Simple AAC vs INSTRUCT_RERConAAC

Simple AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) is an extremely simple text-to-speech app that uses iOS's built-in voices. Text input is done with the regular keyboard; and the app even works for other languages that aren't English, if you have their voices installed.

Create short trainings using research backed teaching methods quickly. The app leads the user through creating a checklist of the steps necessary to complete a task and adding video models for each of those steps. INSTRUCT was built to answer the problem that communication partners are often unfamiliar and untrained in AAC, so they preempt opportunities for communication and participation. Current training approaches for partner training are generally inefficient (e.g. one-on-one training) or ineffective due to not being personalized or limited in scope and reach. Our answer is this user-friendly app for creating partner trainings to teach partners AAC strategies. We do this by prompting the user to break a strategy down into step by step instructions creating a checklist and to add video demonstrations of each step. This app has bene evaluated for usability of the app and effectiveness of the trainings we are prompting users to make. We are still waiting on data for usability, but the trainings have bene shown to significantly increase the partners' strategy use and significantly increase successful interaction with someone who uses AAC. Many of the trainings will be made freely available via an online library currently in progress. URL will be added once the online library design has been finalized. This application was developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90REGE0014) to the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (RERC on AAC). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This application does not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.