Phase 1 - Assessment of the individual.
The aim of the AAC assessment will be to identify the different communication needs of your clients. The assessment will help identify:
- Individual with High Support Needs who are pre-intentional communicators i.e. do not appear to be aware of using another person to satisfy their needs. For example, the individual may cry or grimace to indicate hunger or pain but requires the communication partner to acknowledge, interpret and assign meaning to their crying or grimacing behaviour as an indication that they may be hungry or in pain.
- Individuals with 'Medium Support Needs' are able to use some symbols to communicate basic messages. For example, they may use a few words, signs, gestures etc to communicate.
- Individuals with 'Low Support Needs' are able to use a greater number of symbols to communicate a variety of messages. For example, they have a large vocabulary of words, signs, pictures etc that they use to communicate a variety of messages.
Based on the assessment AAC systems will be devised that will enable the individual to communicate effectively in their environment. To achieve this we utilize a team approach that enables staff members, family members and other carers to contribute their knowledge and expertise about the individual. This information is then integrated with our own assessments so that a comprehensive understanding of the individual is formulated.
Typically, an assessment involves:
- A team meeting (e.g. members of the educational team, family and other carers) where everybody can contribute their knowledge and expertise on the individual's communication skills and needs
- Observational assessment of the individual in their natural environment by observing the individual at the work site, group home etc and
- Direct assessment of the individual's communication abilities
Throughout the assessment, the following areas are considered:
- With whom the individual needs to communicate
- Skills needed by the communication partner to communicate effectively with the individual
- Where the individual needs to communicate
- When the individual needs to communicate
- Why the individual needs to communicate
- What the individual needs to communicate
- Assessment of the individual's skills that will impact on communication (e.g. cognitive, vision, hearing)
- Individual's understanding of communication messages and the environment
- Individual's ability to express themselves and the modes used to express themselves such as gestures, signs, photos, written words
- Assessment of opportunity barriers and facilitative strategies (i.e., those things that either help or hinder the individual's communication attempts)
- Provision of opportunities to communicate
Outcomes of Assessment:
- Identification of the individual as high support needs or medium support needs or low support needs
- Recommendations for appropriate AAC systems for the environment (e.g. roster system, cooking system)
- Recommendations for individualized AAC systems (e.g. schedules, chat system) to enhance their communicative competence and
- Goals/strategies for communication partners to support and promote the individual's communication abilities
