Augmentative and Alternative Communication

The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:

• Communication is a means for transmitting and receiving information. It is essential to the growth and participation of all individuals and enables them to develop control and autonomy in their daily lives.
• Individuals communicate using a variety of methods and modes. All behaviour is communication.
• Augmentative and alternative communication includes all communication that supplements or augments speech. Everyone uses these modes, which can be symbolic, non-symbolic or multifaceted.
• A practitioner’s awareness of their personal communication style and those of others increases their effectiveness in facilitating, supporting and promoting communication.
• Effective practitioners plan strategies to maximize the communication potential of each situation, and they adapt and creatively use unforeseen experiences and spontaneous opportunities.
• Individuals are unique in how they send and receive information. Practitioners can enhance communication exchanges by identifying, recognizing, respecting and responding to the dynamic communication methods used by the people they support.
• Observing and listening are fundamental aspects of effective communication and are critical to assessing and enhancing communication with and by individuals who rely on augmentative and alternative methods for their interactions.
• Familiarity with a wide range of augmentative communication methods and devices, including simple and more complex technologies such as alphabet, Bliss or other symbol boards, picture and object systems, dedicated electronic speech devices, scanners or personal computers, increases practitioners’ ability to enhance communication with and by individuals who rely on augmentative and alternative communication