Unaided Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems

Introduction

Unaided augmentative and alternative communication systems includes various forms of communication that are used alongside or instead of spoken language and which do not require an external tool.

Evidence

There is evidence that facilitated communication is not effective in supporting autistic people to communicate more effectively. Determining the benefits of the other forms of unaided augmentative and alternative communication is not currently possible. We must wait for further research of sufficiently high quality to be completed

Risks and Safety

No risks are known for most forms of unaided AAC. However, some significant risks exist for facilitated communication, including the danger of unsubstantiated claims of sexual abuse against family members of the autistic person.

Specific Types of Unaided AAC Sytems

Facilitated Communication

Facilitated communication (also known as supported typing) is a form of alternative and augmentative communication in which someone physically supports a disabled person and helps them to point at pictures or words.

Facilitated communication is based on the idea that many of the difficulties faced by disabled people are due to movement difficulties rather than social or communication difficulties. 

The communication partner (usually called a facilitator) physically supports the disabled person so that they can point to pictures, symbols, letters and words using a computer keyboard, letter books or picture books. By doing this, the disabled person can demonstrate what they want to communicate. 

Some disabled people who use facilitated communication often use it as part of a total communication approach. For example, they may use it in combination with other methods of communication such as speech or sign language

More Information

Please see: 

• Our evaluation of Facilitated Communication:
• Publications on Facilitated Communication

Sign Language

Sign languages are based on the idea that sight is a useful tool for some people to communicate and receive information. Sign languages therefore use hand shape, position, and movement; body movements; gestures; facial expressions; and other visual cues to form words.

There are many different sign languages including American Sign Language, British Sign Language and Makaton. Each of these languages is completely separate from spoken English. Each contains all the fundamental features a language needs to function on its own. For example, each has its own rules for grammar, punctuation, and sentence order.

Some sign languages (such as Sign Supported English) take the signs from another language (such as British Sign Language) and use them in the order that the words would be spoken in the spoken language (English).

Sign language is sometimes used, alone or alongside spoken word, to teach autistic people to communicate.

More Information

Please see Publications on Sign Language

Total Communication Training

An approach that makes use of a number of modes of communication such as signed, oral, auditory, written and visual aids, depending on the particular needs and abilities of the individual

More Information

Please see Publications on Total Communication Training

Related Pages

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication
• Types of Intervention
• Interventions

Related Glossaries

• Facilitated Communication

Related Publications

• Biklen D. (1990) Communication unbound: autism and praxis. Harvard Educational Review. 60(3), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Biklen D., Schubert A. (1991) New words: the communication of students with autism. Remedial and Special Education. 12(6), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Biklen D., Saha N., Kliewer. C. (1995) How teachers confirm the authorship of facilitated communication: a portfolio approach. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps. 20(1), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Felce D. (1994) Facilitated communication: results from a number of recently published evaluations. British Journal of Learning Disabilities. 22(4), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Mostert M. P. (2001) Facilitated communication since 1995: a review of published studies. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 31(3), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Mostert M. P. (2012) Facilitated communication: The empirical imperative to prevent further professional malpractice. Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention. 6(1), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Prior M., Cummins R. (1992) Questions about facilitated communication and autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 22(3), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Schlosser R. W. et al. (2014) Facilitated communication and authorship: A systematic review. Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 30(4), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  

Updated

26 May 2022