Augmentative and alternative communication for persons with developmental disabilities

RESUMO

Communication has been described as the essence of human life. AAC approaches may be grouped into those that are aided of unaided. AAC should be considered for individuals with a variety of developmental disabilities. It is best to start AAC use as early as possible, rather than waiting until an individual may or may not meeting what some authors have called cognitive prerequisites. Possible outcomes of AAC use are increased communicative competence, improved speech development, replacement of challenging behaviors, and an overall enhancement of the user`s quality of life. Basic components of an AAC assessment and commonly used intervention strategies have been developed. AAC intervention should be goal-drive, needs-based, and accompanied by a way of measuring progress to ensure accountability. The Ontario AAC services system includes a number of funding sources and types of support