Conceptualizing Literacy in Aac: Some Reflections

Abstract

Literacy is a concept, which almost has taken over and included concepts like reading, writing and inter human social communication in general. However, it has only recently been integrated into the AAC-fields connected to social work, special education and assistive technologies. This paper focuses on some key-questions regarding AAC and literacy, mentioning that the holistic approach of AAC in combination with a general linguistic theory as the one by Charles Peirce, creates a more whole or holistic perspective for thinking and looking for answers on these questions. The social model created by Uri Bronfenbrenner is also very applicable. Even though a holistic approach demands openness on the behalf of the teacher or interventionist as well as of the user her/himself, it is important to remember the need for good methods and methodology, based upon good practical evidence with the common target to acquire literacy. KEY WORDS: communication, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), literacy, reading, writing. AnotacijaRaštingumas bendrąja prasme suprantamas kaip konceptas, apimantis skaitymą, rašymą ir tarpasmeninį socialinį bendravimą. Neseniai jis integruotas į augmentinės ir alternatyviosios komunikacijos (AAK) sritis, susietas su socialiniu darbu, specialiąja pedagogika ir pagalbinėmis technologijomis. Šiame straipsnyje analizuojami esminiai augmentinės ir alternatyviosios komunikacijos bei raštin-gumo klausimai, aptariama augmentinės ir alternatyviosios komunikacijos holistinė perspektyva, remiantis bendrąja lingvistikos teorija. Pateikiamas Uri Bronfenbrenner socialinis modelis. PAGRINDINIAI ŽODŽIAI: komunikacija, augmentinė ir alternatyvioji komunikacija (AAK), raš-tingumas, skaitymas, rašymas.