The importance of support with the use of augmentative communication systems at home and in the community.

The post below contains information found in Chapter 12 of the textbook (found in the references section below) the post reviews why it is important that support systems are in place when using an augmentative communication system at home and in the community.


5. The importance of support with the use of augmentative communication systems at home and in the community.

• When students use their augmentative communication systems at home and in the community it reinforces the communication skills learned at school and helps them to generalize them to other settings.  
• Teachers need to be actively involved and ensure that there is an appropriate carry over at home and in the community. 
• Training should be provided to the families at home, and this could include strategies for expanded use of the system, and new vocabulary.  
• It is important to consider the family functioning and cultural diversity prior to implementing the system at home.  
• It is important that the individual have support from family and friends at home, and to keep using the communication skills taught at school.  
• Tips for parents to promote the use of augmentative communication
• provide direct instruction and use of the system.
• identify vocabulary that is relevant to the home.
• teach family members to provide opportunities for communication and to wait.
• provide simple data and evaluation sheets for home and community use.
• give parents permission to expand the child's communication
• keep it simple

References:

Dell, A., Newton, D., & Petroff, J. (2012). Assistive technology in the classroom. (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.