SCHOOL -BASED AAC EVALUATION: Choosing Effective Assistive Technology Strategies for Students with Complex Communication Needs Paul Visvader, MA CCC-SLP SCHOOL-BASED AAC EVALUATION: Choosing Effective Assistive Technology Strategies for Students with Complex Communication Needs AAC: “Augmentative or Alternative Communication (AAC) is any device, system, or method that improves the ability of a child with a communication impairment to communicate effectively.” By Paul Visvader MA CCC-SLP <
[email protected]> Boulder, Colorado “Share the aloha…” Dedicated to all of my A.T. team members, past, present and future (Margaret Janda, Georgia Magnera, Rosemary Bogart, Anja Kintsch, Nancy Lamb, Brittany Horlbeck, Jennifer Leonesio, Erika Brandstatter...); to colleagues, friends, and mentors; and of course, to all of our students. (The original version of this book was posted online as “School-Based Assistive Technology Communication Evaluation” ©2011—It is revised and published here with permission) Copyright ©2015 by Paul Visvader <
[email protected]> All rights reserved. Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1: Background .................................................................................................................... 3 Learning communication skills .................................................................................................. 3 Three levels of communicative abilities ...................................................................................