Drager, K., Holyfield, C., & Caron, J. (2019, February). Successful Beginning Communication: Building Toward It and Building Upon It. Presentation at the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.
Drager et al. (2019) Handout (pdf)
Abstract: During the first 5 years of life, typically developing children make extraordinary progress in learning and using language. Individuals with complex communication needs, however, are at significant risk in their communication and language development. All individuals start at the earliest stages of learning language, but many with severe communication disabilities remain at this beginning communication stage for far too long. This session will outline evidence-based strategies for implementing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with beginning communicators, including the use of visual scene displays (VSDs). VSDs can provide necessary supports for beginning communicators who are at the earliest stages of language development; however, later stages of language development are not well supported by these types of displays. Then, potential supports for supporting beginning communicators toward these later stages of language development and more robust means of communication will be discussed. Cases across age ranges will be used throughout to illustrate strategies.
All ATIA 2019 presentations by students and faculty can be found here.
