative and Augmentative Communication • SLT/SALT/SLP: Speech and Language Therapist (Pathologist) • SLTa: Speech and Language Therapy Assistant • OT: Occupational Therapist • Physio/PT: Physiotherapist • RE: Rehabilitation Engineer • LSA: Learning Support Assistant

Jargon Buster - Devices • • • VOCA: SGD: AT: EC(S): Any others? ?

Jargon Buster - Devices • VOCA: Voice Output Communication Aid • SGD: Speech Generating Device (used in the states) • AT: Assistive Technology • EAT: Electronic Assistive Technology • EC(S): Environmental Control (System) Any others? ?

Jargon Buster – People Without Acronyms (!): • Clinical Scientist, Clinical Technologist • Advisory Teacher / Advanced Skills Teacher • Any others? ? ?

Legislation/Policy and Reports (The Boring Bit) • • Bercow Report, 2008 – Communication Champion No Voice, No Choice (SCOPE): www. timetogetequal. org. uk Children Plan 2008 National Service Frameworks (NHS) – Long Term Conditions – Children – Neurological Conditions Freedom of expression: – Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998 – UN Conventions on the rights of the child and the rights of persons with disabilities. Improving Life Chances of Disabled People, 2005 Communication Forum

Programme Sign Posts • ADD POINTERS TO THEMES IN PROGRAMME…

Resources • CM Website: – www. communicationmatters. org. uk/ • CM Forum: – http: //groups. google. co. uk/group/cm-aacforum • CM Publications: – www. communicationmatters. org. uk/Publicatio ns/publications. html

Have fun. (-: Come and see the CM Stand (Ask anyone with a red lanyard for help!)