Creating opportunities for augmentative and alternative communication: strategies for involving people with developmental disabilities

Abstract

Involving persons with developmental disabilities in communication depends to some extent on the ability of others to create effective opportunities for communication. This paper describes strategies to (a) identify opportunities for communication, (b) create the need for communication, and (c) maximize the instructional benefit of communication opportunities. The approach involves analyzing the environment to identify opportunities for communication. Next, establishing operations are manipulated to create the need for communication. Third, systematic instructional strategies are incorporated into identified opportunities to promote learning. It is concluded that parents, teachers, and peers may require support and training if they are to function as effective communicative partners to individuals with developmental disabilities who use augmentative and alternative communication.