Unity Software & Core Word Approaches to AAC

1. Unity Software & Core Word Approaches to AAC Jointly presented by Sarah Dennis (SLP at SPC) and Roslyn Irvine (SLP at WPHC)

2. Core Vocabulary • Core vocabulary are frequently used words that stretch across users and environments (Fringe vocabulary varies from person to person) • Core vocabulary contains all parts of speech - nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections • Core word vocabulary makes up approximately 80% of all words used by individuals, including fluent AAC users (Hill, 2001), toddlers (Banajee, 2003), preschoolers (Marvin, Beukelman & Bilyeu, 1994), adults (Balandin & Iacono, 1999), and seniors (Stuart & Beukelman, 1997). • Core vocabulary contains few picture producers (<10%)

3. Page-Based AAC Systems • “Page-based” is the term used to describe AAC systems where vocabulary is organised by themes or categories • Page-based AAC systems often do not include much core vocabulary, instead focussing on fringe vocabulary that is easily pictured and categorised • High proportions of fringe vocabulary do not allow for complex grammar development and often contribute to telegraphic sentence formation

4. Core Vocabulary I, you, it, want, need, get, do, put, give this, that Fringe Vocabulary stir, pour, mix, measure spoon, cup, bowl, pot, spatula Kitchen Vocabulary

5. Core Vocabulary I, you, it, want, need, get, do, put, give this, that Fringe Vocabulary wash, wipe, brush toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, shampoo, shirt, pants Personal Care Vocabulary

6. Core Vocab in Page-Based AAC • Often requires significant navigation in and out of categories to reach the core words • Pop-up grammar support (e.g. Proloquo2Go) can be difficult for many clients to use • Core vocab are often not picture producers and are tricky to represent in a single-meaning picture system

7. Core Vocab in Unity • Each core word is two or three hits to access • Multi-meaning pictures allow for patterns to represent grammatical concepts • Pictures have consistent locations, allowing for motor planning and automaticity to develop – some advanced users don’t even bother with overlays on static Unity devices!

8. Unity I: 1st person + 1st person Me: 1st person + object My: 1st person + possessive Myself: object + 1st person Mine: possessive + 1st person Boardmaker Pronouns in Unity & Boardmaker

9. Single-Meaning versus Multi-Meaning Pictures • Arguments in favour of single-meaning pictures have focussed on transparency and ease of learning • Single-meaning pictures lend themselves really well to fringe vocabulary but are often not transparent for core vocabulary • Written labels provide an illusion of transparency for therapists and caregivers

10. Transparent? Or the “Illusion of Translucency” We are blinded by our eyes by picture producing nouns to create a visual inventory for topics/situations

11. Single-Meaning versus Multi-Meaning Pictures • Client only has to learn a small set of multi-meaning pictures, not hundreds or thousands • Pictures stay in a fixed location and there is no need to search through pages of pictures to say a word • Pictures are combined with a consistent set of rules or patterns, making the system easier to learn and use when more words are added ( e.g. she, him, theirs, itself) • Our semantic representations naturally link more than one concept to a given picture; single-meaning pictures rely on only the most obvious concept while multi-meaning pictures make use of multiple semantic connections

12. Linear vs. Relational Representation

13. A Clinical and Educational Dilemma

14. Language Based not “Needs” Based • A needs-based communication overlay or page has specific nouns for objects in specific environments • A language-based communication overlay or page has words which support communication in all environments • Needs-based overlays have to be constantly updated for new environments • Needs-based overlays assume a multiplicity of overlays with special words on each page connected to a specific topic, environment or activity • Needs-based overlays are based on staff intuitions and are designed for specific needs

15. That Unity thing looked really complicated… • Unity has different size overlays (32-144) for a variety of accessors • Placement is kept relatively consistent so that clients can transition between different versions of Unity • Buttons can be “masked” so that only a handful are visible to start • Generally recommended to start with the smallest button size that your client can access and then mask buttons while they are learning

16. That Unity thing looked really complicated… • Pixon symbols - single-meaning picture-symbols that use Unity icons to introduce icon sequences to beginning communicators - e.g. the Unity sequence for “eat” is apple + action man, the Pixon symbol is the action man eating an apple - studies show that clients transition very quickly from Pixon to Unity • Language Acquisition through Motor Planning - a method of teaching Unity designed for beginning communicators - lots of success using LAMP for children with Autism - available as an iPad app: LAMP Words For Life • Teaching resources are available!

17. Other terminology you might hear alongside Unity… • Bruce Baker: the inventor • Semantic Compaction: the term Bruce Baker coined for multi-meaning pictures and the use of multi-meaning pictures to create visual language systems • Semantic Compaction Systems: the company which owns the intellectual property rights for Minspeak, etc., which are licensed to PRC, Aroga and others for sale. • Minspeak: Trade name for the family of language programs, coined as a play on the phrase “minimum effort speech” • MAPs: Minspeak Application Programs (Unity is a blend of all 5 programs) • Unity: the main Minspeak program (MAP) used in English-speaking countries