The iPad and Mobile Technology Revolution: Benefits and Challenges for Individuals who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Abstract

The iPad and other mobile technologies provide powerful new tools to potentially enhance communication for individuals with developmental disabilities, acquired neurogenic disorders, and degenerative neurological conditions. These mobile technologies offer a number of potential benefits, including: (a) increased awareness and social acceptance of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), (b) greater consumer empowerment in accessing AAC solutions, (c) increased adoption of AAC technologies, (d) greater functionality and interconnectivity, and (e) greater diffusion of AAC research and development. However, there remain a number of significant challenges that must be addressed if these benefits are to be fully realized: (a) to ensure the focus is on communication, not just technology, (b) to develop innovative models of AAC service delivery to ensure successful outcomes, (c) to ensure ease of access for all individuals who require AAC, and, (d) to maximize AAC solutions to support a wide variety of communication functions. There is an urgent need for effective collaboration among key stakeholders to support research and development activities, and to ensure the successful implementation of mobile technologies to enhance communication outcomes for individuals who require AAC and their families.

Communicative Competence for Individuals who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication: A New Definition for a New Era of Communication?

“…The dramatic changes in the range of AAC systems/apps, communication technologies, and social media tools bring both benefi ts and challenges in terms of building, rebuilding, and sustaining the communicative competence of individuals who require AAC. The iPad and mobile technology revolution and the greater use of social media tools have positively impacted social awareness and acceptance of AAC, reducing attitudinal barriers to AAC use (McNaughton & Light, 2013). As a result, individuals with complex communication needs may be more apt to make use of these tools as AAC techniques to enhance communicative competence.…”

“…This is why communicating is an action word. (Staehely, 2000, p. 3) All individuals who require AAC are impacted by environmental factors, but the extent of the impact will vary across individuals depending on their intrinsic communication resources: Those with strong linguistic, operational, social, and strategic skills and well-developed psychosocial factors will be less vulnerable to environmental barriers and constraints than those who are beginning communicators or who experience signifi cant language/cognitive limitations (McNaughton & Light, 2013;Williams, Beukelman, & Ullman, 2012). According to Beukelman and Mirenda (2013), environmental barriers and supports may cut across a range of domains including policy, practice, attitude, knowledge and skill barriers or supports.…”

Increasing participation in the information society by people with disabilities and their families in lower-income countries using mainstream technologies

“…The most common 'bring your own device' in AT is the iPad, which has become a preferred AAC solution for many people with complex communication needs due to the widespread availability, ease of purchasing apps and relatively low cost [33]. McNaughton and Light suggest that the iPad has led to a new, consumer-driven model of AT service delivery [33].…”

“…Similarly, proliferation of mainstream mobile devices is beginning to dictate the delivery of AT in the clinic [33]. The most common 'bring your own device' in AT is the iPad, which has become a preferred AAC solution for many people with complex communication needs due to the widespread availability, ease of purchasing apps and relatively low cost [33].…”

“…post-PC era, post-desktop computer era, Age of Mobilism), but there is a distinct shift in the current global ICT landscape away from personal computers [32]. The AT field is also shifting away from PC-based and dedicated AT devices [33]. The following are characteristics of the post-PC era and examples showing how the characteristics are playing out in the AT field in higher-income countries.…”