Student Assessments
Tools to evaluate the needs and abilities of the device user as part of the selection of SGD for trial. The options focus on tools that are more readily available online, without cost.
The Communication Matrix assessment tool is designed to pinpoint exactly how an individual is communicating and provide a framework for determining logical communication goals. It was designed to document the expressive communication skills of children who have severe or multiple disabilities who are at the earliest stages of communication. Its concise online format yields a visual profile of the student’s information.
The Pragmatics Profile of Everyday Communication in Children/Adults
Dewart, H. and Summers, S.
- consists of informal interview with an open form of quesitioning
- focuses on communication in daily life
- families insights and knowledge are valued
- yields qualitative, descriptive data which can provide an added dimension to other quantitative assessments
- can help plan intervention relevant to everyday communicative needs
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DAGG-3 Dynamic AAC Goals Grid (2023)
Tobii Dynavox with Vickie Clark
The DAGG-3 is the updated version of a goal and intervention guide distributed by the device vendor Tobii-Dynavox. The 21-page tool identifies sets of skills at five different levels of communication. This tool can be helpful for thinking of the types of goals that are important to AAC users if the goals are individualized.
Tobii-Dynavox does require that you sign up to get access to their resources.
Device Features
Tools to evaluate the device features. The options focus on tools that are more readily available online, without cost.
Assessing Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology
by Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI)
The WATI group has a long history of offering quality materials related to assistive technology (AT). The student assessment guide is divided up into chapters that include forms, checklists, and instructions. They provide a comprehensive look at the student across all areas that might be related to AT – sensory, motor, cognitive, communication, and more. The checklist format and details make it a nice tool for looking at the breadth of issues within and across a domain. The AAC section can be used as part of an AAC/AT evaluation.
RUBRIC for EVALUATING the LANGUAGE of APPS for AAC: RELAAACs
by Carole Zangari
This rubric is a user-friendly reference for considering the features of AAC apps as part of a comprehensive evaluation. Fifteen different app features are listed, related to communicative functions and language learning characteristics. The app being considered is rated from 1 (does not support) to 5 (fully supports) for each feature. The levels have a short description along with the number value, making it easier to determine where a particular app would fall. Calculating the total score across all the features is one way to compare apps. Looking at the descriptions associated with the higher ratings is a good reminder what we would expect to see (and use) in a robust communication system.
AAC Finders Checkllist
by Assistiveware
Form
AAC Needs Assessment
by Tobii Dynavox
AAC Evaluation Summary
by Georgia Project for Assistive Technology
Link AT’s Choosing A Communication Device: Considerations and Feature Matching
Feature Match Checklists
by Scott Marfilius & Kelly Fonner
AAC Skills Assessment-R
by Vickie Clarke
UW Health AAC Feature Matching Overview
by University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
