Accessing a Communication Aid
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‘Access’ refers to the physical method used to make selections on the AAC system. Access is a crucial aspect of any AAC system, whether low- or high-tech. Access methods are described under the headings: direct selection, pointing systems, scanning systems.
An individual with complex physical difficulties may be dependent on technology for accessing education, recreation and to manage their lives. Some individuals use the same access method to control a computer, to operate a VOCA and to control a powered wheelchair.
However, someone who uses a joystick well enough to drive a wheel chair safely, may not have sufficient control to use joystick access to a communication aid or computer. In a wheelchair, the delay between joystick movement and wheelchair movement tends to iron out tremor and jerks. If the user does veer off course, there is usually no serious damage. But moving a cursor through letters, words and symbols requires much more control and a word or phrase once uttered cannot be taken back. So some people use different access methods for different activities, for example a joystick for mobility and a switch for computer and VOCA.
Find out more about access methods:
See also:
- Why use AAC?
- What does AAC include?
- What is the best system?
- AAC and speech development
- Time needed to learn AAC
- Having a conversation
- Vocabulary
- Access