Assessing Country Readiness · Global Symbols

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

8. Appreciating Long Term Results

8a. Example of Resources for AAC Implementation Planning

8a. Examples of some Family and Carer Resources

Global Symbols

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

Training

Certificate of Completion

Qualification for completion

Adapting training modules and topics

Assessing Country Readiness

Updated 03 Юни2022 by Global Symbols with UNICEF ECARO

questions

Questions that need to be asked when evaluating country readiness for AAC strategies and technologies.

Is a policy framework conducive?

Provisions supporting inclusion of children with disability from early age through services, inclusive education, family support etc.

What are the key institutions and partners with mandate to support inclusion of children with disabilities?

What is the status of AAC use in a country?

Services that identify needs and support AAC, capacity of professionals and training availability, technology and resources available for AAC?

What could be entry points for AAC?

Early childhood intervention (ECI) services, inclusive education settings/preschools and schools, speech therapy services, resource centres/professionals supporting the inclusion of Children with Disabilities (CWD)
Professionals supporting inclusion of CWD
Willingness and commitment to improve support to CWD and their families

Has there been any consideration about the types of technology that could be used to support AAC?

Cboard - An Example of a Free and Open licensed AAC/AT Solution

Free app/communicator for children with communication difficulties
- children use symbols to turn text into speech
Developed with support from UNICEF Office of Innovation as a web application by CIREHA/Ottaa company
Web application and mobile app for Android (supports off line mode)
The mobile app allows for linguistic adaptation
- integrates different text to speech synthesis for languages not widely available.
- integrates national customized symbol sets

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