Augmentative Alternative Communication is intertwined with your life!

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There are so many alternative ways of communicating with those with disabilities. ASL is very common as something that is used to communicate with those who are nonverbal. Communication boards, which I have discussed in another blog post, the communication boards I spoke about for the most part are considered low-tech. 

The new rise of technology allows for opportunities to use a new variety of materials. 

Did you know texting was originally for those who were deaf? There are so many things that become easier for people in general to use, if we only try to use technology to benefit everyone, but those with disabilities in mind. This video is all about how how this works!

There are a lot of apps available on Apple and Android devices, everything from text to speech devices, pictorial based apps that can string together sentences for the client, or speech to text devices. Working with children pictorial options may be the best option, however as they grow and develop personality, language skills, motor skills and other needed facets there can be improvement. There is always the understanding of the skill level will differ for every person, and how cognitively able they may be. 

If someone is able to type, through any assorted assistive technology, they can access the wonderfully expansive internet. This is something that someone with limited Verbal skills can use to whatever extent they may want. They can connect to others with similar disabilities, there are no problems with language delay or social anxiety. People become more lenient if it takes you longer to type out answers versus struggling to vocalize conversation with many delays.

One thing I have found of note, years ago on the internet website Tumblr™ there was discussion of the development of certain lingo and vernacular. Someone made the comment that some of the formation of the language was directly in relation to the use of the internet by those who have social anxiety, autism, or other language difficulties that indirectly caused a shift in the syntax that the website used. 

The internet common slang and phrases that are loved and used all over are not the only thing that has an interesting duality. See if you can try and figure out this sentence:
🙎 💜🎶&💃
Did you guess something like a girl loves music and dancing? You are probably fairly good at reading and understanding emojis or at least understanding pictorial language. This is what people with language difficulties do every day! It makes things more difficult, but so many people in today's texting world are becoming experts in speaking with pictures, which could shrink the gap between those who are verbal and nonverbal.

AAC can seem like and comprehensible topic in many people's lives, we don't realize how much it is entwined in our own lives. When many people hear the term alternative communication they think of people using ASL and other complicated devices that speak for them. In reality it can be as simple as writing, typing, or images like emojis.

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