F.+Implementation

=AAC Intervention=
 * Critical Assumptions:**
 * 1) AAC success requires collaboratively planned intervention that is monitored regularly and adjusted as needed
 * 2) AAC success involves a variety of expressive communication intervention strategies as well as AAC intervention strategies
 * 3) In addition to supporting AAC acquisition, language therapy may be necessary as non-oral speakers often have “hidden” language disorders
 * 4) AAC intervention and literacy can be concurrently addressed
 * 5) AAC systems will need to be continually adjusted and modified to meet communicator needs

¤Indentify contexts ¤Provide an effective means ¤ Select appropriate vocabulary ¤Set up the environment ¤Use interaction strategies
 * Janice Light's Research:**
 * @http://aackids.psu.edu/index.php/page/show/id/14
 * @http://aac-rerc.psu.edu/index.php/webcasts/show/id/7


 * Some Intervention Programs Models and Tools:**
 * 1) Every Move Counts- by Jane Korsten and Lisa Berry; designed to support communicators who are multiply impaired []
 * 2) Environmental Communication Teaching- supported by Susan McCloskey & Kelly Fonner; consists of a systemic process for looking at communicative intent and appropriate environmental supports and response []
 * 3) PECS- Picture Exchange communication System- a low-tech picture communication system that is rooted in a behavioral approach to communication exchange []
 * 4) Tangible Symbol Systems is a method of communication that uses more concrete (tactile symbols, object and parts of objects) symbols []
 * 5) Social Networks by Sarah W. Blackstone, Ph.D. And Mary Hunt Berg, Ph.D . - focuses on a communicator’s Circle of Friends [|http://www.augcominc.com]; Circle 1- life long communication partners, Circle 2- close family and friends, Circle 3- acquaintances, Circle 4- paid workers, Circle 5- Unfamiliar partners
 * 6) Scripting- utilizing predictable communication exchanges to build communicative competence
 * 7) Cuing- providing external supports indicating what is expected of the communicator; Visual (pointing, light pen, etc.); Auditory (linguistic auditory prompts); Tactile (supporting physical access of the vocabulary)
 * 8) Pragmatic Language Intervention- focus on the social rules that govern communication; Initiation, Commenting, Repair techniques, Questioning, Termination
 * 9) SETT Framework- A collaborative planning and decision Making tool developed by Joy Zabala ([|http://www.joyzabala.com]) ; **S** tudent- abilities and disabilities; **E** nvironment- where is the student participating; **T** asks- What is the student expected to do; **T** ools and Strategies - what will assist the student in reaching academic goals and objectives


 * Some Other Intervention ideas:**
 * Become very familiar with the Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC) technology used by the communicator to ensure that all features are appropriately/fully utilized
 * Use play/social environments as appropriate
 * Begin at the communicator’s level (i.e. when/where does the individual currently utilize successful communication strategies?)
 * Utilize peers/siblings as communication partners/tutors/models
 * Teach communication tasks in natural environments
 * Use collaborative teaching models
 * Use commercially available expressive language programs
 * Incorporate literacy and writing activities into oral communication activities
 * Use commercially available pragmatic language programs
 * Model desired communication behaviors
 * Use age appropriate card games, board games, action games, etc.
 * Use imitation/extension/parallel language techniques
 * Use Sabotage and reverse chaining techniques
 * Address language disorders concurrently
 * Begin with highly motivating activities that allow the communicator to control others and the environment.
 * Use dialogs and scripts sparingly

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Websites:

 * http://www.aacintervention.com
 * @http://aac.unl.edu/yaack/
 * @http://www.aaclanguagelab.com/
 * @http://www.setbc.org/
 * @http://www.lburkhart.com/