Did you think QR codes had gone the way of the dinosaurs? Not at all useful? Who needs them? Well, changes in iOS 11 have helped make them relevant again. When you point your iPhone camera at a QR code, it now offers you a drop down notification to open up the media linked to the code. You no longer need a separate app to read QR codes, eliminating several steps and making them easier to access. So, how can we use this to support people who rely on AAC?
There is a website called QRStuff.com. It allows you to create QR codes and pair them with a variety of different media, including plain text, websites, social media, YouTube videos, Dropbox files….the list is quite long! (Click on the above image to visit the site)
Combine these two things, and you have a useful tool. Imagine attaching a QR code to an AAC device, linking caregivers to a backup file of the person’s vocabulary set in Dropbox? Or, the QR code could link caregivers to a series of videos and documents about the individual’s preferences and communication style. This could also be used to provide caregivers information on modeling AAC and the importance of keeping the device out and available.
What if you don’t have an iPhone? To my knowledge, you will need to download a QR Reader app to an Android device, but you could then use QR codes in the above manner.
Taking this a step further. Many adult AAC users develop videos to guide their staff and direct their own care. Often, these videos are loaded onto the speech generating device itself, but they could also be loaded as private videos onto YouTube. Attach QR codes, and caregivers could be given access to these videos when they are not with the AAC user. This also has the effect of ‘backing up’ these videos to the cloud, should the device break. Caveat: this does NOT remove the importance of the AAC user actively showing someone a video to direct their own care, but could be useful. I can imagine this as a tool to train new staff as well.
Everything ‘old’ is new again. QR codes were actually invented back in 1994. I am sure there are a thousand other ways to use QR codes to support AAC users and other learners with disabilities. And let’s not forget low tech. It never hurts to hang a few motivational posters to keep people modeling AAC!
Drop us a comment and let us know how you use QR codes!
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