Appendix 1 – References and Web sites

SEN and ICT

UK centres

ACE Centre: www.ace-centre.org.uk

ACE Centre North: www.ace-north.org.uk

CALL Centre: callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk

Worldwide centres

Adaptive Technology Resource Centre: www.utoronto.ca/atrc/
University of Toronto, creative solutions for users of adaptive technology in education.

Closing the Gap: www.closingthegap.com
Information on the annual Closing the Gap conference, articles from the journal and more.

Low Incidence Unit: education.qld.gov.au/tal/liu/
Australian site with lots of useful ideas for technology use to help pupils with special needs in education.

Special Needs Research & Development Centre, Canterbury Christ Church College of Higher Education; www.canterbury.ac.uk/xplanatory/xplan.htm

Trace Center: trace.wisc.edu
University of Wisconsin, information about AAC software, hardware and assistive technology guidelines.

Language and communication

Assessing Communication; Latham C. & Miles A., 1997, David Fulton Publishers

Communication Before Speech: normal development and impaired communication, Coupe J. & Goldbart J.(Eds.), 1988, Croom Helm, London

Developing the foundations of Communicative Competence in Pupils with Severe Physical Disability, MacDonald A. & Rendle C., 1994, in J. Watson (Ed) ‘Working with Communication Difficulties’, Moray House Publications.

Functional Communication in the Classroom, Johnson M., 1991, 1992, Clinical Communication Materials, Manchester Metropolitan University

Individual Education Plans: Speech and Language, Tod J. & Blamires M., 1999, David Fulton Publishers London

Making Communication Special: Chris Abbott, 1999, Ideas and school case studies all involving ICT www.sed.kcl.ac.uk/special/index.html

Teaching Communication Skills to Pupils with Severe Disabilities: Downing J.E., 1999, Paul Brookes Publishing Co., Baltimore

Language and literacy

Special Access to Interactive Literacy (SAIL); Millar S. & Kerr J., 1998, in Augmented Communication in Practise: An Introduction
SAIL video

both available from the CALL Centre. callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk

The Literacy Center: www.the-literacy-center.com
An educational centre that specializes in assisting individuals with their efforts to meet their literacy potential.

Useful information for parents and staff

Attitudes and Strategies Towards AAC, Murphy J. & Scott J., 1995, Winslow

AAC Skills Development Package, Lester-Cribb M., 1999, Winslow

Enhancing Communication: Godfrey D., 1999, available from CALL Centre, callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk. A clear and easy to read book introducing AAC to parents and newcomers to the field

Leaflets on a variety of relevant topics; available from Communication Matters – www.communicationmatters.org.uk

YAACK (AAC connecting Young Kids): www.maui.com/~duffy/yaack/b0.html
Introduction to augmentative communication with a number of useful links.

Michelle Finds a Voice: Hollins S., & Barnett S., 1997, St Georges Hospital Medical School. Obtainable from Communication Matters. ISBN 1-901242-06-4 33 coloured pictures tell the story of a young women who gets a communication aid. There is a written narrative at the end which tells one possible story to accompany the pictures.

Speaking Up, Speaking Out: Pathways to Self Advocacy, Communication Matters, 1998 – www.communicationmatters.org.uk

Classroom resources

CALL story / symbol pack: available from CALL Centre, story books with repetitive lines, with accompanying symbol charts – also available, Apple Mac version only, on disk and freely downloadable from CALL Centre Web site. callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk

Caroline Musselwhite: aacintervention.com
AAC Intervention with many useful resources.

Crick Software Ltd: www.cricksoft.com and www.clickergrids.com
Ideas, downloadable grids and resources created by teachers for Clicker

IntelliTools: www.intellitools.com
Many IntelliPics overlays and activities to be downloaded

Linda Burkhart: www.lburkhart.com
Information, on using technology as a tool for education and communication.

MAPE: Micros and Primary Education: www.mape.org.uk
Information and software deals

Mayer-Johnson publications: www.mayer-johnson.com
A wide range of highly practical books from North America, some full of ready-made photocopiable symbol topic charts to help with the integration and education of AAC users. Available from Cambridge Adaptive Communication.

NCIP: www2.edc.org/NCIP/
Association with lots of useful information, advice on classroom applications, and reviews of software.

Special Education Technology, British Columbia: www.setbc.org
Lots of useful downloadable resources for IntelliKeys, Boardmaker etc.

AAC

Augmentative Communication in Practice: An Introduction, 1998, published by CALL Centre, ISBN 1 898042 03 9; callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk
A straightforward overview of AAC. The sections cover both low-tech and high-tech, assessment and encouraging literacy development and includes sections written by people who use AAC as well as by professionals working in the field.

Communication without Speech: AAC Around the World, Anne Warwick, 1998, published by ISAAC, ISBN 0-9684186-0-0 – available from Communication Matters
www.communicationmatters.org.uk

Highly accessible but very comprehensive introduction to AAC, with lots of practical tips, photographs and illustrations.

Management of Severe Communication Disorders in Pupils and Adults: David Beukelman and Pat Miranda (second edition), 1998, published by Paul Brooks, ISBN 1-55766-333-5;
www.pbrookes.com
A comprehensive textbook

See also ACE and CALL Web sites

Autistic Spectrum related Communication Approaches

Information and resources for parents and staff of autistic children - a wonderful cornucopia of pictures, games, cards, blank chart layouts, worksheets, software etc.

www.do2learn.com or www.dotolearn.com
trainland.tripod.com
www.autismuk.com

Voluntary Organizations - information about specific approachs to teaching, learning and communication.

National Autistic Society www.nas.org.uk
Scottish Autistic Society www.nas.org.uk/scotland.html
www.autism-in-scotland.org.uk

PECS: The Picture Exchange System Training Manual: Frost L. & Bondy A., 1994, available from Pyramid Educational Consultants: www.pecs-uk.com and www.pecs.com Lots of information about this specialized use of pictures and symbols with children with communication difficulties associated with autistic spectrum disorders. Also information about products and training courses.

Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH)

This website from University of North Carolina outlines the principles of the TEACCH appraoch (building up nonverbal thinking, using a visual approach, eg. pictures, colour, location, routines etc.), and provides useful suggestions about resources:
www.teacch.com
www.teacch.com/teacchco.htm

General information about autism (and other conditions)
www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/specific.htm
www.oneworld.org/autism_uk

Teaching using symbols and signs

Creating a Communicative Classroom: Carol Goossens, 1999, available from Communication Matters; www.communicationmatters.org.uk
Many solid, practical, down-to-earth ideas for managing classrooms and making resources.

Meldreth Manor School: atschool.eduweb.co.uk/meldreth/ A school site with information about symbols, switch software and techniques for introducing switches and scanning.

Symbol Software: Millar S. & Larcher J., 1998, published by CALL Centre, Edinburgh, ISBN 1 898042 12 8; callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk Review of symbol systems and software that can handle symbols.

Using Signing Systems for Communication: Leaflet available from Communication Matters, www.communicationmatters.org.uk

Widgit Software: www.widgit.com
A hugely informative site with lots of ideas and information for symbol users, with possibility of joining a symbol users’ discussion forum.

Communication aids (VOCAs)

AAC Device Review: Rumble G. & Larcher J., published by Vocation, 1998,
ISBN 0-953375-80-3. Email voca@dial.pipex.com
Comparative review of all communication aids available in the UK

CASC section of Communication Matters, www.communicationmatters.org.uk
Access to the Web sites of the major suppliers of communication aids (VOCAs) in the UK.

AAC Support

Communication Matters: www.communicationmatters.org.uk
A national charity concerned with the needs of people with severe communication difficulties. It provides information and support through a Web site, a journal three times a year and a friendly yearly conference in September, attended by AAC users and people from all the professions working in this field.

ISAAC: www.isaac-online.org
An international organization linking people interested in AAC throughout the world with a useful Web site giving information about the organization, publications, events, resources and an online forum.

Communication Aid Centres

Other communication aids centres exist but those listed below are some of the larger centres which are operated on a full time basis.

ACS, Charing Cross Hospital, London. Tel. 020 8846 1057 (adults only)

The Wolfson Centre CAC, London. Tel. 020 7837 7618 (pupils only)

Bristol CAC. Tel. 0117 970 1212

ACT Birmingham. Tel. 0121 627 8235

Communicate, Newcastle. Tel. 0191 219 5640

Belfast CAC. Tel. 028 9066 9501 ex 2917

SCTCI, Glasgow. Tel. 0141 201 2619

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