Students with complex communication needs have increasingly been using non-dedicated communication systems, such as mobile devices, to support their communication needs. This in turn, has led to an increased used of augmentative and alternative communication apps. The main challenge currently faced is the lack of empirically validated apps and…

In order to meet the communication needs of individuals who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, communication partners are often responsible for the programming of the AAC devices. However, the prolonged learning time and operational demands of AAC devices are often barriers to an efficient use of time during a therapy…

The literature has emphasized the positive impact of mobile technologies with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) apps for enhancing the functional communication skills of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Although various AAC apps are available, the system design of such apps presents assorted challenges, particularly…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different speech-generating device displays and vocabulary organizations on the acquisition of multi-step requesting responses in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Four young children with ASD were taught to use an iPad® application to make requests using both a taxonomically…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using an iPad to assist students with autism in learning communication skills. Three, 10 years old learners diagnosed with autism who present little or no functional speech, participated in the study. A multiple baseline design with AB phases across academic and social settings was used.…

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties in communication that limit their opportunities to participate in daily living and educational activities. Augmentative alternative communication is one of the strategies used to strengthen the communication skills of students with limited communication skills. Students with ASD…

With the increase in the number of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is imperative to determine productive interventions to enhance communication skills. Recent investigations regarding the use of speech generated devices (SGD), such as the Apple iPad, to communicate have been performed with mixed results (Flores,…

Improving the quality of healthcare while simultaneously reducing its overall costs remains a challenge. One of the recommended approaches for achieving this goal is to build high quality data collection and reporting systems to facilitate evidence-based practice (EBP), which emphasizes the importance of using the solid evidence available to make…

This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of using the high-tech speech-generating device with Proloquo2Go app to reduce echolalic utterances in a student with autism during conversational speech. After observing that the iPad device with several apps was used by the students and that it served as a communication device, language…

We are in an innovation process for the development of a new generation of tools and resources for education and training throughout life, available in any platform, at anytime and place and in any language. The project TOPQX intends to congregate a set of theoretical and empirical resources that form a scientific base from which it will be…

This article presents systems that use speech technology, to emulate the one-on-one interaction a student can get from a virtual instructor. A web-based learning tool, the Learn IN Context (LINC+) system, designed and used in a real mixed-mode learning context for a computer (C++ language) programming course taught at the Université de Moncton…

This study evaluated the use of TALK, a computer-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system, in the social communications of a nonvocal woman with motor neurone disease. She was able to achieve an average conversational rate of 42 words per minute (wpm) using TALK, compared with 2 to 10 wpm with other AAC systems using…

This final report describes activities and outcomes of a research project on a sound-to-speech translation system utilizing a graphic mediation interface for students with severe disabilities. The STS/Graphics system is a voice recognition, computer-based system designed to allow individuals with mental retardation and/or severe physical…

This report discusses how technical and technological advances in alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) have outstripped the ability to assess their impact on actual communication and argues that this is due in part to the lack of a consistent and reliable method to measure long-term communicative efficacy. The report proposes a…

Danquah Communication System (DanCS) symbol boards were developed to provide an inexpensive augmented communication device with a computerized voice interface to help nonverbal individuals with severe mental retardation or other severe disabilities to more easily communicate their needs and reduce aggressive behaviors. Evaluation with 30 subjects…