101 ideas for the implementation of AAC devices that are simple

This page is devoted to ideas that may prove useful for people working with electronic (mains charged or battery) AAC devices that are basically simple and thus cannot be used to communicate any idea or sentence. Such devices typically include those with overlays (active cells or surfaces) of up to (but not exceeding) 32 locations. These include such systems as the Advocate, AMDI systems, BIGmack, BIG Point, BIG step, Bluebird, Cardinal, Chatbox, Chickadee, Doo-zy, Eagle, Fl4sh, Go Talk, Humming Bird, IntroTalker, I-Talk-Too, Lingo, Listen-To-Me, LITTLEmack, LittleStep, Partner 4, Pocket Talk, Quick Talker, Sequencer, SimpleAAC, Smooth Talker, Step-By-Step, Super Talker, Talking Buttons, TechTalks, VoicePal, Voice Pen and paper, etc. as well as many (presently the majority) of the iPad apps for AAC that are available. These systems will come and go and others will undoubtedly be added into the mix as the years progress but, whatever the system is called, its uses remains fairly similar across the world.

Typical features of simple AAC systems

Typically, such systems exhibit the following characteristics:

  • Linked pages: they do not have linked pages;
  • Messages: they have each cell on any overlay providing a single, recordable message;
  • Scanning: they do not scan but a cell may be operable by an external switch;
  • Symbols: they require static paper based symbols /symbol overlays (iPad apps are one exception to this);
  • Levels: they may contain changeable levels such that facilitators can switch from one set up to another;
  • Overlay sizes: they have overlay sizes of less than 32 locations (usually even numbers).

The above list provides typical features of simple AAC systems however there may be some that do NOT conform: for example, there are some simple AAC systems that do scan (for example the FL4SH system from AbleNet) and some that have linked pages. As this page focuses on the electronic/battery operated systems it does NOT follow that these are better or should be used in preference to other systems. Both electronic and non-electronic systems have their place and their functions and should be equally valued and utilised.

Working with simple AAC: Ideas and Implementation

There are (actually over) 101 ideas for USING / IMPLEMENTING simple AAC on the page below. Talksense hopes that at least one of them will inspire you to try it! This page does not focus on ideas for particular group of Learners experiencing communication difficulties. Rather, it has a wider focus for all those who are currently working with or who might benefit from simple AAC (electronic) systems. Some of the implementation ideas apply to Single Sell Systems (such as the BIGmack for example) but most can be used with any multi-cell system. Where a particular idea is (only) applicable to a Single Surface System (SSS) then the abbreviation SSS will appear in the section.

Best Practice and Overlay Design

As with any other system there is good practice and there is poor practice. Best practice is obviously not common sense as Talksense does not always see it when we are observing in classrooms around the globe. Hopefully, some of the sections below will raise your awareness of some of the issues in this area.

On the web page below are examples of many overlays. Some may inspire you, some you may say, 'I can do better than that', some might prompt a 'that wouldn't work for Jimmy because ...', some will elicit a 'that's too complex for Jane'. Well, if you can do better, then do better! I often find that seeing other overlays inspires me to create a better one based on my reaction to the first. If it would not work for Jimmy then make a similar one that would! If it's too complex for Jane then create a simpler overlay with less cells. The overlays are not intended to be the panacea for all ills; one size fits all. They are a generic set of examples.