Alternative Communication beyond Assistive Technologies

Abstract

The number of students with cerebral palsy and autism enrolled in traditional schools is growing each day.  Teachers frequently need to be trained to employ Alternative Communication resources with these students, who present severe difficulties in oral communication.  The studies conducted in traditional and special schools by the Language and Alternative Communication Research Group from the Graduate Program in Education of a public university will be briefly described. Alternative Communication resources will be presented. A description of how these resources facilitate the students’ linguistic, communicative, and social abilities will follow. Finally, issues related to the development of research in schools, the conception of communication, and the role of technology in Alternative Communication will be discussed.