Vocabulary to Support Socially-Valued Adult Roles
By Bryen, Diane Nelson; Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 294-301Publication Date: December 2008
Study evaluated the adequacy of vocabulary sets in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices for supporting socially-valued adult roles of AAC users. The study specifically sought to identify needed vocabulary sets in 6 categories: (1) College life; (2) Sexuality and intimate relationships; (3) Crime reporting; (4) Managing personal assistant services; (5) Managing health care; and (6) Managing transportation. To generate vocabulary sets, twelve electronic mailing lists, 2 for each category and consisting of adult users of AAC as well as professionals in the AAC field, were organized into electronic discussion groups. Participants totaled 61, of which 27 used AAC and 34 were in the professional group. Almost 3,000 words were generated and subsequently compared to symbol sets in 3 symbol systems: Prentke Romich Unity 128, Mayer-Johnson Picture Communication Symbols (PCS), and Dynavox Systems Dynasyms. Unity 128 was found to have the lowest percentage of identified vocabulary that could be represented by existing icon sequences, with an overall mean of just under 40 percent. Percentage present was higher for PCS, with an overall mean of 68 percent, and Dynasyms, showing an overall mean of 58 percent. Study limitations and implications for further research are discussed.
Assistive Products Discussed: UNITY
DYNASYMS GALLERY
PICTURE COMMUNICATION SYMBOLS BOOK I, II, III & PICTURE COMMUNICATION SYMBOLS COMPLETE SET
Published by: International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) (Website:http://www.isaac-online.org)
