{"id":66511,"date":"2021-11-04T11:48:42","date_gmt":"2021-11-04T10:48:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/que_son_los_sistemas_aumentativos_y_alternativos_de_comunicacion"},"modified":"2023-02-09T11:13:41","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T10:13:41","slug":"what_are_augmentative_and_alternative_communication_systems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/en\/what_are_augmentative_and_alternative_communication_systems","title":{"rendered":"What are AAC?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av-layout-grid-1'  class='av-layout-grid-container av-16a5u-8092cdba43530838e1571a3c138e2f83 entry-content-wrapper main_color av-flex-cells  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_one_full  avia-builder-el-first   container_wrap fullsize'  >\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-14624-fa8ee28e6abb4a7e52fc1e4c948ab9c9\">\n.flex_cell.av-14624-fa8ee28e6abb4a7e52fc1e4c948ab9c9{\nvertical-align:top;\n}\n.responsive #top #wrap_all .flex_cell.av-14624-fa8ee28e6abb4a7e52fc1e4c948ab9c9{\npadding:30px 30px 30px 30px !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_cell av-14624-fa8ee28e6abb4a7e52fc1e4c948ab9c9 av-gridrow-cell av_four_fifth no_margin  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_cell_one_fifth  avia-builder-el-first ' ><div class='flex_cell_inner'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kvlb3hjr-79e4c734bcd88a2b5d186096bc74eff0\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-kvlb3hjr-79e4c734bcd88a2b5d186096bc74eff0{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-kvlb3hjr-79e4c734bcd88a2b5d186096bc74eff0 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n#top #wrap_all .av-special-heading.av-kvlb3hjr-79e4c734bcd88a2b5d186096bc74eff0 .av-special-heading-tag{\nfont-size:30px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-kvlb3hjr-79e4c734bcd88a2b5d186096bc74eff0 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-kvlb3hjr-79e4c734bcd88a2b5d186096bc74eff0 av-special-heading-h2  avia-builder-el-2  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >What are the Augmentative and Alternative Systems of Communication?<\/h2><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-zkmk-a299588f3b12ab6d6c5414417eed5b05\">\n.flex_cell.av-zkmk-a299588f3b12ab6d6c5414417eed5b05{\nvertical-align:top;\n}\n.responsive #top #wrap_all .flex_cell.av-zkmk-a299588f3b12ab6d6c5414417eed5b05{\npadding:30px 30px 30px 30px !important;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_cell av-zkmk-a299588f3b12ab6d6c5414417eed5b05 av-gridrow-cell av_one_fifth no_margin  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_cell_four_fifth  avia-builder-el-last ' ><div class='flex_cell_inner'>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-wzc8-8981d097993405db4df1fd5b4ab28d91\">\n.avia-image-container.av-wzc8-8981d097993405db4df1fd5b4ab28d91 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-wzc8-8981d097993405db4df1fd5b4ab28d91 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-wzc8-8981d097993405db4df1fd5b4ab28d91 av-styling- avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-4  avia-builder-el-no-sibling '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/que_son_los_saac.pdf\" class='avia_image' target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-24691 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-24691 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/pdf_download.png\" alt='' title='pdf_download'  height=\"128\" width=\"128\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/pdf_download.png 128w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/pdf_download-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/pdf_download-36x36.png 36w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/pdf_download-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 128px) 100vw, 128px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id='after_grid_row_1'  class='main_color av_default_container_wrap container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-66511'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'><div class='flex_column av-327k-7c09bba28d769aa173c2c76776db59f1 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_layout_row  el_before_av_one_full  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div '     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-so64-6ad26ab2ea618b40c59a2a9e47c77a90\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-so64-6ad26ab2ea618b40c59a2a9e47c77a90 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:14px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-so64-6ad26ab2ea618b40c59a2a9e47c77a90'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>From ARASAAC we\u2019d like to thank both <strong>Carmen Basil<\/strong>and the <strong><a class=\"sc-jKJlTe eNoKNj\" href=\"https:\/\/www.utac.cat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Unitat de T\u00e8cniques Augmentatives de Comunicaci\u00f3 (UTAC)<\/a><\/strong> for their collaboration at drafting this section in our website.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"sc-bZQynM sixEz\">What are the Augmentative and Alternative Systems of Communication?<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-123\" src=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/comunicar.png\" alt=\"Communicate pictogram\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/comunicar.png 150w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/comunicar-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/comunicar-36x36.png 36w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/comunicar-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/>The <strong>Augmentative and Alternative Systems of Communication (AAC)<\/strong>are ways of expression different from spoken language, that aim at increasing (augmentative) and\/or compensate (alternative) the difficulties of communication and language of many people with disabilities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\">Communication and language are essential for every human being to interact with other people, to learn, enjoy and take part in society. Today, thanks to these systems, they can\u2019t be restrained by the difficulties with the oral language. For this reason, every person, whether kids, teenagers, adults or seniors, that for any cause haven\u2019t acquired or have lost the level of spoken language needed for communicating in a satisfactory manner, have to use an AAC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\">Among the reasons to make the use of an AAC necessary, we find cerebral palsy (CP), intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson\u2019s disease, muscular dystrophies, traumatic brain injuries, aphasias or multiple disabilities of different types, to name but a few.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\"><strong>Augmentative and Alternative Systems of Communication (AAC)<\/strong> is not incompatible but complementary to the rehab of natural speech. Besides, it may help to its success whenever it is posible. Thus, you shouldn\u2019t hesitate to introduce it at early ages, as soon as you observe difficulties in the development of oral language, or soon after any accident or disease has caused its damage. There is no evidence that the use of AAC inhibits or interferes in the development or recovery of speech.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div class='flex_column av-r1ls-75fe668a0a153f58057b3c466478dba5 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_full  first flex_column_div column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-phmi-50b018d335ed2a2d28864d5a2dc2a96d\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-phmi-50b018d335ed2a2d28864d5a2dc2a96d .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:14px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-phmi-50b018d335ed2a2d28864d5a2dc2a96d'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 class=\"sc-bZQynM sixEz\">What resources are used?<\/h2>\n<p>Augmentative and Alternative Communication includes different <strong>systems of symbols<\/strong>, both graphic (pictures, drawings, pictograms, words or letters) and gestural (mimicry, gestures or hand signals) and, in the former case, it also requires the use of <strong>support products<\/strong>. The different systems of symbols adapt to the needs of people of varied ages and uneven motor, cognitive and linguistic skills.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\">The <strong>support products for communication<\/strong> include technological resources such as artificial speech communicators, personal computers or tablets with special programmes that allow different forms of access adapted for people with very limited mobility. They also facilitate the incorporation of the different systems of pictographic and ortographic symbols, as well as different outbound means including voice output. They may also involve non technological resources like communication boards and books.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22438 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Tablero_comunicacion_ARASAAC_1-1030x773.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Tablero_comunicacion_ARASAAC_1-1030x773.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Tablero_comunicacion_ARASAAC_1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Tablero_comunicacion_ARASAAC_1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Tablero_comunicacion_ARASAAC_1-705x529.jpg 705w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Tablero_comunicacion_ARASAAC_1-450x338.jpg 450w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Tablero_comunicacion_ARASAAC_1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<h6 style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/h6>\n<p>There are different strategies and instruments to access computers, communicators, communication boards or books, generically called <strong>strategies and products of support<\/strong> for access, such as pointers, adapted or virtual keyboards and mouse devices or switches.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div class='flex_column av-n9l4-2147b31450cf644cb4a90ddfa718de82 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_full  first flex_column_div column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-jl34-3c31a53c8bea50ef19af76f9ba78044b\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-jl34-3c31a53c8bea50ef19af76f9ba78044b .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:14px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-jl34-3c31a53c8bea50ef19af76f9ba78044b'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 class=\"sc-bZQynM sixEz\">Systems of symbols<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-124\" src=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/pictogramas.png\" alt=\"Pictograms\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/pictogramas.png 200w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/pictogramas-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/pictogramas-36x36.png 36w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/pictogramas-180x180.png 180w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/pictogramas-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>Previously we have divided the systems of symbols for ACC into gestural and graphic. In both cases we find a gradation from very simple systems -that adapt themselves to people with cognitive and linguistic deficit of different considerations- to complex systems that allow advanced levels of sign language (based on hand signs) or assisted language (based on graphic signs).<\/p>\n<p>In the case of <strong>gestural symbols<\/strong>, this gradation encompasses from the use of mimicry and commonly used gestures to the use of hand signs, generally in the order of spoken language; this is what is called signed or bimodal language. Sign languages used by hearing impaired people are not considered as AAC as they constitute languages that have been naturally developed and acquired, like spoken language. The use of hand signs requires having enough motor skills as it may be the case of people with mental disability or autism spectrum disorders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\"><strong>Graphic symbols<\/strong> cover from very simple systems based on pictures or photographs to systems more and more complex like pictographic systems or traditional orthography (letters, words and sentences). used by motorically impaired people (CP, ALS, MS\u2026). Thanks to the support products for communication and the diverse resources for access, the graphic systems may be used by people with reduced mobility, even in cases of extreme severity. That\u2019s why, apart from being used, in the previous case, by mentally disabled people or those with ASD, they are also<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\"><strong>Pictographic systems<\/strong> are applied to people who are illiterate because of age or disability. They offer the advantage of allowing, from a very basic level of communication -that is adaptable for people with low cognitive levels or at very early stages- to a very rich and advanced level- although never as complete and flexible as the one that can be reached with the use of written language. The most widely used pictographic systems in Spain are PSC (Pictographic System of Communication) and ARASAAC, developed by this Aragonese Portal of AAC and freely available under Creative Commons licence.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22446 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"408\" data-pin-title=\"Sistema pictogr\u00e1fico de comunicaci\u00f3n ARASAAC\" data-pin-description=\"Sistema pictogr\u00e1fico de comunicaci\u00f3n ARASAAC\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion.jpg 974w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion-768x483.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion-705x443.jpg 705w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion-450x283.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div class='flex_column av-1uis-31a0b464368ecae180195fda25872c7b av_one_full  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_full  first flex_column_div column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-gusi-9f7c11f2dd8f9412c06e1685532a0e54\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-gusi-9f7c11f2dd8f9412c06e1685532a0e54 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:14px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-gusi-9f7c11f2dd8f9412c06e1685532a0e54'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 class=\"sc-bZQynM sixEz\">Support products for communication<\/h2>\n<p>We can divide support products for communication into basic and technological. The <strong>boards of communication<\/strong> are basic support products that consist of surfaces of diverse materials where graphic symbols for communication are placed (photographs, pictograms, letters, words and\/or sentences) that the person will indicate to communicate. When the sysmbols are distributed on different pages, we call them <strong>communication books<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-22781 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/banner_2_1000-1030x402.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1030\" height=\"402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/banner_2_1000-1030x402.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/banner_2_1000-300x117.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/banner_2_1000-768x300.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/banner_2_1000-1536x600.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/banner_2_1000-2048x800.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/banner_2_1000-1500x586.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/banner_2_1000-705x275.jpg 705w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/banner_2_1000-450x176.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Among the technological products we find electronic communicators especially designed for that purpose, and <strong>personal computers or tablets<\/strong> with special programmes that turn them into communicators. The electronic communicators emulated by computers are customized with the graphic symbols each person requires. They are characterized by being portable and adaptable to the access forms appropriate for each person (keyboard, mouse, switches\u2026). They have digitalized or synthesized voice output for messages , as well as they usually offer other outputs like screen, printed paper or even control of the environment functions. For instance, on the website www.utac.cat you can find different versions of an organized pictographic vocabulary (CACE-UTAC), made with a range of communication programs and ready to be directly used on personal computers (that in this way turn into communicators) or printed to create communication books.<\/p>\n<p>The versions for Plaphoons with ARASAAC pictograms in Spanish and Catalan are freely accessible. The rest of versions are also access free but they require having the corresponding programs and\/or systems of commercial symbols.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-22455 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion_2-1030x402.jpg\" alt=\"Support products for communication with ARASAAC pictographic system\" width=\"1030\" height=\"402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion_2-1030x402.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion_2-300x117.jpg 300w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion_2-768x300.jpg 768w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion_2-1536x600.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion_2-2048x800.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion_2-1500x586.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion_2-705x275.jpg 705w, https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ARASAAC_sistema_pictografico_de_comunicacion_2-450x176.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1030px) 100vw, 1030px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div class='flex_column av-dxni-5a7050cb311506818d421566911101eb av_one_full  avia-builder-el-13  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_full  first flex_column_div column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-caog-b555ac95dcd35091efc1b9d350ab7ae0\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-caog-b555ac95dcd35091efc1b9d350ab7ae0 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:14px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-caog-b555ac95dcd35091efc1b9d350ab7ae0'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 class=\"sc-bZQynM sixEz\">The strategies and support products for access<\/h2>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\">To indicate the graphic symbols on communicators, communication boards and books, there exist these five basic strategies:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Direct selection:<\/strong> the user points at or presses the buttons directly with the finger, the sight or other parts of the body in order to indicate the pictograms, words or letters he\/she wants to communicate. The pointers of different types are examples of support products that can facilitate the selection or direct access.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mouse selection:<\/strong> it is only for electronic products. It consists in using the mouse to access keyboards or grids with symbols to communicate through the screen. You can use a wide variety of adapted mouse devices like joysticks, trackballs, facial mouse devices (controlled by head movements), mouse devices controlled with the sight or the multimouse, which consists of five keys or switches.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dependent exploration or scanning: just for boards or books.<\/strong> The interlocutor points at the symbols or letters to be communicated one by one, by groups, rows or columns, until the assisted speaker indicates with a gesture that the letter\/word has been identified.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Independent exploration or scanning<\/strong>: just for electronic products. In this case it is the communicator or the computer that shows the different options to be communicated until the assisted speaker chooses the one he\/she wants by pressing a switch. There are many types of switches that can be activated with different parts of the body.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coded selection:<\/strong> each symbol or letter has a code (for instance a number of two or three digits or a colour and a number) so that the assisted speaker indicates this code by direct selection or scanning to transmit the symbol or letter. In this way, with a few keys or grids he\/she can access a great number of symbols.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\">Thanks to the different strategies and support products for access, even if the mobility of a person is highly limited, it is possible to find a solution so that he\/she can access communication and other activities such as mobility assistance, environment control or computer access for writing, drawing, playing or communicating on the web.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div class='flex_column av-alla-c8cbd6f6423f2695e48ca4ea54a0d423 av_one_full  avia-builder-el-15  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_full  first flex_column_div column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-t7g-17427c865cb401089b6b21b5121ac1bc\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-t7g-17427c865cb401089b6b21b5121ac1bc .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:14px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-t7g-17427c865cb401089b6b21b5121ac1bc'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 class=\"sc-bZQynM sixEz\">How can we encourage the success of the intervention with AAC?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\">The support systems and products for AAC are just a medium or a necessary condition for the person with speech disability to be able to communicate, to develop his\/her abilities and to participate in the world that surrounds him\/her. But these are never enough. What is really important is the process of education, empowerment and assessment that should accompany them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\">The intervention process has to begin with an e<strong>valuation<\/strong> of the capacities, abilities, necessities and wishes of the person, as well as the features, supports, requirements and restrictions of his\/her environment in order to define the components the most adequate system or systems are going to have. You will have to thoughtfully choose the support products as well as the access strategies and, for those AAC users who can\u2019t read, you will have to select the signed or pictographic vocabulary you will be teaching. This evaluation process doesn\u2019t have to be occasional but continuous throughout life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\">The <strong>empowerment<\/strong> and <strong>teaching <\/strong> should be addressed both to the person and to his\/her environment, including all the contexts where he\/she participates or wants to take part in, as well as all the meaningful persons in these contexts, comprising professionals and, above all, family members, colleagues and friends. This instruction has to be delivered in educational and therapeutic environments but also in natural contexts, as a 24 hours approach that guarantees that the person will be immersed in a good language environment, surrounded by sensitive and competent interlocutors, and involved in interesting and enriching activities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-gZMcBi hQKwRa\">To encourage the success of the intervention with AAC, the most important thing is to achieve that the disabled person has interesting things to communicate, knows how to do it and has interlocutors willing to listen to and able to understand him\/her. This objective shouldn\u2019t be left to chance. Instead, it has to be reached through effort and the merits of competent professionals, supported by a society more and more aware of this and free of prejudices.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><div class='flex_column av-4in2-44ab9c968774f6015f47fee3fe1463af av_one_full  avia-builder-el-17  el_after_av_one_full  avia-builder-el-last  first flex_column_div column-top-margin'     ><style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-35rc-71789494f320d9560ff1b461b9026184\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-35rc-71789494f320d9560ff1b461b9026184 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:12px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-35rc-71789494f320d9560ff1b461b9026184'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><blockquote>\n<p>(1) Carmen Basil<br \/>\nUTAC-S\u00edrius: Unitat de T\u00e8cniques Augmentatives de Comunicaci\u00f3 (www.utac.cat)<br \/>\nDepartament de Benestar Social i Fam\u00edlia de la Generalitat de Catalunya<br \/>\nDepartament de Psicologia Evolutiva i de l\u2019Educaci\u00f3, Facultat de Psicologia, Universitat de Barcelona<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-66511","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66511"}],"version-history":[{"count":48,"href":"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66511\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":91189,"href":"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/66511\/revisions\/91189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aulaabierta.arasaac.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}