Using Social Networks to Make AAC Device Decisions

Selecting the right Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) device can be based on analyzing the social network of a user, according to Iris Fishman, a consultant of United Cerebral Palsy of NYC.

Fishman presented at CSUN 2006 a way to use Sarah W. Blackstone’s publication ‘Social Networks: A communication inventory for individuals with complex communication needs and their communication partners’ in a very practical way with day-to-day selections of an AAC device.

In the ideal situation, a person with a communication difficulty has a social network consisting of (1) family, (2) close friends, (3) acquaintances, (4) paid assistants, and (5) unfamiliar parties (see also image on this page). The paid assistants generally include the speech pathologist, vendors, occupational therapist, physical therapist, the rehabilitation engineer, staff members at school, paid staff at home and work. Unfortunately, people with communication difficulties start mostly with the social network that involves paid people and family and communication devices can expand the social network of people with communication difficulties.

Analyzing the users’ situation, three types of communicators can be selected to expand the social network: Emerging Communicator, Context Dependant Communicator and Independent Communicator. These are also the stages of communication that speech pathologist use in determining communication skills.

Emerging Communicator

This type of communicator has no reliable means of symbolic communication and probably uses non-symbolic methods like gestures, vocalizations, facial expressions and body postures. Emerging communicators have only limited partners, since they communicate primarily with paid staff and close family.

Context Dependant Communicator

Communication limited to a particular partner group or context is called a Context Dependant Communicator, Communication methods include signs, gestures, postures, speech, communication boards, vocalization and communication books. In this stage, many partners need training in AAC modes to be able to achieve the full potential of a person with a communication difficulty. Since the symbolic communication of people in this stage is usually unreliable, the goal should be that communication methods like symbols should be reliable and expand the communication topics so more partners can understand the person using Context Dependant Communicators.

Independent Communicator

A person that uses a variety of communication systems in addition to signs, gestures, postures, speech, communication boards, vocalization, communication books, AAC device, computers, alphabet boards, telephone and email is considered to be in the independent communicator stage. In this stage, a wide variety of communication partners enrich a persons live and give independence. When users are in this stage, the goals include improving the communication rate, complexity, vocabulary expansion and the development of social interaction skills.

The use of AAC devices in improving communication and social interaction can vary from low-tech devices like a wooden communication board to high-tech multiple message switches and dynamic communication devices. The selected device and method should always fit the communicator and, once selected, training and close monitoring of the users can greatly improve the success rate of a device.

Source: CSUN 2006 Session / United Cerebral Palsy of New York City, Inc.