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Johnston, S. S., Reichle, C., Feeley, K. M., & Jones, E. A. (2012). AAC Strategies for Individuals with Moderate to Severe Disabilities. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. Reviewed by Jeong-IL Cho, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
The academic and social success of individuals with moderate to severe disabilities is related to their access to effective methods of communication. The use of various forms of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has been shown to be an effective and efficient communication method for many individuals with severe disabilities in communicating with their family members, friends, and others. Recently proposed revisions of Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Initial and Advanced Role Content Standards for the Preparation of Special Educator extend the emphasis on special educators' familiarity of AAC systems and assistive technologies to support and enhance communication of individuals with disabilities. An advanced methods book on AAC strategies is therefore timely in providing comprehensive and resourceful information on how various AAC strategies can be effectively designed and instructed to individuals with moderate to severe disabilities. This book mainly emphasizes effective procedures in establishing functional communication for individuals with "intellectual delays," "physical disabilities," and "Autism."
AAC Strategies for Individuals with Moderate to Severe Disabilities is edited by Susan S. Johnston and Joe Reichle, faculty members at the University of Utah and the University of Minnesota respectively and experts in AAC, Kathleen M. Feeley, faculty member specializing developmental disabilities at Long Island University, and Emily A. Jones, faculty member having clinical and educational expertise in applied behavior analysis (ABA) at Queens College, City University of New York. The authors and contributors of the book are qualified to offer special educators and speech-language pathologists an advanced a book that provides an overview of AAC and instructional methods addressing individuals with moderate to severe disabilities. The purpose of this book is to provide a methods book that bridges the gap between research and practice on AAC for individuals with moderate to severe disabilities. The authors have achieved this purpose by presenting empirically validated implementation procedural steps that are effective in establishing a beginning functional communicative repertoire for individuals with moderate to severe disabilities and by offering a comprehensive review of basic principles of ABA employed in this book.
The book gives...