Design Criteria for AAC Devices Used in a Developing Nation
By Adams, Kim D.; Corfield, Dana C.; RESNA 26th International Annual Conference 2003,Publication Date: 2003
Paper discusses a cooperative project conducted by a group of assistive technology (AT) practitioners in the United States and a group of clinicians in Peru. The practitioners included engineers and speech language pathologists interested in designing an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device that could be utilized in developing nations. The clinicians in Peru had backgrounds in psychology and neuropsychology, and were working with children who needed multiple AT devices, including AAC, seating, and mobility aids. The children’s most common diagnoses were cerebral palsy (CP), traumatic brain injury, and autism. A study was conducted among seven of the children with CP who could use their fingers for direct selection on a membrane keyboard, or who could use their hands for switch selection. Seven Spanish language AAC devices that used digitized speech were used in the study: (1) TalkTrac Wearable Communicator, (2) Frame Talker, and (3) Go Talk, all from Attainment Company, Incorporated; (4) 7-Level Communicator and (5) 32-Message Communicator, both from Enabling Devices, Incorporated; (6) VoicePal, from Adaptivation, Incorporated and (7) Ultimate 8 from Tash, Incorporated. Six months into the project, only the 32-Message Communicator was still being used by the children, yet only when prompted. The main use the clinicians had for the devices was for motivating the children to communicate, and for initial introduction to vocabulary. Because of battery problems, and the fact that the children soon required a larger vocabulary than the devices could provide, the clinicians abandoned the devices. The clinicians ultimately turned to developing their own set of symbols because the symbol set from the United States was not culturally applicable. The authors contend that there is still a place for AAC devices at the clinic in Peru. Plans are discussed to revitalize the project with a new group of beginning AAC devices.
Assistive Products Discussed: TALKTRAC PLUS WEARABLE COMMUNICATOR
TALKTRAC PLUS WITH LEVELS WEARABLE COMMUNICATOR
GOTALK 9+
32 MESSAGE COMMUNICATOR (MODELS 3201, 3202, 3203, & 3206)
7 LEVEL COMMUNICATION BUILDER (MODELS 7075 & 7075B)
TALKTRAC WEARABLE COMMUNICATOR
PICTURE FRAME TALKER (MODEL R0203-A)
ULTIMATE 8 (MODEL 28020)
VOICEPAL (MODEL VP-B & VP-BX)
VOICEPAL PLUS (MODELS VP-P, VP-S)
VOICEPAL LEVELS
VOICEPAL MAX (MODELS VP-MAX-T60, VP-MAX-T90, VP-MAX-X60, & VP-MAX-X90)
VOICEPAL 8K
VOICEPAL 8
Published by: Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) (Website:http://www.resna.org)
