This study examined the effectiveness of an instructional program designed to teach grammar skills to individuals who communicated via augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). A single-subject, multiple probe across behaviors design was used to measure the effect of the instructional program on the acquisition and maintenance of the…

Two videotapes were created of a child communicating with a voice output augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. In one the child communicated using formal English only and in the other the child communicated using formal English and age appropriate informal terms. Children in grades 4 and 5 viewed either the formal English only…

Background: Four elementary (primary) school students with severe speech and physical impairments (SSPI) who used augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) aids were selected to take part in an intensive, 4-week summer intervention program. The program was designed to explore effective approaches, content and contexts for supporting…

Computers as meta media are now evolving from augmentation media vehicles to meme media vehicles. While an augmentation media system provides a seamlessly integrated environment of various tools and documents, meme media system provides further functions to edit and distribute tools and documents. Documents and tools on meme media can easily…

This report describes how augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) automated language activity monitoring can provide clinicians with the tools they need to collect and analyze language samples from the natural environment of children with disabilities for clinical intervention and outcomes measurements. The Language Activity Monitor (LAM)…

In repeated trials over 6 weeks, 43 facilitated communication (FC) users with developmental disabilities were shown words without their FC aide present and were later asked to type the word using the aide's help. Under controlled conditions, some students could pass accurate information; measurement of FC under test conditions may have benefited…

The editor of "Mental Retardation" describes his perspective on several controversial papers on facilitated communication. The decision-making process employed in considering such manuscripts for publication is outlined, as is the process of selecting qualified and unbiased evaluators for the peer review process. (PB)

A study investigated the effectiveness of an augmentative and alternative communication intervention as part of a school-wide positive behavioral support plan for enhancing the communication behaviors and reducing behavioral problems of 67 students (ages 6-21) with intellectual disabilities. After intervention, communication behaviors increased…

This article discusses how the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can be affected by the development of a child's identity through various cultural milieus. It argues that the student must be at the center of each process related to the AAC's incorporation within the student's identity. (Contains references.) (CR)

A study evaluated the performance of 12 individuals with mental retardation on a post-perceptual discourse comprehension task. Three text-to-speech systems (DECTalk, MacinTalk, and Real Voice) were used to present stimulus passages. The DECTalk synthetic voice showed a non-significant trend toward superior accuracy scores on the comprehension…

Three nonspeaking children with autism who had used facilitated communication were evaluated with four experimentally controlled tasks. Findings suggested a generalized language deficit, rather than isolated word-finding or perceptual difficulties, and were consistent with previous studies revealing facilitator cuing. Questions are raised about…

This paper offers guidelines for professionals to follow in cases of sexual abuse accusations made by individuals with disabilities through the medium of facilitated communication. A case study of such accusations made by a child with autism illustrates application of the guidelines. (DB)

A survey of 43 Vietnamese Americans found respondents who had become more acculturated had greater hope for individuals with disabilities than first generation immigrants. Both groups embraced the practice of seeking services for a child with disability and were strongly predisposed to accept augmentative and alternative communication practices.…

The study employed a single-subject multiple baseline design to examine the ability of 9 individuals with severe Broca's aphasia or global aphasia to produce graphic symbol sentences of varying syntactical complexity using a software program that turns a computer into a speech output communication device. The sentences ranged in complexity from…

This study evaluated the effectiveness of pyramidal training with direct care staff in group homes. Training focused on teaching staff how to provide opportunities for communication to non-speaking children with developmental disabilities to communicate. Staff were taught through a combination of a workshop, and nondirective consultation following…