Knowledge Base

Content

• Implementing AAC
Rationale and Conceptual Framework
Key Definitions
Relevance and Challenges for AAC Implementation
Example - Serbia: Involving Educators
UNICEF Europe and Central Asia (ECAR) Approach
Example - Serbia: Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)
Assessing Country Readiness
1. Defining Scope and Stakeholders
1a. Starting Point
1b. Identifying a Core Partner
1b. Example - Key partners working with UNICEF in Eastern Europe
1c. Identify Stakeholders
1c. Example - Croatia: Stakeholder Involvement
1d. Identify International Partner
1e. Establish Core Project Team and Partners
1f. Associate Stakeholders with Activities
1f. Example - Technical Support
1g. Develop a Project Plan
1g. Example - Croatia: Work Plan and Output Indicators
1h Summary
2. Making Symbol Choices
2a. Creating an AAC Forum
2a. Example - Croatia: AAC Forum Performance Indicators
2b. Choosing a Symbol Set
2b. Example - Bulgaria: Choosing a Symbol Set
2c. Language and Vocabularies
2c. Example - Croatia: Core Vocabulary
2d. Defining a Core Vocabulary
2e. Selection of New Symbols for Design
2e. Example - ECAR number of symbols for communication boards
2f. Development of Symbols by Local Graphic Designer
2g. Voting on Newly Designed Symbols
2g. Example - Croatia: Experience on Symbol Voting for Acceptance.
2h. Publishing the new Symbol Set with Language Translations
2h. Example - Croatian Symbol Set publication with an Open Licence
2i. Integration of the New Symbol Set with AAC Applications (Cboard)
2i. Example - Montenegro: Cboard supports communication skills
2j. Summary
3. Capacity Development
3a. Selection of Participants and Skills Audit
3a. Example - Serbia: Online Skills Audit Survey
3b. Planning Training Delivery
3b Example - Croatia: Training Delivery
3c. Mapping Skills Audit outcomes to Training Content
3c. Example - Modules and Topics based on AAC Themes
3c. Example - Croatia: Adapted Translated Modules
3d. Development and Adaptation of Training Materials
3d. Example - AAC Modules based on the first 3 European Qualifications Framework Levels.
3d. Example - Bulgaria: Adapted training modules
3e. Training Material Considerations
3e. Example Resources
3f. Mentoring
3g. Training Evaluation
3g. Example – Initial Evaluation to Plan for Further Needs - finish
3g. Example – 3-6th month evaluation survey and trouble shooting example - finish
3h. Summary
4. AAC Symbol Set Design
4a. Symbol Types
4b. Cultural Nuances seen in Symbols
4c. Cultural Appropriateness at different Levels
4c. Example - Qatar: Tawasol Symbols
4d. Co-Production and Participatory Design
4d. Example of some symbol design and position challenges
4e. Practicalities of Symbol Design
4e. Examples of Symbol Design and Content
4f. Symbol Set Schemas
4g. Summary
5. Introducing Tech AAC
5a. Different Levels of AAC Tech
5b. AAC Vocabularies
5c. AAC Communication Boards
5c. Example - Communication Board Types
5d. Introduction to Board Builder and using Symbol Creator
5e. Different Technologies for Different uses.
5e. Examples of Considerations when using Technology
5f. Adding access technology to an AAC device
5g. Open Design and Development
5g. Examples of Opportunities and Open Licences
5h. Summary
6. AAC Application Use
6a. Introduction to Cboard
6a. Example - Serbia: Cboard successfully introduced to a 4 year old.
6a. Example - Croatia: Installing and Using CBoard videos
6a. Example - North Macedonia: installing and using Cboard on a Mobile Phone
6b. Text to Speech solutions and different languages
6b. Example - Croatia and Serbia: Text to speech brings positive results
6b. Example - North Macedonia: Suze, a new Female Voice
6c. Interface Localisation where translations are needed.
6c. Example - North Macedonia: Cboard success with Gorjan
6d. Establishing local testing processes – AAC Forum
6e. Providing Feedback and Evaluation as ongoing Processes
6e. Example - Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro: Positive PIADS Evaluation Results
6e. Example - Montenegro: Evaluating enhanced verbal and social outcomes
6e. Examples of other types of evaluation
6f. Summary
7. Supporting Families
7a. Understanding Needs of Families and Carers
7b. Early Intervention Strategies at Home
7b. Example - Montenegro: Bojana using AAC with her family
7c. Family and Carer Involvement – Plan for Progression
7c. Example - Croatia: Experience during the COVID Pandemic.
7d. Summary
8. Appreciating Long Term Results
8a. Example of Resources for AAC Implementation Planning
8a. Examples of some Family and Carer Resources
• Global Symbols FAQs
Changing the language of the site and symbol labels
Adding a language translation to a symbol set
Adding Esperanto and Dari languages
Forgotten password
Skin and hair tones on Mulberry and OpenMoji Symbols
Instructions for Global Symbols, Board Builder and Symbol Creator
• Board Builder
PDF download on Board Builder
AAC Symbol Design Guidelines
Symbol Creator Instructions
Symbol Creator AI Instructions
Symbol Creator AI Text Prompt Guidance for Generative AI AAC Symbols
• Training
Certificate of Completion
Qualification for completion
Adapting training modules and topics