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Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Clinic

SEE ALSO: Official Press Release, Client Testimonials

BACKGROUNDER:

Definition of Augmentative Communication:

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is used to describe specialized ways of assisting people who find it impossible or extremely difficult to communicate by speech or writing. AAC helps them to communicate more easily and effectively.
Accreditation Process and Timeline:

January 2009: Children’s Treatment Centre of Chatham-Kent (CTC-CK) entered into a mentorship agreement with Thames Valley Children’s Centre (TVCC).

Phase 1: Observation (February 2009 – September 2009): CTC-CK observes TVCC both in their augmentative communication clinic and during their on-site visits to schools in Chatham-Kent.

Phase 2: Active Shadowing (September 2009 – December 2009): CTC-CK and TVCC do joint visits with shared clients in the area. CTC-CK staff take an active role in the visits.

September 2009: Submission of Application to Assistive Devices Program (ADP) of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

Phase 3: Consolidation (January 2010 – April 2010): CTC-CK works with their own caseload, TVCC provides support as needed. CTC-CK will present prescription reviews, TVCC will sign the prescriptions.

Goal: Review by ADP in April 2010; Accreditation shortly thereafter.
Benefits of Becoming a General Level AAC Clinic:

  • Allows the CTC-CK staff to develop a quality specialty service and expertise locally, serving families in Chatham-Kent closer to home
  • Allows the CTC-CK staff to see clients more quickly and efficiently, thereby reducing wait times for families in Chatham-Kent
  • Ensures more comprehensive and collaborative family-centred support by the CTC-CK with multiple disciplines and services under one roof
  • Promotes and raises awareness of the value of and need for ACC within CTC-CK and the Chatham-Kent community
  • Increases overall capacity within Ontario to provide ACC services

Wait Times and # of Current Clients:

Current wait times for AAC clients requiring an assessment through Thames Valley Children’s Centre:

  • 18 to 24 months

Current number of clients residing in Chatham-Kent receiving services from, or on the wait list for assessment through, TVCC:

  • 17 actively receiving services, 4 currently on waiting list, 1 currently on referral list
  • Referral sources within Chatham-Kent:
  • Lambton-Kent District School Board, St. Clair District Catholic School Board, Conseil scolaire de district des écoles catholiques du Sud-Ouest, Community Care Access Centre, individual doctors’ offices, other treatment centres and social service agencies

Overview of Equipment Required for AAC Clinic:

  • Super Talker Progressive Communicator: a powerful yet easy-to-use speech degenerating device designed to grow with the child allowing you to program one, two, four or eight messages
  • Go Talk 20: a light-weight speech generating device that can store up to 45 messages and has three core messages that remain the same on each level
  • Tech Scan 32 Plus: a light-weight multi-level speech generating device that combines the usage of a standard direct select communication device with the benefit of scanning featuring a “real voice”
  • Big Track Trackball: the large ball requires less fine motor control than a standard trackball with oversized buttons to make mouse clicks simple for those with poor motor control
  • Kensington Expert Mouse Trackball: designed for PC and Mac, large track ball providing exceptional control and ease of use
  • Taxsys Roller Plus Joystick: versatile and quality computer joystick that is ideal for those with motor impairments
  • Crick Switch Interface: used with both Mac and PC, can be used with any switch and practically all switch-accessible software
  • Switch Interface Pro: used with both Mac and PC, five ports allow you to plug in multiple switches, providing clients with essential switching skills, develop cause and effect, and choice making skills
  • Switch It Maker 2: a computer program accessed through use of a simple switch, keyboard, IntelliKeys or mouse to enable even young children and those with severe learning difficulty to make their own activities as part of a creative class activity
  • Choose It Maker 2: program to be used on Mac or PC, great for helping switch users to learn to make choices using scanning techniques
  • Overlay Maker 3: ability to transform IntelliKeys into a customized keyboard tool and communication device, based on client need (i.e.: simple as a single key or as complex as 120 keys)
  • Intellitools Snap-in Keyguards: used with an IntelliKeys keyboard to help users make accurate choices by providing spatial separation and preventing unwanted keystrokes
  • Standard Keyguards: rigid plate with holes that coincide with the keys in the keyboard below to prevent accidental key strokes or activation of more than one key at a time
  • Boardmaker Ver. 6 Upgrade: an incredibly flexible and powerful communication display maker allowing us to make professional looking communication displays in minutes
  • Tango: the first speech generating device to bring the power of mass communications and consumer electronics to the word of AAC, it contains a broad array of communication methods, a built-in camera, voice morphing and highly robust scanning options
  • DynaVox V: a premier AAC device that is powerful and flexible enough for all age ranges, cognitive abilities, and skill levels
  • Palmtop 3: a hand-held AAC device with enhanced message composition and accessibility options for fast and powerful communication, allowing you to choose from hundreds of symbols, multiple voice options, and various interface methods to express yourself quickly and clearly
  • Springboard Lite: a small, light-weight and portable speech generating device designed for just beginning AAC communicators with 4, 8, 15, and 36 location display options
  • Message Mate 40: an easy-to-use, extremely durable speech generating device that is simple to record and has scanning capabilities
  • Mini Message Mate: smaller version featuring eight large keys with individual switch ports
  • Dana: the ultimate palm-powered writing tool which combines the convenience and affordability of a hand-held device with the comfort and easy access of a full size keyboard
  • FL4SH: a device that features a vibrant and highly visible light source that frames each picture symbol in succession to teach the basics of scanning to a child with access difficulties
  • Lingo Messaging Aid: a light-weight compact speech generating device perfect for everyday conversations
  • iTouch with proloquo 2 Software: provides natural-sounding text to speech voices on a light-weight portable and relatively inexpensive device
  • AD Head Pointer: a head pointer allows those with relatively good control of head movement but poor general dexterity to access the keyboard with a pointer or stick
  • Kensington Slimblade Trackball Mouse: smaller trackball good for clients who have limited movement to control a standard mouse
  • Clicker 5: a writing-support tool where users can build sentences by selecting words, phrases and pictures; hear words spoken by realistic software speech before you write; and hear completed sentences spoken back to you
  • Co-Writer & Write Outloud: Co-Writer is a word prediction and dictionary program that aids in writing and allows text created to be imported into e-mail or a word processing document: with Write Outloud, students can have their own writing read aloud to them for editing purposes
  • Desktop and Laptop Computers: used for written communication assessments, software trials, touch screens and various access methods
  • Social Networks and TASP: necessary tools for assessing the needs of our AAC clinic clients
  • Making Connections book and other lending library books: necessary to share information and offer resources to parents, teachers, caregivers, etc,
  • Touch Screen: user interacts with the computer by touching a screen rather than working with a keyboard

TOTAL COST FOR ABOVE ITEMS: $50,000

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