Making alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) fun and interesting is one of the keys to success. It should be fun, especially for children, learning how to use an AAC device. Therefore, it is important to ask, “Is the consumer’s experience in learning a device fun and interesting?”

If the learning experience is boring and without purpose, a loss of interest will quickly set in. In my previous blog, Success in AAC is Listening to Consumer’s Ideas, I told how I thought my arm brace was a waste of time when I was a child. I also didn’t appreciate physical therapy painfully stretching my legs. It was meaningless to me. While one leg was held down on a mat and the other one being raised up to a 45-degree angle, I vividly remember my therapist saying, “Pretend that you are climbing a curb.” It is lucky that I couldn’t talk because under my breath I was saying to myself, “She is really pulling my leg – in more than one way – for I know that no curb is that high!” Kids are smart! There must be a sense of purpose in learning something like using my leg braces to do stand up exercises after touching my toes that could have led towards a goal of my walking.

To translate this in reference to AAC I needed a purpose such as my being employed as an art therapist in 1994 to feel the need to use a device. Previously, I thought that having a job was impossibility because few people could understand my natural speech. Now, I go way beyond my imagination in working full-time aside from having a ministry to preach in churches. I am having a blast in life!

Therefore, communicating on a speaking device must be fun and fulfilling. Avoid making an AAC user say something on his/his device that is common knowledge and can be understood. The message must be motivating. Know that a child will talk differently to his peers than to his teacher. A teenager may want to speak sweet nothings to a sweetheart. Obtaining employment and increasing job skills are motivating factors for adults in using an AAC system to be successful.

Find ways that a user can play games with other kids by using a communication system. Although teaching children is not my expertise, I start out by pressing buttons to sing songs on my DynaVox Vmax that comes with a Media Player. I encourage others to do the same. It is a wonderful way to learn interactively. There are many more features on the V and Vmax that promote access, including the eBook Reader, taking pictures with a camera, email and text messaging. And of course, because of its Internet capabilities, unlimited fun activities are accessible.

 So, the learning experience with DynaVox products should be fun and interesting, ultimately leading to effective communication.