Strategy 23: Augmentative and alternative communication: ‘Utilize all means to develop communication skills’

Some learners with special educational needs have significant difficulties in communicating with others using speech. They include learners with cerebral palsy, autism, developmental apraxia, multiple sclerosis, stroke and traumatic brain injury, some of whom have virtually no speech ability while others have some use of their voice.1 Thus, there are two strategies for assisting these learners: augmentative communication and alternative communication, respectively.