PURPOSIVE COM MIDTERM NOTES

CHAPTER 4: COMMUNCATION AID What is communication aid?

Linda Burkhart, a technology Integration
 Communication is the exchange of
Specialist, explains that communication aids,
information between a sender and
better known as Augmentative and Alternative
receiver.
Communication (AAC) it refers to the wide variety
 Communication Aid is anything that
of methods designed to assist individual with
enables individuals to successfully
different communicative challenges. This, she
communicate with those around them.
says, includes the use of symbols, gestures and
 Communication aids help individuals who
technology-driven speech-generating devices that
have difficulty expressing their thoughts
helps individual expresses idea using
or ideas to others through speaking and
communication form from actual speech to
those who have almost no ability to
speech technology. However, she stresses that
perform actual discourse to impart their
successful transfer and understanding of the
message
message is far more important that the form
Comprehensive Expressive Aids
since effective communication only occurs when
 This type of communication aids is
the intended meaning of the message is
developed to address an individual's
understood by receiver.
communication needs throughout the
Two types of communication aid:
day. It may be as simple as an alphabet
Unaided AAC
board, a collection of letters, words
 These are communication aid system that
photos, and even symbols that can
do not necessitate any external device,
represent a variety of messages that
but rather are methods that teach
needs to be communicated by the
individual with communication challenges
individual.
to effectively use facial expression,
Targeted Expressive Aids
vocalization and gesture system.
 This type of communication aids is
Aided AAC
designed for clear and specific scenarios
 These are communication aid system that
where limited sets of messages are
use either low-end or high-end
needed specific to be conveyed. Examples
technological devices. Notebooks, pad
of this would be request cards or object
papers, chalk board and communication
symbols that will tell the receiver that the
boards that are not battery-operated or
sender of the message is making a
require electricity to assist in
request.
communicating ideas are considered to be
Visual Support
low-end technology communication aid.
 This type of communication aids is created
Speech-generation devices, specialized
to provide assistance to individual so that
computer speech programs, and other
they can make sense of their day, be
specialized speech software are examples
reminded of and remember events, or
of high-end technology communication
assist in completing their tasks and
aid.
routines
Benefits of communication aid:
Support for Communication Partners
Personalization
 This type of communication aids is
 Communication aids vary greatly in order
designed for the communication partner
to address specific concerns, needs, and
of individuals with highly complex
demands of each individual who opt to
communication needs who obviously
use them. To be able to prescribe the
experience difficulty communicating at
most appropriate aid, abilities, needs and
home and at work.
limitations, the individual is assessed by a
team of specialists such as speech-
 language pathologists, occupational
therapists, rehabilitation etc. This is so
that optimum positive results may
expected once the prescribed
communication aid is used by the
individual.
Adaptability
 Communication aids are designed to be
fabricated so that individuals with speech
difficulties and challenges are given
opportunities to function
communicatively on a day-day basis.
These aids were developed because
gesture-based language and other
unaided communication aids are not
applicable to the individual’s needs to
communicate. As such, communication
aids provide them better chances to build
relationships and secure and maintain
employment.
Who benefits communication from
communication aids?
 All of us use communication aids and the
complexity of our communication
requirements to be able to effectively
communicate is diverse. Communication
challenges may arise as a result of the
following physical or psychological
dysfunctions:
o Cerebral Palsy and Autism
Spectrum Disorders
o Developmental Language Delays
o Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke
o Progressive neurological disorders
such as ALS
o Specific Genetic Disorders, Ataxia,
Dyspraxia, Aphasia
o Temporary medical conditions
Research and clinical experience show
that the use of communication aids with children
facilitates the development of their speech
ability. It is now used successfully with very young
children who are at risk of speech difficulties.
The Internet Technology
o Was designed by the United States
Department of Business Defense in order
to have continuous data communication
with all of the government’s computer
systems should a nuclear war become
inevitable.
The Internet
 The internet is being utilized to transfer
information, store data entry, and share
resources among interconnected
computers, known as a network.
 The World Wide Web (www) was
developed in an institute in Switzerland.
The World Wide Web is in fact a collection
of Websites that offer endless varieties of
information, both text and graphics.
Letter and Technology
 The letter has a new face, electronic. The
transformation was brought about by the
fast-changing technology that affects
business in the global scale. Today, it has
three types: facsimile, the email, and
instant messaging.
Facsimile or simply fax
 is a message transferring system that
allows transmission of texts and images
that is digitized by the machine and is
received as hardcopy output in its original
form.
Instant messaging or IM
 is an online messaging system that allows
users to send messages in near real-time
situation with the aid of stand-alone
internet application or software. From the
usual one-on-one sender-receiver ratio,
IMs today allow multiple users to
communicate with one another in a single
messaging screen. This is known as group
chat.
Electronic mail or the email
 is an internet-based system of sending
near real-time messages that can be sent
with other pertinent electronic letter or
document attachments to even a
multitude of receivers in any part of the
world at any given time
The email has become one of the primary means
of industry communication because of the
following characteristics:
Convenience
 An email account owner can conveniently
access and use the emailing system
anywhere and anytime provided they
have internet service.
Efficiency
 An email can be sent virtually in a matter
of seconds to a couple of minutes,
depending on the speed of internet
connection and the attachment’ file size.
Savings
 Sending emails cost much cheaper than
sending snail mails. (Snail mail is an
ordinary mail that is delivered by a postal
system).
Letter vs. Email
 The letter compared to the email as a
business correspondence, is also flexible
in terms of format, style, content and
structure.
The letter compared to the email as a business
correspondence, is also flexible in terms of
format, style, content and structure.
It takes time for traditional letters to reach
intended readers.
Sending traditional letters demand cost on the
part of the sender: cost in terms of time, printing
and actual mailing.
Similarities
 Format and writing style for memos and
most types of emails are similar such as
both may present receipt's name, sender's
name, date when the message is created
or sent and the subject heading to name a
few
 Both can be taken as relatively formal
correspondence although experts claim
that the memo is more formal
 Both considered as written records than
can be used for legal purposes
 Memo can also be sent electronically, thus
is called an e-memo, which is of course no
less than the hardcopy memorandum
Difference
 Memo is written specifically for members
of organization while Email has many
varieties and can be sent not only for the
members of the organizations but also
who has business with the company;
internal and external communications.
 Memo offers more structural format, as it
does not create a dialogue of sort. An
email may also present several varieties of
tone and structure
 An email may expect a response from
recipients while memo would never
expect a reply, unless otherwise required
Preparing Various Presentations
 Apart from public speaking skill, the ability
to create engaging visual aids can
definitely enhance the effectiveness of
your presentations.
 Style, manner of delivery, and stage
presence are innate talents you can refine
through constant proper practice.
 However, for you to be able to effectively
present details in your discussions, visual
aids are a must.
 In reality, there is no secret behind the
creation of successful visual aids;
however, there are ways you can do to
make your visuals effective.
Three key components when developing your
visual aids:
 Establish Objectives. By being clear with
the reasons why you are going to present
a particular topic, you can be able to
better prepare the materials that you
need. With better preparation, you can
strengthen your objectives. And, to
establish your objectives, you must first
analyze your goals. Your objectives fuel
your presentation.
Hence, establishing your goals can:
1. Ascertain the content you will
present;
2. Plan the delivery of your
presentation;
3. Select the details that you need
to emphasize; and,
4. Choose and customize your
visual aids.
  Identify Audience. By identifying and  To make your points clearer, emphasize
understanding your audience, you can your message, and create excitement to
rehearse an audience-sensitive tone of your audience, use visual aids.
delivery. Remember that objectives  Clear images, graphs, charts, and other
stimulate your audience to perform visual representations can further your
specific actions, consider new audience's level of understanding your
perspectives, respond to facts, or just presentations.
simply update their knowledge.  Since the PowerPoint has become the
 Plan and Organize. Once you are able to visual aid of choice for most presenters,
establish your objectives and identify your why not utilize its full potential. Apart
audience, it is time that you work on the from the usual texts, images, graphs, and
backbone of your presentation. It should charts. 
be a rule of thumb for you to always  Try adding voice files and video clips to
customize and tailor fit your your presentations whenever appropriate.
presentations.  Together with the technology-assisted
visual aids, you should never forget to use
Here are points you can consider when planning what is supposed to be your most
your presentation: effective visual aid, your own self.
1. Dedicate Ample Time. It is best that you  Remember that through your body
give your presentation time in terms of movements, hand gestures facial
planning and organization. Preparing it expressions, and actual demonstration,
the night before or worse, while you're on you will be able to get the attention,
your way to the meeting or seminar, will focus, and interest of your audience.
only jeopardize your entire presentation.
Haste makes waste, remember.
2. Prepare an Outline. To avoid leaving
pertinent points for discussion behind,
outline your presentation Never be too
complacent. Having an outline of your
discussion will enable you to take control
over your presentation.
3. Set the Limits. Determine what you need
to discuss and what information you are
going to share. Limit the contents of your
major subtopics and set to a maximum of
five key support points.
4. Know the Audience. Your first priority
should always be your audience.
Considering their field of expertise,
knowledge of the topic, and their
willingness to listen may affect their
interest and action towards your
discussion.

Using Visual Aids: