AMANDA HYNAN FINAL THESIS PDF

“desire to meet new people, interact with them in a variety of ways, and to
ultimately meet with them off-line” (p. 231)
Stevens (2011) writes, as a person who uses AAC, about his experiences of using
mobile phone technology through his hybrid VOCA and talks about his iPad. He had
previously used a smart phone but quickly realised the new hybrid VOCA was more
accessible than his smartphone as it had big buttons and was designed to be easy to
use. He comments that using both the VOCA and the iPad has
“revolutionised my mobile telephony and enabled me to conquer an area of
communication I was previously simply coping with” (p.7)
but the iPad has not totally taken over from his VOCA as a communication aid
because
“it is not as easy to type with” (p.7)
He describes many advantages for the hybrid VOCA: it is useful as a phone, he is
proud that it has features that interest “non-speech impaired people” (p. 7), and has a
nice design. He says all of this is important because it is fundamental to his sense of
dignity and self-worth.
2.5.3. Challenges for using the internet and online social media
Accessibility appears to be the major challenge for the use of online technology by
young people who use AAC. There are not only physical challenges which require
alternative access support via equipment such as switches or eye gaze (Chapple,
2011), but also cognitive challenges in relation to language and literacy abilities.
Smith (1992) reports literacy problems are common among non-speaking people
affected by cerebral palsy and Sturm and Clendon (2004) report people who use AAC
often have difficulties across multiple language domains which impacts on their
ability to use language effectively and acquire literacy skills. To gain a fuller
understanding of challenges within any field it is important to hear from the people
that systems have been designed to support (Jenkins, 2006). The voices of people who
use AAC is alarmingly muted on an issue that is impacting on the lives of so many
people in the 21 st century.
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