Communication Aids (AAC) - For people who have lost their voice through disability

What is AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) ?

AAC includes the use of eye pointing (read more about eye tracking) gesture, signing, symbols, word boards, or a speech outpur device. Augmenting communication involves speech and writing. In some cases, it also involves technology relating to teaching and learning, mobility, environmental control and employment.

A more in-depth explantion of AAC can be found on the website of Communication Matters, a UK national charitable organisation of members concerned with the augmentative and alternative communication needs of people with complex communication needs.

Aided Communication Systems

If you use or have used AAC devices, please add your comments and/or experiences.  It would be very useful to those people considering what might be suitable for them.

High Tech

Devices which require at least a battery to operate, many of which can be complex.

Hardware

Pathfinder. A communications tool that features both a static keyboard plus a colour display. It comes pre-installed with vocabulary and pictures, computer keyboard emulation and infrared controls. It's apparently lightweight and compact. The makers claim a battery life of over 10 hours of cintunous use. The device can be accessed directly via a keyboard and touch screen display, through infrared head pointing or with switch-activated scanning ( single and double switch and joystick options). Parameters can also be adjusted to create the most effective access to the device. Auditory prompts help users with vision impairment.

Using the Pathfinder

LightWriter is a portable text-to-speech  communication aid.  It has dual displays, one facing the user so he or she can see what is being typed, and a second outfacing display to allow communication in a natural face-to-face position.  They are claimed to be simple to use, yet very effective...just turn it on and type.  It has large, bright displays which should be easily seen by both the user and the person listening. Suitable for the needs of people with some literacy skills but nt so good dexterity/mobility skills and for those who have problems with speech, and want messages that can be typed and read out in stages. It can be used by those who are hard of hearing. Font sizes can be enlarged and there is version with larger keys which is useful for people with vision impairment.

Windbag is a text based communication aid program for people with literacy skills. It provides many ways to store and retrieve messages. It has two main screens - the chat box and the phrase bank. The Phrase book stores messages in a database, for use at any time. Most commonly used phrases are offered first and there are some 3000 available.  Windbag will produce speech word by word, line by line, or both. There is an onscreen keyboard which can be hidden if not required. The speech voices can be adapted by the user. 

Read more about Windbag

Grid 2 is an on-screen keyboard and a communicator in a single program. The Grid provides communication with text or symbols, and complete access to a Windows computer system using switches, pointing devices or a keyboard. The program allows communication via Symbols, Text or the Onscreen keyboard.

Read more about Grid 2

Low Tech

Devices which require no battery, such as alphabet charts, picture symbols, or just pen and paper.

About Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices

More AAC videos . . . . 

Sources of Information for AAC devices

• FindaVoice. An charity based in Ashford who give information throughout the country and individual help to residents of Kent and Medway. They  support parents, carers and people with severe communication difficulties. They welcome the involvement of schools, residential homes, community groups and health/social services professionals. Theyoffer advice and help about communication aids and have a free Resource Library with switch toys, communication aids, training videos and useful books. They also have experience of applying for funding of equipment.

• EmpTech. A good source of information on types of AAC equipment, as well as a whole range of other assistive products.

• Communication Matters. A UK national charitable organisation, of members concerned with the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) needs of people with complex communication needs. They produce a useful list of centres around the UK who assess, advise and have loan bank AAC devices available.  

• Communication Aid Centre. Another useful list of AAC centres across the UK.

• RNID - Communicating with finger spelling.