Visual Resources for Enhancing Communication for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Disabilities, IRCA Articles, Access Autism


	Visual Resources for Enhancing Communication for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Disabilities Contributed by Beverly Vicker Visual materials can support the expressive and comprehension communicative needs of many individuals. Expressive communication can be supported through various visual mediums as the person's needs and abilities change. Comprehension information can be presented in formats that include choice displays, sequences, schedules of events or activities, and behavioral reminders or guidelines. In addition to the visual resources listed below, there are a number of books, articles, catalogues, and websites which might also be helpful. These include: Hodgdon, L. (1995). Visual strategies for improving communication (Vol. 1): Practical supports for school and home. Solana Beach, CA: Mayer-Johnson Company. Hodgdon, L. (1999). Solving behavior problems in autism: Improving communication with visual strategies. Solana Beach, CA: Mayer-Johnson Company. Beukelman, D., & Miranda, P. (1998). Augmentative and alternative communication: Management of severe communication disorders in children and adults (2nd ed.) Baltimore, MD: Paul Brookes Publishing Company. Beukelman, D., McGinnis, J., & Morrow, D. (1991). Vocabulary selection in augmentative and alternative communication. AAC: Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 7(3), 171-185. Vicker, B. (1996). Using tangible symbols for communication purposes: An optional step in building the two-way communication process. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University, Institute for the Study of Developmental Disabilities. References related to programming are located on the communication, and augmentative and alternative communication bibliographies available from the Indiana Resource Center for Autism. Catalogues from the various publishers will list other products that supplement the visual resources listed below. Websites to check for various information include the following: www.aac.unl.edu (Vocabulary lists among other useful resources at this site maintained by the Barkley AAC Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.) www.mrtc.org/~duffy/yaack (An alternative route to this site is www.cerebral.org/augcomm.html; then select Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Young Kids or YAACK.) Check out this website for information on a variety of topics relating to augmentative communication. Computer images from a digital camera or a scanner can supplement commercial resources. These can be used as a primary source for visual materials since such use would allow customization and personalization of visual images. List of Visual Resources The following listings are for information purposes only; no endorsement of companies, distributors, or products is implied by Indiana University, by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, or by the Indiana Resource Center for Autism. Attainment Company P.O. Box 930160 Verona, WI 53593-0160 Phone: (800) 327-4269 Fax: (800) 942-3865 Website: www.attainmentcompany.com Paper and CD-ROM versions of Picture Cues and Picture Prompts (especially for schedules and activity sequences) Crestwood Company 6625 N. Sidney Place Milwaukee, WI 53209-3259 Phone: (414) 352-5678 Fax: (414) 352-5679 e-mail: crestcomm.aol.com Website: www.communicationaids.com Talking Pictures and Passports to Independence materials Don Johnston Company 26799 W. Commerce Drive Volvo, IL 60073 Phone: (800) 999-4660 Fax: (847) 740-0749 e-mail: info@donjohnston.com Website: www.donjohnston.com Inspiration, Picture It, Pix Reader, PCS symbol books, Boardmaker, and other materials Gallaudet University Press 800 Florida Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002-3695 (202) 651-5488 (for information and catalogues) (800) 621-2736 (voice for ordering) (888) 630-9347 (TTY for ordering) Website: www.gupress.gallaudet.edu Pictures for American Sign Language and Signed English concepts and vocabulary Hermera Technologies P.O. Box 79093 Hulls, Quebec, Canada J8Y 6V2 Phone: (819) 772-8200 Fax: (819) 778-6252 See website for selective on-site distributors and on-line ordering from various companies Website: www.hemera.com Photo-Object clip art collections Imaginart Communication Products 307 Arizona Street Bisbee, AZ 85603 Phone: (800) 828-1376 Fax: (800) 737-1376 e-mail: imaginart@compuserve.com Website: www.imaginartonline.com Various Pick'n Stick pictures sets; Pick'n Stick on disk or CD-ROM; See'n Sign materials Intellitools, Inc. 55 Leveroni Court, Suite 9 Novato, CA 94949 Phone: (800) 899-6687 Fax: (415) 382-5950 e-mail: infor@intellitools.com Website: www.intellitools.com IntelliPics, IntelliKeys, IntelliTalk, Overlay Maker, Math Pad ( do math problems directly on computer) Kid Access 6526 Darlington Road Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Phone: (412) 521-8552 Fax: (412) 521-8556 e-mail: jill@kidaccess.com Website: www.kidaccess.com Eye-cons (a collection of drawings on CD-ROM or customized printout) Mayer-Johnson Company PO Box 1579 Solana Beach, CA 92075-7579 Phone: (800) 588-4548 Fax: (858) 550-0449 e-mail: MayerJ@mayer-johnson.com Website: www.mayer-johnson.com Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) or PCS books including sign language symbols, training materials, Picture Exchange (PECS), Southeast Augmentative Communication publications, and CD-ROM materials such as Boardmaker and Board Builder. Poppin and Company Communication Materials P.O. Box 176 Unity, ME 04988 Phone: (207) 437-2746 Fax: (207) 437-2404 email: poppin@uninets.net DynaSyms Cut and Paste book, stickers and CD-ROM DynaSyms Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. 226 West Park Place, Suite #1 Newark, DE 19711 Phone: (888) 732-7462 Fax: (302) 368-2516 e-mail: pyramid@pecs.com Website: www.pecs.com Various pictures and training materials to support Picture Exchange Communication Training (PECS)1 Silver Lining Multimedia, Inc. P.O. Box 2201 Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Phone: (845) 462-8174 Fax: (845) 463-0437 Website: www.silverliningmm.com Picture This (a CD-ROM program of photographed objects and actions) Slater Software, Inc. 351 Badger Lane Guffey, CO 80820 Phone: (719) 479-2255 Fax: (719) 479-2254 email: info@slatersoftware.com Website: www.slatersoftware.com Picture It software (adds symbols to text) also PixWriter and PixReader 1 type of pictured or text material appropriate to the individual may be used for the PECS system; it is not necessary to only purchase pictured material from the parent company. Vicker, B. (2003). Visual supports: Sources for symbols for receptive and expressive communication. The Reporter, 8(2), 14-16, 22.