Becca Plasan & Sam Dinger

CSD 472
Therapy Activity Description for App
Description: The therapy activity will begin with a pile of cards that have descriptive words on
them, each belonging to an accessible category found on the AAC Speech Communicator.
Showing the user each card one at a time, they will have to determine which of the four
categories the descriptive word or action belongs to. This activity will then move to include the
app. The user will be required to select the categories on the app to locate the words on the cards.
If they answer correctly, they will be given a green token. If they answer incorrectly, they will
not earn a green token, and no tokens will be taken away. At the end of the activity, the user will
be able to pick out a small reward by trading in their green tokens. Each small reward requires a
different amount of tokens. Examples of these are pencils, colorful erasers, and inexpensive
toys. This will be a good incentive for school-aged children and ensure that they study an
adequate amount to learn their speech device and its capabilities.

Name: Improving Semantic Categorization through Grouping Techniques

Goals addressed: The user will group the items on the cards by the correct semantic
categories they belong to.
The user will learn the picture symbol associated with the orthographic symbol of
everyday objects.
The user will become familiar with the categories and symbols presented on AAC Speech
Communicator.
Population targeted: This activity targets school-aged children starting to use the AAC
Speech Communicator who have speech disabilities. It can also target individuals with
autism who are moderately to completely literate but have limited pragmatic skills. This
activity could be used for adults or older children if the materials were changed
appropriately to their age.
Materials needed: To perform this activity, materials needed include the AAC Speech
Communicator app on an android device, picture cards of words that are from semantic
categories on the app, green tokens, a choice of a small reward for positive reinforcement
selected by the user, and paper and pencil for data collection.
Anticipated supports provided by clinician: The clinician may be required to give
minimal verbal, tactile, and/or visual cues provided as needed. Approach this activity by
starting with the least amount of cueing possible and offer more assistance if needed.
The clinician will need to supply small rewards for positive reinforcement as well as
encouragement.
Rational for activity in regards to particular app: To make the user familiar with the
app, to increase the rate of communication during daily activities (school, work, classes,
communicating daily wants and needs).
Outcome measured and variables of interest: This activity measures the percentage of
accuracy of the clients familiarity of the symbols by their ability to group them into
semantic categories with and without cues. It also measures their ability to use and
familiarity with the AAC Speech Communicator app.