Representing Vocabulary

Activity-Based Vocabulary

Overlays and/or communication systems developed for an activity often represent novel practice for students.  In other words, if the second grade classroom is doing a unit on bats and you create activity-based overlays to support student learning and expression in the classroom, chances are many of the vocabulary on the system will be new (novel) to the child.  Structuring activity and/or literacy based overlays in a consistent manner will provide a system of support for your AAC users.  To create consistency always set up the vocabulary on your system in the same way.  If you carryover key vocabulary from the child's core communication overlay, make sure that the vocabulary is placed in the same place on their system.

Using Aided Language Stimulation

Carol Goossens, Sharon Sapp Crain and Pamela Elder introduced the idea of aided language stimulation in their monumental books on "Engineering the Environment". This approach utilizes multiple activity-based communication overlays.  To achieve this, the team:

1. Develops a list of all the activities a student engages in.


2. Prioritizes the list based on factors such as student motivation and how often the activity occurs.


3. Lists all the possible vocabulary associated with a specific activity.


4. Prioritizes the vocabulary list.


5. Creates the communication overlays following a set of guidelines such as:
   • Use a variety of parts of speech (e.g. verbs, nouns, descriptors)
   
   
   • Place frequently used vocabulary in the same location on every overlay whenever possible
   
   
   • "Engineer the environment" so communication overlays are prominently placed in locations where they will be used
   
   
   • During the teaching and implementation phase, use a variety of sound teaching practices such as:
     • Modeling use of the overlay when talking with the student
     • Systematically cue correct responses
     • Teach overlay use in the context of real and functional activities

For additional information on the implementation of this approach see: Aided Language Stimulation

Examples