1. FDLRS Institute on Technology & Student Achievement September 2007
A Framework for Using
Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) Systems
to Participate in Math Activities
FDLRS ATEN Regional Centers

2. Presentation Goals Introduce Communication Implementation Framework
Demonstrate student lessons using the
communication action plan

3. Communication Partners
Framework
AAC Systems
Access Points
Vocabulary
Communication Partners

4. AAC SYSTEMS Use AAC Systems to support
participation during math activities
Position & Access
Lo tech to high tech tools
Communication partner

5. Position & Access Position Access Seating Visibility Comfort Lighting
Direct selection
Scanning
Switch access

6. Low Tech to High Tech Tools
Hierarchy of low,
mid and high tech
tools
Handout of Device Chart
Handout: Dedicated Voice Output Communication Aids

7. Communication Partners
Provide communication opportunities
Recognize communication attempts
Provide communication tools
Teach communication strategies

8. Access Points Demonstrate math activities around the
Sunshine State Standards (SSS) access points.
Define and locate access points
Who were access points developed for?
Access points, alternate assessment and AYP
Demonstrate Communication Action Plan for math activities based on SSS access points

9. What is an Access Point? A restatement of the SSS benchmark that
Captures the core intent of the benchmark
Describes a different level of complexity
The SSS benchmark is the same across
grade levels
The same skill is applied to materials of
increasing difficulty level.
Accommodations (not stated – are provided)

10. Why Access Points? “Access points were developed with
three levels of complexity for students
to ensure that all, even those students with
the most significant cognitive disabilities,
have access to the Sunshine State Standards.
The three levels of complexity are
Independent, Supported, and Participatory.”
FL DOE

11. Sunshine State Standards for Mathematics

12. Who were access points developed for? severe cognitive disabilities
Students with
severe cognitive disabilities

13. Access points and alternate assessment
Only ESE students with significant
cognitive disabilities (who meet FCAT
exemption criteria) should be tested
on alternate assessment.

14. Access Points & AYP
Failure to test students on statewide alternate assessment will impact your schools AYP and may contribute to your District being slighted on the standard performance plan indicators which could ultimately lead to loss of funding.

16. WALK THROUGH STRUCTURE SAMPLE
Handout

17. SSS Benchmark Sample
Handout

18. Communication Action Plan for math activities based on SSS access points

19. Handout

20. Do top of sample info bring in new one
Handout

21. Communication Partners
Demonstrate strategies that communication partners use to direct the language learning experience for AAC
Provide communication opportunities
Recognize communication attempts
Provide communication tools
Teach communication strategies

22. Opportunities Materials available Communication Devices
Environmental arrangement
Social networks

23. Attempts Recognize communication attempts Acknowledge action
Formal and Informal signals
Observable student behavior
Gestures
Vocalizations
Eye Gaze

24. Tools Provide communication tools Attention getter
Backup systems available
Multiple systems

25. Strategies: Topic Setting
AAC Topic Setting
Musselwhite, 2001
Initiate conversation
Select a topic
Promote multiple turns
Enhance partner training
Topic setting: discourse important as topic initiation promotes power and conversation control
Handout

26. Strategies: Social Scripts
Can We Chat? Scaffolding Conversations
for Struggling AAC Users
Burkhart &Musselwhite, 2001
Communication Agendas or Social Purposes
Increase cognitive engagement
Information transfer
Social closeness
Handout

27. Strategies: Emergent Literacy
Fostering Emergent Literacy for Children Who Require AAC
Light & Kent-Walsh, 2003
Model use of AAC system while reading text
Pause and wait
Respond appropriately to attempts
Print accessible
Early access to computers
Access to AAC systems within literacy activities
Handout

28. Vocabulary
“Normal language development is the foundations for building generative language with a child using AAC strategies”
Van Tatenhove

29. Guide for vocabulary selection
Language Functions & Early Generative Language
Van Tatenhove, 2005
Conventions of communication
Establish math vocabulary needed
Handout

30. Conventions of Communication
Ask questions
Provide information
Request: wants & needs
Comments: social closeness/etiquette
Janice Light

31. Sample boardmaker symbols for math
Math Vocabulary
Sample boardmaker symbols for math
Handout

32. Vocabulary Request Provide Information Ask Questions Make Comments
Action
Words
MeVille to WeVille
More
That’s wrong
What’s the
answer?
Awesome!
Count
I need help
Same
Is that
right?
Your turn
Sort
I need a counter
Long/Short
How much does it cost?
That’s dumb
Match
Handout

33. Demonstrations Grades K – 8 Lenore/Janet Participatory
Grades 9 – 12 Beth
Supported
Grades 9 – 12 Rena/Frank
Independent

34. Handout

35. Handout

36. Communication Action Plan 9th Grade: Working with Integers
Action Plan: 9th Grade, Independent
Devices and Software:
Vanguard AAC system, Picture Word Power
Software
Dell Laptop with SOLO and PASS math lesson
Using Vanguard, open a math lesson on
the computer and read and write about
the lesson

37. Communication Action Plan
AAC & Math Standard:
ALGEBRA BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
Standard 1: Real and Complex Number Systems

39. Access Points
MA.912.A.1.In.a Identify and use equivalent forms of fractions, such as halves, fourths, thirds, sixths, eighths, tenths, and sixteenths; decimals to the hundredths place; and percents, such as 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 33%, and 67%, using visual and numerical representation in real-world situations.
MA.912.A.1.In.b Identify examples of positive and negative whole numbers in real-world situations.

40. SET UP
SOLO Software
PASS Math Lesson
AAC Device

41. AAC System, Vocabulary & Keyboard Emulation Software
Vanguard using Picture Word Power Software
Device: Prentke Romich Company: Devices
Software: Inman Innovations: Picture Word Power

42. Computer & Software Dell Lap Top SOLO software (Don Johnston Company)
PASS Math Lessons

43. PASS Lesson
Algebra Body of Knowledge
Unit 2: Working with Integers

44. Brainstorming Action Plan with SSS

45. Thank you from Rena, Frank, Janet, Lenore and Beth Presentation & Handouts located at www.fdlrs.org