Mission Accomplished

Person-Centered AAC Success

Presented by: Alleah Adix

Along with...Nikki Stronjy, Support Staff

Katie Novak & Holly Forst, UWEC Graduate Students Jill Widiker, UWEC Clinical Instructor

Welcome!What you’ll learn:● Personal Story● How to get started with an iPad● Making a plan all about you● Carryout the plan and practice● Other communication options● Now you give it a try!

Meet Alleah...

Alleah’s StoryWhen I was young…About Ben….About my family...Favorite activities…About my iPad…..

Getting Started

● New placeo parking & getting around

● New peopleo not familiar with the way you talk = more

misunderstandings● New routine

o change in your dayo How do we deal with it all?

Alleah took walking breaks & painted

Getting Started● New iPad

o Turning it on and offo Volumeo Touch Screeno Swiping and scrollingo Appso Photo Album

Where do we go from here??.....

Getting Started● Proloquo2Go● Received funding

o IRIS

People Come FirstGet to know YOU….

● WHO is in your life?o communication partners

● WHAT is your schedule?o daily routines/activities

● WHEN is it easy and hard to talk?o communication breakdowns

● HOW can Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) help?

o where are opportunities to talk

People Come FirstPerson-Centered Planning (Beukelman, 2013)● be involved in your everyday life

o Ex: ordering at restaurants ● make new friends

o introduce yourself, share stories● have a say

o increase control of your life● make a difference

o volunteer, share your talents and gift

Make a Plan● Set Goals

o share your gifts and talents Alleah’s volunteer work and biscuit

business● Gather a Team of People

o make a “Vision Plan”● Create opportunities ● Talk to friends, family, peers ● Carry-out the plan over time

Make a Plan● Today, iPads are everywhere

o many people have themo airporto coffee shops

● Less money than other AAC ● Small and portable

Make a Plan● Find a helper

o speech therapist @ a university, clinic or hospital

● Make sure YOU come firsto Team met with Alleah, family, and staffo Program created around her life - unique

● You can make phrases or spell words● Alleah’s iPad talks in phrases

o Listen to...Alleah’s Schedule

Get Started● Choose to talk about the most

important activity in your life first!● Alleah rated activities

o Alleah’s dog, Beno Alleah’s scheduleo Alleah’s businesso Alleah’s family

● Practice, practice, practiceo You and your helper can talk

togethero Explore your iPad- find all of the

new things it can do!o practice talking with other people:

familiar (people YOU know) unfamiliar (new friends)

Learning

● Family/friend trainingo New technologyo How to program buttonso The more people that can

help change your program, the more you can participate!

o Ask for help, this is new for everyone

Find People to Help You

● Continually Changingo There is no final solutiono Everyone’s life changes!o Alleah’s program will

continue to change with her

Changes

Special Settings● Accessibility (iPhone and iPads)

o Voice Over: Reads words on screeno Invert Colors: Low vision - high contrasto Large Texto Button Shapeso Guided Access: keeps user locked in appo Switch Control: buttons or joystickso Assistive Touch: record gestures to activate

screen

Add-Ons● Durable

o Screen Protectiono Cases

● Portableo Caseso Carrying Strapso Mounts

Challenges● Noisy Places● What you want to say has to be pre-

programmed ● Access in the moment

o Alleah’s bus example & low tech solution● Glare

o outdoors, overhead lighting● Battery life

o Alleah likes to check her “juice”

Meet Nikki…

Examples from Nikki

Communication Independence

● Vacation to visit PA (Alleah’s father)

● Doctor visits

● Ordering at restaurants

AAC: High Tech● High Tech

o speech output “device that talks” iPad DynaVox, Lingraphica, and many others Many, many Apps!

● Speak It, Proloquo2Go, Pictello, etc.● See Handout

o Price ranges vary

AAC: High Tech insert pics

AAC: Low tech● Low Tech

o Communication Boardso Alphabet Boardso Talking photo albumo Life history booko Pictures or digital photo albums

Always use pictures that tell a story

Low Tech: Choosing PicturesWhich one tells us more?

AAC: Low Tech

AAC: Communication Tips● Sensory aids in place

o glasses, hearing aids, communication device, etc.

● Face-to-Face● Quiet, well-lit environment● Create communication opportunities● Add pause time● Confirm you understand the message● Keep a notepad and sharpie handy● Encourage and use multimodal communication

o helpers model and use AAC themselves

Let’s Try It!

● Low Tech AACo Picture-Based Board

“I want peanut butter for my toast.”● Multimodal Communication

o Point, Gestures, Draw o “Use everything you’ve got!”o Find a partner and give it a try:

“I took my dog to the vet last Tuesday for a rabies shot”

AAC: Considerations...● Program Selections

o one doesn’t fit all!● Seek professional help

o you are not alone● Resource

o iPad Apps for Complex Communication Needs

References1. Beukelman, D.R., & Mirenda, P. (2013). Augmentative & alternative

communication: Supporting children & adults with complex communication needs (4th ed.). Baltimore, MD: Brooks Publishing.

2. Parker, R. (2014, May 30). 9 Tips for Better AAC Communication Throughout the Year. Praactical AAC: Supports for Language Learning. Retrieved from http://praacticalaac.org/praactical/9-tips-for-better-aac-communication-throughout-the-year/

3. McNeill, G., & Millar, S. (2014). AAC Apps - iPad Apps for Complex Communication Support Needs. Call Scotland Communication and Assistive Technology for People with Disabilitities. Retreived from http://www.callscotland.org.uk/Resources/Posters-and-Leaflets/iPad-Apps-for-Complex-Communication-Support-Needs/