An introduction to augmentative and alternative communication. The authors discuss factors that are important when choosing communication systems, assessment strategies, environmental adaptation, and the principles for teaching comprehension and use of such communication systems to individuals with different disabilities, including motor impairments, learning disabilities and autism. The text has its basis in modern developmental theories of language and communication. It has a practical approach with many examples and focuses on every-day situations.

This text describes the development of augmentative and alternative communication. The focus is not on disabilities, although the atypical developmental paths to language described in this book are caused by a variety of disabilities, but on the developmental achievements of children using augmentative and alternative communication systems.

Augmentative and alternative communication concerns the use of non-speech communication modes for people unable to use speech and for augmenting communication for people with limited spoken language. This book focuses on the use of manual and graphic communication systems for clinical populations with developmental disorders of speech and language, including children, adolescents and adults with autism, dysphsia, intellectual impairment and motor impairment.