Using Assistive Technology to Improve Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Special Education Students

Some special Education (SPED) students have difficulty expressing their wants and needs. Finding the appropriate augmentative and alternative communication system can improve students’ communicative abilities. Assistive technology provides new ways to help students communicate using affordable tools such as tablets and their built in applications. Action research included a case study with the LetMeTalk app, an interview with a Speech Pathologist and SPED teacher, and a questionnaire with para-educators. Results from the interview, questionnaire and case study suggested that because student needs vary widely, SPED students need multimodality methods, strategies and tools. Augmentative and alternative communication provides an effective and adaptive tool to help improve students’ communication skills