Exploring Communication Assistants as an Option for Increasing Communication Access to Communities for People who use Augmentative Communication

Abstract

This paper describes the results of a one-year intervention project that aimed to (a) learn about the communication supports required by people who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) when accessing their communities, (b) develop and implement a funded communication assistant service as an accessibility support option for people who use AAC when communicating in their communities, (c) evaluate the impact of the communication assistant service on community access for people who use AAC, and (d) make recommendations relating to the role of communication assistants as an option for increasing communication access for people who use AAC in their communities. Nine people who use AAC participated in this project. The findings suggest that the majority of participants experienced a range of communication barriers when communicating with people in their communities, and that the provision of trained communication assistants significantly increased (a) their ability to communicate and participate in their communities; (b) their feelings of dignity, empowerment, autonomy, and privacy, and (d) the quality of their community services. Unfamiliar communication partners reported increased satisfaction communicating with people who used AAC when a communication assistant was present. Implications and recommendations are made for the development of communication assistant services and further research.

Keywords:

• Augmentative and alternative communication
• Communication assistants
• Adults
• Community inclusion
• Communication access

Acknowledgements

The pilot project was funded in part by the Government of Canada's Social Development Partnerships Program. The opinions and interpretations expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada. This paper is partially based on a presentation at 13th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication in Montreal, Canada, 2008. The authors wish to thank all those who participated in this project and who contributed to our understanding of the communication access supports required by people with complex communication needs in order to gain meaningful, authentic, and equal access to their communities.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.