Autonomous communication and boundless expression are the foremost goals of AAC. While we focus on developing communication skills,it is equally important that we lay the foundation for their literacy. Since grammar is fundamental to any language, AAC users can benefit from focussed instruction that helps them gain an understanding of key grammatical structures.

Why so Proper?

Why should we focus on proper language usage for AAC users? Because it is important that we set a high bar for AAC users and for what we expect them to achieve. When we respect their competence, it drives us to work towards giving the necessary support systems that enable them to meet our expectations and even go on to exceed them 🙂 Besides, language abilities have been found to play a instrumental role in literacy .

Looking at Errors as Stepping Stones 

Yes, we would like AAC users to learn the right way to form sentences and use words. But the emphasis should always be on communication, especially for emergent communicators. Our quest for grammatical accuracy cannot be at the cost of an AAC user’s communication skills development. To this end, it may be best if we acknowledge and respond to all their communication attempts during the early stages of their AAC journey without worrying about grammar. Every utterance regardless of any errors should be encouraged. These errors can be recast when they are ready for it and can be a springboard for grammar learning. Once the communicator puts together words, we can gradually encourage them towards grammatically correct phrases and sentences.

Correcting Without Affecting Communication 

Recasting is one of the effective strategies used for grammar instruction. It is defined as offering corrective feedback to a communicator’s utterances. This feedback is not overt and is designed to keep the conversation going. Model the correct usage verbally as you tap the grammatically right words on the AAC system. Here are a few ways in which you can correct a communicator:

Add Missing Words

• Articles: the, a, an

• Demonstratives: this, that, those, these

• Auxiliary Verbs: will, is, must, does

• Quantifiers: some, many, few

• Prepositions: under, over, to, by

• Pronouns: he, she, his, her,

• Conjunctions: for, and, but, or

Rearrange the Order of Words

Others have difficulties putting their words into the right order in sentences, e.g.:

https://www.banterspeech.com.au/resources-to-learn-grammar-using-auditory-bombardment-to-improve-kids-expression-and-grammar-skills/

• subject-verb sentences like “The boy is running.”

• subject-negative-verb sentences like “The girl is not running.”

• subject-verb-object sentences like “The boy is kicking the ball.”

• making indirect requests like “Can I…?”

• subject-verb-complement sentences like “The girl is happy.”

• subject-verb-object-object sentences like “The boy gave the bone to the dog.”

• complex sentences like “The girl is happy because it is her birthday.“, or “It star

• Questions

Correct the Word Morphemes

• Correct a Noun: -s (or -es), -‘s (or s’) plural, possessive)

• Correct an Adjective: -er, -est comparative, superlative)

• Correct a Verb: -ed, -ing, -en (past, past participle, present continuous, future tense)

• Correct a Pronoun: mine, my, your

Shared Reading

Reading text can help AAC users

Grammar Supports in Avaz

Screenshots

Expansion of Language: Supporting AAC Learner’s Progress

We often see that one of the major stumbling blocks for an emergent communicator’s progress is their struggle to get past single word utterances. The simplest way to help them overcome this is by building on what they already know. 

One Step at a Time Please

This strategy works best if the goal set is to attain just the next step in their language development ie single word communicators must be encouraged to utter two-word or three-word phrases. Setting an overambitious goal can end up discouraging them and can prove to be counter productive.

There’s A Method to This Expansion

Parents and professionals need to consistently model one or two words above the communicator’s current level to help them build these skills. This, however, is easier said than done. Without an understanding of how best to expand language, we may just end up confusing the communicator. 

Be Specific in Your Praise 

When the communicator successfully puts together words, praise them and let them know what you’re appreciating them for. 

Instead of saying, ” Good job”, say, “Good job. You said want cookie”

“Well done. You said more cookie please”

This will ensure that the child knows clearly what they are receiving the praise for. This reinforcement will go a long way in motivating them to put more words together. 

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Smart Games Kids can Play with Digital Assistants

Fart noises, Yucky sounds, and Rock Paper Scissors. What more does a bored kid need to to liven up their dull day? With the promise of roaring fun through these games, smart assistants offer great company to kids when parents are busy. This means that parents can take that little break they’ve been yearning for all day. And it’s not all silly fun. Smart assistants have something for every child, from quizzes for the trivia lovers to number puzzles for those budding mathematicians. And to cap it all, most games can be played by communicators using high tech AAC systems. This makes smart assistants quite a dynamic tool for entertainment, communication, and learning. 

Here are a few games AAC users can play with the various digital assistants. This includes games you can play with smart speakers such as Alexa and Google Home. If you don’t have smart speakers, you can also use your Android device’s Google Assistant or iPhone’s Siri to play one of these games. Create customized folders for the digital assistants 

True or False

Command: Alexa, True or False

This is an exciting game for kids to test their  knowledge about the world by answering either “true” or “false”. This game has a multiplayer mode which means that the whole family can play too. AAC users can play this game 

Memory Tic Tac Toe

Command: Alexa, Tic Tac Toe

This classic game of noughts and crosses can be played from memory. While older children can play this game without pen and paper, younger children may need a little help for them to remember the positions. 

Rock Paper 

Command: Hey Google, Talk to Rock Paper

This rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock game which can be played both with Google Home and Google Assistant on phones is an expansion on the traditional Rock, Paper, Scissors game. 

Here are the rules of the game:

Scissors cuts Paper

Paper covers Rock

Rock crushes Lizard

Lizard poisons Spock

Spock smashes Scissors

Scissors decapitates Lizard

Lizard eats Paper

Paper disproves Spock

Spock vaporizes Rock

(and as it always has) Rock crushes Scissors

Connect 4 

Alexa, Play Connect 4

Kids can enjoy playing the game “Connect-Four” against Alexa. If you don’t have  Echo Show and Echo Spot, play with an actual Connect 4 set or open the website https://calcbox.de to see the game board.

Customize your child’s AAC system to include the  following commands:

 “I throw into slot …” (1-7)

  “Start a new game”

* “Help”

* “Stop”

After you have made your move, Alexa makes her move and awaits your next move as an answer .

Animal sound

How does a fox sound? What about the hippo? For those curious minds who wonder about animal sounds 

Yucky sound

Command: Alexa, Yucky Sound

Talk to fart noises

True or False 

Games with smart assistants can motivate AAC use in beginning communicators and they are also an excellent way to teach the core words, Stop, More, Yes, and No. Asking the smart assistant to ask for more of a game or stop a game, or answering Yes/No if they wish to continue a game teaches children the power of these core words and how they can manipulate their environment with the words.