Low-Technology Visual Scene Display Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ACC) Intervention for a Young Child with Autism
Open Access
Author:
Riley, Lindsay Erin
Area of Honors:
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Kathryn D R Drager, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Ingrid Maria Blood, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
autism augmentative and alternative communication AAC low-tech low-technology case study
Abstract:
Many studies have shown Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) interventions to benefit individuals with complex communication needs. One AAC display option in particular that has recently shown great promise is the Visual Scene Display (VSD) layout (Wilkinson, Light, & Drager, 2012). However, studies to date on VSDs with children have only involved the use of high-tech computerized AAC systems and have neglected to explore the effects of VSDs within low-tech systems.
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of low-tech VSDs combined with effective modeling on increasing the frequency of communication acts by a young child with autism. This research is apart of a larger study directed by a doctoral candidate that evaluated young children who have complex communication needs. Low-tech VSDs were an effective tool in increasing communication acts with a 4-year old child with autism.
