AAC - when child refuses system.

[hazeyjane]

Has anyone found alternatives that we can try?

D's is still largely misunderstood by anyone who doesn't know him well. His TA says that when people don't understand him he looks to her to speak for him. He completely rejected the AAC talker which we tried (for years) finding it too clunky, slow and making him stand out, plus school never really got behind it.

SALT have said that we and the TA need to encourage him to find a way of getting his message across without relying on an adult - at school he sometimes uses a whiteboard to draw or write what he means (if he knows the word).

It maybe something as simple as a notebook or a phone with text to speak function (does that exist?) But any ideas of things we can try?

Hi Hazey,

How is your DS with an iPad or similar?

I feel his frustration with the slow and clunky AAC provided by SALT, we had the same problem with DDs and she did the same as your DS and didn't want to us it, she felt it quicker to use her communication book instead which is difficult to transport due to the size.

We do now have a better one, it's quicker and more powerful but very expensive!

Could you try him with something like Grid Player (by Smartbox and completely free, but only has a few programmes on it) on a device like a phone or iPad? I have the phone version for when we are out and about and whilst it doesn't have the programme that DD currently uses it works for those situations.
You can turn the sound up quite high too.

Hope this helps!

Beldarancan I ask what is the Aac device that you currently use?
We have the same problem with the communication book and we have refusal of using this so I’m curious to know which aac device you have.
An iPad isn’t an option for us because ds wouldn’t understand that he cannot go on YouTube or watch something.

Hi @hazeyjane

DD uses an Accent 1400 from Liberator.....it's like a giant iPad. It has eye gaze, switch access and touch screen though we have turned the eye gaze off and DD uses switch access. We did have a fight with ACT (Access to Communication and Technology which is part of the NHS) to get this one as DD had only had the previous one a year or so but it was so heavy and couldn't run the programme she used very well.

That's a pain about the iPad, though you can get round it by turning guided access on which doesn't let you leave the app without a password, we use it with DD as she mistakenly presses the home button on hers.

It must be so frustrating for your DS, is SALT not suggesting anything else?

No our salt is useless but I’ve just recruited a private one so I’ll see what they suggest.
The iPad app my ds wouldn’t understand somwould end up throwing it, I don’t really want to waste any more time trying something like an app as he’s 10
We need to baseline something now for the future. Or at least try.

Maybe your DS needs to be reassessed by an AAC specialist. There are multiple AAC hubs in the UK but your Speech therapist at school needs to refer.