To identify the relationship between non-verbal working memory and graphic symbol selection, this study examined whether the response time to select target symbols in a sentence construction task differed between two groups: a high non-verbal working memory group and a low non-verbal working memory group. The interaction effect between non-verbal…

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is a methodology Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) utilize to help facilitate functional communication for a child who is non-verbal or limited-verbal. There are often disconnects in a student's generalization of AAC usage across the school and home environment. The purpose of this case study was…

This meta-analysis reviews the literature on communication modes, communicative functions, and AAC type examined during interventions with school-age participants with ASD and/or ID who experience CCN. Considering potential differences related to outcomes taught could help identify the most effective means of individualizing AAC interventions. We…

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to describe a grassroots project to develop an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system for a child who is learning to speak the Native American Lakota language. The project began as a part of a homeschool curriculum to address the foreign language requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic.…

Supporting students with complex communication needs requires collaboration within and beyond the school system. Through a state-wide survey, this quantitative descriptive study used social network analysis to examine the professional networks and collaboration patterns of 325 special education teachers and 189 speech-language pathologists who…

The researchers designed a delayed intervention start randomized controlled trial to compare improvements in functional communication following augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions. The study compared outcomes from function-based applied behavior analytic (ABA) and eclectic non-ABA forms of classroom-based communication…

The research on computer mediated interventions and technologies (e.g., digital tabletop tool) that have seminal relevance to the intervention strategies designed for the children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) mostly remain confined within the developed nation. The objective of this study is threefold: firstly, to reveal the design…

For children with autism or intellectual and developmental disabilities who also have complex communication needs, communication is a necessary skill set to increase independence and quality of life. Understanding the how, where, and communication style being taught is important for identifying deficits in the field as well as which interventions…

The purpose of this participatory narrative inquiry was to understand the musical experiences and preferences of two non-speaking children within the location of their school (institution), their interactions with music and the music setting (social), and to understand the culture of communication for these individual non-speaking students in a…

The effectiveness of using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) with individuals with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is well documented in descriptive reviews and meta-analytic investigations published in international journals in the last decade. Most of these analyses include researches conducted in North-American or European…

In-service general education teachers receive limited pre-service training in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems and strategies. Therefore, pre-service training should expose general education teacher candidates to the field of AAC and its benefits. This study investigated the efficacy of an online professional development…

Purpose: Thirty percent of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) do not develop spoken language. To provide a means of communication for this subset of the population, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems are often utilized. Low-tech options have traditionally been delivered through the in-person modality.…

This qualitative study critically examines the knowledge and readiness of teachers in South African classrooms in utilising Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for learners facing communication challenges. The study addresses the concerns expressed by teachers regarding their lack of knowledge and skills in utilizing AAC, highlighting…

Background: A significant proportion of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience speech, language and communication difficulties which are associated with poor physical and mental health outcomes. Speech and language therapy (SLT) interventions are an important way to address these communication difficulties, yet there is limited…

A descriptive case-study design was used to document the implementation of a four-phase intervention for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in an inclusive classroom. The focus of the intervention was on enhancing social communication through peer modelling of the child's…