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Transferring AAC intervention to the home.

Sigafoos J, O'Reilly MF, Seely-York S, Weru J, Son SH, Green VA, Lancioni GE

Department of Special Education, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712-1290, USA. j.sigafoos@mail.utexas.edu

PURPOSE: To evaluate the acquisition of AAC skills during an initial clinical trial and assess subsequent transfer of the training to the home setting. METHOD: A 12-year-old male with autism was first seen in a clinical setting to establish the use of a voice-output communication device. After learning to use the device to request access to preferred objects in the clinical trial, the intervention was transferred to the home. Follow-up with the parent was conducted via e-mail and telephone. Videotapes were made of initial home-based sessions to enable evaluation of the participant's progress. RESULTS: The programme was successful in teaching the participant to use a portable AAC device to make requests during the clinical trial and then in two home-based activities. CONCLUSION: An initial clinical trial with follow-up support for parents may be an efficient method for beginning AAC intervention and transferring the training procedures to the home setting.

Published 29 October 2004 in Disabil Rehabil, 26(21): 1330-4.
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