Using AAC video visual scene displays to increase participation and communication within a volunteer activity for adolescents with complex communication needs

Abstract

Volunteer activities can provide opportunities to learn new skills, build social networks, and contribute to enhanced self-esteem. Volunteering also provides a positive contribution to society, and an opportunity to participate in activities that may differ from those in paid employment. People with severe disabilities and complex communication needs, however, may face significant barriers in participating and communicating in volunteer activities. A multiple-probe-across-participants, single-case experimental design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of videos with integrated visual scene displays (video VSDs). The video VSDs were presented using a tablet-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app, as an intervention to increase the percent of steps completed independently within a volunteer activity. Participants were four adolescents with autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome, all of whom had complex communication needs. Each participant met the mastery criterion for the activity – completion of the volunteer work activities and communication exchanges with co-volunteers – with the use of the video VSDs. The results provide preliminary evidence that video VSDs may be an effective assistive technology for individuals with severe disabilities and complex communication needs to increase participation in volunteer activities, both as an instructional support in learning new skills, and as an AAC technique to support interaction with others.

Keywords:

• Video prompting
• volunteer
• autism spectrum disorder
• down syndrome
• vocational training
• video visual scene display

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to offer their gratitude and thanks to the participants who contributed their time and ideas. Additionally, the authors would like to thank Invotek for the realization of the video VSD software features for evaluation. The authors have no financial interest in the AAC applications discussed in the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 7^® is an Android tablet computer, developed by Samsung Electronics. http://www.samsung.com.

2 EasyVSD is an AAC application created by InvoTek, Inc. http://www.invotek.org/. Although the application used in this study (EasyVSD) was only available for research purposes, GoVisual is a commercially available app that supports the use of video VSDs.

3 Sony CX405 Handycam is a handheld camcorder. https://www.sony.com/electronics/handycam-camcorders/hdr-cx405

4 iMovie is a video editing software application created by Apple. https://www.apple.com/imovie/

5 See note 2.

6 See note 2.

7 GoVisual is an AAC application created by Attainment Company https://www.attainmentcompany.com/govisual

Additional information

Funding

The contents of this paper were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research [NIDILRR grant # 90RE5017]. NIDILRR is a center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this paper do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.