This introductory article to a special issue on the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for persons with autism briefly reviews the history of AAC with this population, summarizes issues identified in the following articles, and notes questions that remain unanswered. (Contains references.) (DB)

This study investigated whether discourse context affected the intelligibility of synthesized sentences for young adult and older adult listeners. Findings indicated a significant facilitating effect of context wherein previous words and sentences are related to later sentences for both listener groups. Results have direct implications for…

Background: Microswitches can be vital tools to help individuals with extensive multiple disabilities acquire control of environmental stimulation. This study was aimed at extending the evaluation of a computer system used as a microswitch for word utterances with three participants with multiple disabilities. Method: Sets of 7 or 12 word…

The field of augmentative and alternative communication's (AAC) missing link is the discrepancy between what the research community identifies as needs and what the clinical community, including the AAC user, believes to be the AAC user's needs. An unrealistic picture of the AAC user occurs, developing a top-down effect of limited outcomes,…

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of familiarity of depicted persons and environments in recognition of photographs for pupils with different degrees of intellectual disability (ID). Method: Forty-five pupils with ID participated. Results: An interaction effect between the two variables, person and environment, was found…

Communication can be difficult for children with conditions such as cerebral palsy because of speech and physical impairments. For this group of children, choice-making is often limited to choices of personal preferences; however, preferences do not reveal intellectual abilities. Therefore, choice-making should be presented to these children in…

Many children with severe or multiple disabilities, including those with visual impairment, are limited in their ability to communicate. "Communication" is defined as how a person exchanges information about his or her desires, needs, knowledge, and perceptions with another person. Communication can be verbal, written, or nonverbal, such…

The author chronicles the search for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology for her daughter Anna, who is now age 21. Though Anna has severe cognitive, visual and orthopedic disabilities, a more significant obstacle to finding a functional AAC system has been low expectations of her capability. Because Anna could not perform…

A study investigated the role of touch in the use of facilitated communication with Japanese individuals with autism. Five experiments were conducted involving a "telepathy game" using a rod with an attached strain gauge. Results found the facilitator's contact controlled the motor responses of the subjects. (Author/CR)

The controversy regarding the use of facilitated communication with individuals having developmental disabilities is addressed, and an oversight procedure for the use of this methodology is recommended, which includes informed consent from all involved, the inclusion of a validation protocol, and the inclusion of other potential means of…

This paper describes alternative or augmentative communication systems available for individuals with severe intellectual disabilities, focusing on aided systems along a continuum from low to high technology. Component characteristics and implementation characteristics are analyzed, including symbol options, message representation, message access,…

Examines ways to facilitate communication by nonverbal students with severe disabilities. Discusses selecting functional communication targets and teachable contexts, facilitating widespread use (generalization), ensuring maintenance of the new communication behavior, and implications for practice. (DB)

This study compared the speech of 20 children with prelinguistic deafness who wore cochlear implants when the device was on and when the device had been off for several hours. On average, no differences in speaking conditions were found on such parameters as indices of vowel height, vowel place, initial consonant voicing, or final consonant…

A series of phonemic awareness (PA) and single-word reading tasks, which did not require spoken responses, was developed for administration to people with complex communication needs. The aims of the study were to (a) determine the construct validity of the PA tasks and (b) investigate the relationship between PA and single-word reading in adults…

The use of microswitches has been considered a crucial strategy to help individuals with extensive multiple disabilities overcome passivity and achieve control of environmental stimulation (Crawford & Schuster, 1993; Gutowski, 1996; Ko, McConachie, & Jolleff, 1998). In recent years, considerable efforts have been made to extend the evaluation of…