Language Unity WordCore WordPower AQLS

Table of Contents For Beginners For Non-Readers For Literate Individuals

Language for Beginners

Putting Words Together

• Why do beginners use language? Let's look at some of the reasons beginners use language and show how using the core vocabulary of SpringBoard Unity 32 would work.
• Making requests - "More juice"

  Device user selects the icon for more
  Then selects the icon for juice from an activity row that appears at the top of the screen.

• Taking turns - "My turn"

  Device user selects the icon for my
  Then selects the icon for turn from an activity row that appears at the top of the screen.

Writing Sample

This writing sample from Zach is after listening to a story about whales:

"she see whale
I like blowhole (spelled with help)
dolphin is silver"

Zach – Age 6

Different language functions, different parts of speech

• Have a variety of different parts of speech available.
• If the AAC speaker only has access to pages of nouns, their only language functions will be answering questions for complying with others' requests, and making requests.

Dynamic activity rows

• Useful for creating two and three word phrases to facilitate the creation of two and three word phrases.
• For example, following the word go, the activity row choices might include "outside" and "home."

If a beginner has the receptive language skills to follow a two-step command, they can learn to put words together to create their own messages.

Suggested starting points

• SpringBoard Unity 32 - Has 27 one-hit words
• Vantage and Vanguard Unity 45 1-Hit - Has 32 one-hit words
• Vantage and Vanguard Unity 84 - Has 67 one-hit words
• Pathfinder Unity 128 Single Hit - Has 84 one-hit words

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