Below are some tools that can be used to gather data while completing an AAC evaluation. Whether the evaluation is formal for insurance request submission, or to monitor progress, these tools can provide insight into an individual’s skills.
Criterion-Referenced Tools
Augmentative & Alternative Communication Profile
- This assessment (created by Tracy Kovach) can be used to:
- Identify areas of strength and weakness
- Determine functional goals
- Compare performance over time
- Identify AAC supports
- Identify optimal learning environments
- The subtests are based on Janice Light’s areas of communicative competence (linguistic, operational, social, and strategic competencies)
- Link to purchase the Augmentative & Alternative Communication Profile.
Communication Matrix
- The Communication Matrix is a web-based assessment tool.
- It is organized into seven levels of communicative behavior and provides insight into an individual’s communication modalities across various acts.
- The levels of communicative behavior include the following:
- Pre-intentional behavior
- Intentional behavior
- Unconventional communication
- Conventional communication
- Concrete symbols
- Abstract symbols
- Language
- Link to the Communication Matrix
- Blog post on the Communication Matrix
Dynamic AAC Goals Grid 2 (DAGG-2)
- This assessment provides insight into where an individuals falls on the following ability level continuum:
- Emergent
- Emergent transitional
- Context-dependent
- Transitional independent
- Independent
- The DAGG-2 reviews skills in the areas of understanding, expression, social interaction, literacy, and other.
- Create a free account at My Tobii Dynavox to access the DAGG-2
Functional Communication Profile
- The administer can use observation, case history, caregiver/teacher reports, etc. to respond to prompts/complete checklists.
- This assessment provides insight into the following areas:
- Sensory/motor
- Attentiveness
- Receptive language
- Expressive language
- Pragmatic/social language
- Speech
- Voice
- Oral
- Fluency
- Non-oral communication
- The information obtained can be used to generate qualitative information on the individual’s skills.
- Link to Functional Communication Profile
Standardized Assessments
Test of Aided-Communication Symbol Performance (TASP)
- This assessment provides basals/ceilings.
- It includes subtests in the areas below:
- Symbol size and number
- Grammatical encoding
- Categorization
- Syntactic performance
- Link to TASP
Other Tools & Resources
AAC Evaluation Genie
- AAC Genie is an informal, app-based diagnostic tool.
- This app can be used to assist with feature matching.
- It can be used to analyze an individual’s ability to successfully use common AAC system/device language representation methods.
- There are 13 subtests that can be administered together for a complete profile, or separately fo analysis of specific features. The subtests include:
- Visual identification
- Visual discrimination
- Noun vocabulary
- Function vocabulary
- Verb vocabulary
- Category recognition
- Word association
- Category inclusion
- Category exclusion
- Core vocabulary
- Unity icon patterns
- Picture description
- Word prediction
- Link to AAC Genie app
Resources from PrAACticalAAC
- PrAACticalAAC has a resource list that includes assessment forms.
- Checklist of Communication Competencies, Revised (Bloomberg, West, Johnson, & Iacono, 2009)
- Social Networks: A Communication Inventory for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs and Their Partners (Blackstone & Hunt Berg, 2012)
The SETT Framework
- The SETT Framework reviews a student’s environments, the tasks they need to perform, and the tools that they use.
- Additional information on SETT