Assistive Technologies Guide

Back to Resources

Assistive Technologies Guide

Many autistic people have difficulty communicating with others.  This can include difficulty with social interactions and communicating basic individual needs.  Assistive technologies help people with differing needs express themselves and communicate their needs and wants.  These technologies can amplify the skills that a communication-impaired person has, and can therefore promote independence and improve their quality of life.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

ACC includes all of the ways someone communicates aside from talking.  Augmentative means to add to someone’s speech, and alternative means to be used instead of speech.  Use of ACC allows individual needs to be expressed, reduces frustration, is customizable, and facilitates social interaction.  There are two main types of AAC methods: low tech and high tech.  .

Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Low Tech

Low tech AAC methods include printed communication books or pages that contain words or symbols of text.  Examples include communication boards and the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).

  • Communication Boards: a page of symbols or pictures that the individual can point to in order to communicate with others.  These boards allow individuals to express needs, ask questions, and indicate preferences.
  • Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS): a pictorial, exchange-based communication system.  With the PECS system, individuals provide a picture of a desired item to another person in exchange for that item. This is useful for people who may have limited communication.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication: High Tech

High tech methods of AAC include speech generating devices with dynamic displays, such as touch screen tablets, that convert symbols and text to speech.  High tech AAC methods can fall into two categories: 1) dedicated systems and 2) open systems.  Dedicated systems are used for communication only and more likely to be covered by insurance.  Open systems are used for communication and other purposes, like an app downloaded on an iPad.  Some examples of high tech AAC include:

  • Tobii Dynavox:  Tobii Dynavox produces many AAC devices. These devices are touch screen and speech generating.  Tobii Dynavox also offers apps that can be downloaded on existing devices, such as an iPad. You can learn more about their offerings here: https://us.tobiidynavox.com
  • GoTalk: GoTalk produces AAC devices that are not touch screen tablets.  They have a variety of  devices with buttons that can be pressed, and speech will be produced. This type of device is less expensive. They also have an app and computer software. The entire line of products can be viewed here: https://www.attainmentcompany.com/technology/gotalks

 

AAC devices have been found to improve the communication skills of autistic individuals. There are many types of AAC devices, and a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) can help you find the right device by completing a communication assessment. Talk to your primary care provider about referral to an SLP.

 

Article by: Grace McCorkle and The Autism ToolKit

 

Sources

https://researchautism.org/blog/aac/

https://researchautism.org/oaracle-newsletter/what-are-communication-boards/

https://www.autismspeaks.org/worksheet/assistive-technology-communication-roadmap

https://us.tobiidynavox.com/pages/td-i-110

 

National Library of Medicine Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10817661/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20181849/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28884601/

 

Image sources

https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/museum-life/communicating-differently

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1141049382/basic-communication-board-autism-apraxia

 

Back to Resources

Other resources you may be interested in

Please enjoy our articles and contact us if there’s a topic you would like more information about.