Communication Disorders Quarterly

Researchers and health and education professionals discuss the importance of the augmentative and alternative com-munication (AAC) in the process of school and social inclusion of children, youth and adults with complex com-munication needs. The use of AAC can favor the develop-ment of the language in an effective way in children and youth with severe communication needs and enhance the communicative abilities of children, youth, and adults in different natural environments once it fosters the communi-cative accessibility. In this context, the major challenge for health and educa-tional professionals is to insert AAC systems in the natural environment of children and youth with severe communica-tion disabilities who have previously determined communi-cative behaviors and are not always understood by interlocutos of different social backgrounds. The identifica-tion of the routine within these natural environments and additional information about children and youth with severe communication needs through their families ’ reports pro-vides professionals with greater control during the process of implementing AAC resources for different users (Deliberato, 2007, 2008). In Brazil, even though public policies and laws guarantee access to communication and information about functional adaptive products, tools, equipment, and/or technology, practical actions are still uncommon (Brasil, 2000). Users of AAC are still restricted to certain rehabilitation centers and universities that are concerned with the use of low and high technology in therapeutic and natural environments (Delib