EFFECTS OF DYNAMIC TEXT AND SPEECH OUTPUT IN A GRAPHIC BASED AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION APP ON SUPPORTING THE TRANSITION TO LITERACY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Open Access
Author:
Kadosh, Adi Rivka
Area of Honors:
Communication Sciences and Disorders
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Dr. Jessica Gosnell Caron, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Carol Anne Miller, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intellectual Disabilities
Abstract:
The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of the Transition to Literacy (T2L) software features within an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app on sight word reading abilities of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and complex communication needs. A single subject multiple probe design was used with one participant. After baseline was established, the participant was exposed to the intervention that introduced the AAC app with the T2L features in a structured task. The participant showed increased accuracy in identifying the twelve targeted, personally meaningful sight words. The results of this study show preliminary evidence that redesigning AAC apps to include dynamic text combined with speech output after selecting a graphic symbol on a grid-based AAC app can improve the sight word reading skills of the participants in a structured task. The T2L features on redesigned AAC apps should be used in conjunction with literacy instruction and serve as a potential way to infuse literacy development into daily communication.
