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.…

It has been well documented that individuals with significant physical disabilities who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) face considerable challenges in finding and maintaining employment. This article documents the experiences of one individual, Anthony Arnold, a young man who uses a Pathfinder[TM] for communication and a…

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 paper provides results of a descriptive analysis of peer-reviewed, single subject design, intervention research on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for individuals with severe disabilities, from birth to 21 years, published in English between 1997 and 2003. A database of 40 studies was found that met seven specified criteria.…

Writing assignments that focus on nonargumentative discourse can take many forms. Such assignments can prompt students to produce individually constructed writing, or they can be more collaborative in nature. They can focus on traditional formats, following MLA citation guidelines, using Times New Roman 12-point font, maintaining one-inch margins,…

The effects of a parent-implemented naturalistic intervention on the communication skills of a 4-year-old boy with autism using an alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) system were investigated. The child's mother was taught to use 4 naturalistic teaching strategies that incorporated a picture communication system during 2 typical home…

Research-based information is used to support the idea of the use of adaptations and accommodations for early childhood students who have varying disabilities. Multiple adaptations and accommodations are outlined. A step-by-step plan is provided on how to make specific adaptations and accommodations to fit the specific needs of early childhood…

This review of the literature on facilitated communication (FC) with individuals having severe communication disorders focuses on three major issues: (1) the history and development of FC, with varying opinions on the purpose of FC; (2) criteria for selecting individuals as having potential to benefit from FC; and (3) findings and issues…

This brief paper describes automated language activity monitoring (LAM), an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methodology for the collection, editing, and analysis of language data in structured or natural situations with people who have severe communication disorders. The LAM function records each language event (letters, words,…

The use of facilitated communication by a 13-year-old boy with autism, severe mental retardation, and a seizure disorder is described. Several specific answers given to questions about short stories the facilitator was not familiar with indicated that, not only did the subject originate his own responses, he also demonstrated simple inferential…

This monograph reviews the literature on the efficacy and authenticity of facilitated communication (FC). Meta-analysis of published studies is used to examine FC as a communication tool, criteria for scientific evidence of FC's effectiveness, and the value of quantitative assessment. Other questions addressed include life-span issues and…

This commentary on Steven Heckler (EC 608 725) addresses use of facilitated communication (FC) by individuals with autism; respect for the child offered by FC, who actually is communicating; reasons why FC might improve communication by autistic children; possible reasons for the remarkable spelling and linguistic competence shown with FC; and…

This article examines various forms of communication systems for their "partner friendliness" and presents a model of different types of communication partners and their communication needs. Case examples illustrate how the forms of communication of two students who are deaf-blind were expanded to promote greater communication with a variety of…

This study examined the frequency and nature of augmented input that adult partners provided to 13 youth with moderate to severe mental retardation as they began to use the System for Augmenting Language. Analyses revealed differences in the frequency and in the manner and style with which home and school partners provided augmented input.…

A study tested the quality and intelligibility, as judged by several listeners, of four users' electrolaryngeal speech, with and without filtering to compensate for perceptually objectionable acoustic characteristics. Results indicated that an adaptive filtering technique produced a noticeable improvement in the quality of the Transcutaneous…