आजकल के तेज तंत्रज्ञान की दुनिया में, हमारी जीवनशैली और आवश्यकताएँ बदल गई हैं। इस परिवर्तन में, संवाद का महत्व निहित है, और यहां हम एक ऐसे संवाद के बारे में बात करेंगे जो विशेषज्ञों और व्यक्त सहायक और वैकल्पिक संवाद पद्धतियाँ (AAC) – अद्वितीय संवाद के साधन को समर्थन देने का माध्यम बनाया है।
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) को “सहायक और विकल्पिक संचालन” कहा जाता है। AAC एक प्रकार का साहायक संचालन होता है जिसका उपयोग व्यक्तियों को भाषा और संवाद के लिए विकल्पिक माध्यमों का सहारा देने में किया जाता है, जो वाणीरोधी या अन्य संवादिक संकटों के कारण वाणी का उपयोग करने में असमर्थ हो सकते हैं। AAC उपकरण और तकनीकों का सहायकता करता है, जैसे कि बोलने के डिवाइस, पिक्चर कार्ड, या सॉफ़्टवेयर।
AAC क्या है? AAC एक प्रक्रिया है जिसमें व्यक्ति को संवाद करने के लिए विभिन्न तरीकों का सहारा दिया जाता है, जब वे वाणी का सही रूप में प्रयोग नहीं कर सकते। यह विशेष रूप से उन व्यक्तों के लिए फायदेमंद होता है जिनके पास भाषा विकलांगता, न्यूरोलॉजिकल समस्याएँ, या अन्य संवाद को समझने और करने में तकलीफ होती है।
AAC के प्रकार AAC के विभिन्न प्रकार होते हैं, जिनमें से कुछ मुख्य तरीके निम्नलिखित हैं:
चित्र-भाषा (Picture Communication): इसमें व्यक्ति के लिए बनाए गए चित्रों या प्रतीकों का सहारा लिया जाता है, जिन्हें उन्हें छूकर संवाद करने के लिए प्रयोग किया जाता है।
सांकेतिक भाषा (Sign Language): इसमें हाथों और शरीर के चेहरे के आभासी संकेतों का प्रयोग किया जाता है, जो वाणी की जगह करते हैं।
मैकेनिकल यंत्र (Mechanical Devices): यह प्रक्रिया मैकेनिकल यंत्रों और साधनों का सहारा लेती है, जैसे कि विशेष कीबोर्ड्स, बटन्स, या और किसी प्रकार के उपकरण।
एलेक्ट्रॉनिक उपकरण (Electronic Devices): आजकल, इलेक्ट्रॉनिक उपकरणों का भी प्रयोग किया जाता है, जैसे कि टैबलेट्स, स्मार्टफोन्स, और कंप्यूटर आधारित साधने, जो व्यक्तियों को संवाद करने में मदद करते हैं। इन उपकरणों पर टेक्नोलॉजी के जरिए विशेष सॉफ़्टवेयर्स का भी प्रयोग किया जाता है, जो वाणी के रूप में पाठन, छवियों, या आवाज के माध्यम से संवाद संभालते हैं.
AAC के लाभ AAC पद्धतियों के प्रयोग से व्यक्ति को अपने विचारों और भावनाओं को साझा करने का अवसर मिलता है, जो व्यक्ति के स्वास्थ्य और सोशल संवाद को सुधार सकता है। यह विकलांग व्यक्तिओं के लिए खास रूप से महत्वपूर्ण होता है, जिन्हें अपनी आवाज खो जाती है, जैसे कि वृद्ध, बच्चे, या विभिन्न विकलांगताओं के व्यक्तियों के लिए।
इन पद्धतियों के माध्यम से व्यक्ति सामाजिक जीवन में भाग ल सकते हैं, अपने विचार और आवश्यकताओं को प्रकट कर सकते हैं, और अपने स्वास्थ्य और शिक्षा को सुधार सकते हैं।
एक और महत्वपूर्ण पारंपरिक वाणी के बिना वाणी संवाद करने वाले व्यक्तियों के लिए यही एक सफल और प्रभावी संवाद का माध्यम हो सकता है। यह उन्हें अपने विचार और भावनाओं को स्वतंत्रता से व्यक्त करने की सामर्थ्या प्रदान करता है, जिससे उनका सामाजिक और पेशेवर जीवन में समावेश बढ़ सकता है।
इस ब्लॉग में हम आगे विस्तार से AAC के विभिन्न प्रकार, उपकरणों, और उनके लाभों के बारे में जानेंगे, और यह भी कि इसका कैसे प्रयोग किया जा सकता है। AAC व्यक्तियों के लिए एक बड़ा कदम है, जिससे उन्हें अपने जीवन को स्वाधीनता और समृद्धि से जीने का मौका मिलता है। इसके अलावा, हम यह भी देखेंगे कि आपके आसपास कैसे समुदाय और संगठन इस तकनीकी माध्यम का समर्थन करते हैं और इसका प्रचार कैसे करते हैं।
आपके आपक्षाओं और ब्लॉग के धारा द्वारा प्रस्तुत विषयों के आधार पर अपने ब्लॉग को और भी विस्तारित कर सकते हैं और अधिक माहत्वपूर्ण जानकारी साझा कर सकते हैं। AAC के माध्यम से लोगों को एक नया तरीका मिलता है संवाद करने का, और यह समृद्धि और सामाजिक समावेश की दिशा में एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम है।
Avaz beyond communication- A resourceful presentation by Dr. Triveni Goswami Vernal and Prashanthi Vankamamidi for the Spellers and Allies group. ( link to join the group https://chat.whatsapp.com/HKZmRM7n5Vl14zv3hXYcLK)
-TRIVENI GOSWAMI VERNAL Registered Special Educator (A64010)
AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION (AAC)
All forms of communication, apart from Speech, that can enable individuals to express their thoughts, feelings and needs, is referred to as Augmentative and Alternative Communication. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), there are several types of AAC (https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/):
“NO-TECH /LOW TECH OPTIONS” such as • Gestures and Facial expressions • Writing • Drawing • Spelling words by pointing to letters, and • Pointing to photos, pictures, or written words
HIGH-TECH options such as • Using an app on a device to communicate • Using a computer with a “voice”, sometimes referred to as a speech generating device.”
THE AVAZ APP The Avaz app (https://www.avazapp.com/) is a picture and text based AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) application that enables an individual with communication difficulties, to express their needs, ideas, opinions and thoughts. As an AAC, the Avaz app provides a tool to the individual to be an active participant in the learning process.
In a country like India, where there are multiple languages, an advantage of using the Avaz app is that the words on the app can be recorded in multiple languages…Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Gujarati, apart from English. There are several features within the app that make it accessible for individuals with diverse communication needs.
As mentioned in the website https://info.avazapp.com/avaz-aac-new-features-2022/, new modifications have made “it easier for switch and eye gaze users to communicate using the app…like the morphological forms of words shown in Avaz”. Besides these major modifications, one can also make changes to the Zoom button and the High Contrast button, to help an individual’s visual needs. Care has also been taken to ensure that individuals with fine motor issues, who are unable to point and tap the screen accurately, can do so by adjusting the settings on the device.
Avaz has several categories of Core Words and Phrases, both at the beginner level and advanced level (with grammar etc). And because it is both a Picture based as well as a Text based app, one can make folders on various topics, starting from basic identification of oneself, one’s family members, of objects, places to visit, favourite food, emotions, hobbies, books, favourite music etc using both text as well as photos that can be uploaded from the gallery on the device/ symbols already available on the app /the internet (if the device is logged on to it). In addition to the photos, one can also record the voice of the given text, in one’s preferred language. This makes it easier for the individual, especially a child in India for example who might not be familiar with an accented pre-recorded voice.
Another feature that is extremely helpful is being able to create a low-tech communication board or an Avaz book, based on a folder, made on the app. A print out of the Avaz book can be taken, and then used in multiple settings. For example, if one is travelling somewhere and is not able to have access to the device, one can take a print out of the Avaz book for further communication with the individual.
TEACHING BASIC CONCEPTS: FEW EXAMPLES Modelling is a strategy to be adopted to teach basic concepts. While Modelling, the educator/caregiver can highlight the chosen word on the Avaz app (from its section of Core words), using it in a variety of sentences and situations. Please note, for each activity that is introduced, the learner must have pre-requisite knowledge regarding it.
1) TEACHING THE COLOUR RED: For example, if the educator wants to teach the colour Red to the individual, the educator can perhaps do an activity with the individual, where he/she can highlight the word Red. For example, a Craft Activity that comprises of Colouring a sheet of paper and pasting, where she can model the word “Red” on the app for the child while saying the following:
a) Take the RED colour pencil. b) Colour the circles RED. c) Paste the RED circles on the paper.
2) TEACHING the words OPEN AND CLOSE in a Vocational Activity (opening and closing the lid of a biscuit tin) a) OPEN the cupboard and take out the biscuit tin. b) OPEN the lid of the biscuit tin and take out the biscuits. c) CLOSE the lid. d) OPEN the cupboard and put back the biscuit tin.
3) TELLING A STORY IN FOUR SENTENCES “THE THIRSTY CROW” a) It was a HOT day. b) The crow WANTED TO DRINK water. c) It SAW a pot with water below. d) It PICKED stones and PUT in the pot and the water came UP. 4) DEVELOPING SOCIAL SKILLS a) When I MEET someone, I will say HELLO! b) When the ASK me, “HOW ARE YOU?” c) I will ANSWER, “I AM FINE” d) I will then ASK them, “HOW ARE YOU?”
USING AVAZ FOR VISUALIZATION IN READING Since Avaz is a text and picture-based app, one can summarize the plot of an entire story, in images taken from the device’s photo gallery/symbols pre-loaded on the app/ from the internet, and add the text for each image recorded in our own voice. This can be used not only for a story, but also any lesson that one wants to teach. For example, Internal and External Organs, Landscapes, Plants…just about anything that one wants to teach, that can be augmented with Visuals for the learner. AVAZ BOOK ON THE STORY “DANDYLION” BY LIZZY FINLAY
AVAZ BOOK ON INTERNAL ORGANS
PLAYING FUN GAMES ON AVAZ
The app need not be only used for literacy and communication, in the conventional sense, but it can also be used for fun games, like Name, Place, Animal, Thing. Since Kabir is not very familiar with Names and Places, we often play with the categories, Animal and Things. It is a great activity, for turn taking as well as learning new names of animals.
ANIMALS AND THINGS
In this example, Kabir and I played the game for every alternate letter, A, C, E, G etc. One can customize the game, including a category that the child has a special interest in. For example, names of vehicles, brand names, names of books, names of songs, names of flowers/trees etc., anything that the child likes and shows an interest in. The process of Learning does not have to be drab and boring. As educators and caregivers, we must infuse the 3 E’s –energy, enthusiasm and excitement. Only then will the child find the motivation to engage with us and be open to try new ways of learning. Avaz Inc. provides several training programs for parents, educators and professionals. A brief description of each: 1) Avaz Certified Educator: it is an online certification course specially designed for Special Educators, targeted for successful AAC implementation in schools and classrooms . Enrolment for this course is currently underway. It is for Special Educators, Shadow Teachers, ABA therapists and non-Speech Language Pathologists. All details are provided on the website https://www.avazapp.com/ace/ . The course will begin on May 8th, 2023. 2) Avaz Certified AAC Professional: An online certification course covering everything that you need to know for successful AAC implementation. It is for Speech Language Pathologists, Speech Therapists and Audiologists (https://www.avazapp.com/acap/) 3) Avaz Aarambh: It is for parents who have just started using Avaz or want to re-start their child’s communication journey (https://www.avazapp.com/avaz-aarambh/)
**The author is an Avaz Certified Educator (Jan 2023)
Author Triveni Goswami Vernal
Triveni Goswami Vernal is an Autism advocate, registered Special Educator (CRR A64010) and an Independent Researcher. Her areas of interest include Autism, Disability Rights, Gender, Art and Northeast studies. She is a mum to an 11 year old on the Autism Spectrum.
Creative representation for this blog is done by our extremely talented CreativeSaathi associate Kabir Vernal
“Evening Sky” An abstract art piece depicting an evening sky over a meadow
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects an individual’s physical and cognitive development. Individuals with Down syndrome often face communication challenges due to speech and language delays, making it difficult for them to express their needs, thoughts, and emotions effectively.
It is not hidden and cannot be denied at all that some individuals with disabilities like Down syndrome have difficulties using spoken language. This is where Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) methods come into play.
Comprehension would be hard for them even after they have tried language development programs. They are helped by number of approaches and strategies like gesturing, facial epressions, writing, body language.
This is where augmentative and alternative communication can help Augmentative and alternative communication systems pair tasks, actions, objects or concepts with pictures or hand signs. For e.g the world ok , want or eat is paired with a picture or hand sign with these words It is also believed that using an AAC can slow down the epressive language skills and the child would avoid speaking at all. This is not true at all.
AAC refers to any means of communication other than spoken language. It includes communication aids such as picture cards, communication boards, sign language, and electronic devices that speak for the individual. AAC can enhance communication, improve social interaction, and boost self-esteem for individuals with Down syndrome.
An AAC works like a foundation or readiness program for language and oral speaking skills . This is well supported by research AACs work on two main steps that are required for good social communication.
Let see those two steps
Step 1: Augmentative and alternative communication systems are an effective way for children to learn and use early words. That’s because children remember the speech sounds and the visual image of the object, picture or hand sign that’s paired with the word. This is likely to help autistic children who respond best to information that’s presented visually. Step 2: Augmentative and alternative communication systems are improving children’s understanding of words. This is because speech on its own can be very quick, whereas a visual image lasts longer and often stays still, giving children more time to understand the information. Also, people tend to slow down when they’re using visual aids or hand signs. Thus AACs is purely working in the direction of developing communication and leading the child to be an independent talker.
AACs are a blessing to the world of disability and should not be criticized.These are active catalyst in which a child on spectrum can communicate needs, feelings easily and in positive ways . AACs improves understanding between you and your ward. AACs are easily available and at access to a non verbal child thus it creates less stress to the child.
AAC methods can also help individuals with Down syndrome improve their social interaction skills. By having access to effective communication tools, individuals with Down syndrome can better express themselves and interact with others, building social connections and friendships.
AAC methods play a crucial role in improving communication for individuals with Down syndrome. These methods can help individuals express their needs and wants more effectively, improve social interaction skills, and enhance their overall quality of life. By using AAC methods, individuals with Down syndrome can become more independent and confident in their communication abilities.
Less stress and better communication via AACs is eventually leading to a stronger relationship
Creative Efforts and Honest opinion by – Heena Sahi
Creative representation for this blog is done by our extremely talented CreativeSaathi associate Vinayak Raj
In the enlightening video created by me “Heena Sahi”, learn and understand about all communicative functions you must work and emphasise on when developing a good two way social communication . I assure you won’t regret after watching this video.
Before that, read my previous articles on communication.
