social networking for aac users
DESCRIPTION
Social Networking for AAC users: Using Facebook, Twitter, Skype and More. Presented by Barbara Landsberg (Occupational Therapist) and Jane Farrall (Speech Pathologist) at Spectronics at the More Than Gadgets Conference in Perth, August 2011.http://morethangadgets.com/conference-sessions-day-1Session OutlineWe all need to communicate and connect with each other – not just in one way, but in as many ways as possible (Williams, 2000). Social media are the cornerstones of modern communication and it is essential that people with disabilities, who can become socially isolated, are able to use these tools and stay connected with the world (Varley, 2008). Popular social networking sites including Facebook and Twitter are examples of social media most commonly used for socialization and connecting with friends, relatives and employees. People with Complex Communication Needs (CCN) are now able to access many social networking sites and participate in internet messaging (IM) as a means to meet and keep in touch with friends and share information. With the development of these Web 2.0 tools that facilitate information sharing and collaboration, the options for people with physical disabilities to access them has also greatly improved. Web browser add-ons and communication software can provide tools like onscreen keyboards, mouseless browsing and mouse emulation tools such as cross hair and radar mouse to make these websites more accessible.This presentation will explore some common social networking sites, share some client examples and demonstrate how social media can be accessed using these tools.TRANSCRIPT
Social Networking for AAC usersUsing Facebook Twitter and Skype
(and more)
Jane FarrallSpeech PathologistAAC Support Services ManagerSpectronics
Barbara LandsbergOccupational TherapistSales and Marketing DirectorSpectronics
Social Media and Chat programs
• What are they?• Why would you want to use them?• How do users of Augmentative and
Alternative Communication (AAC) access them?
Social media platforms
Live Chat programs
How many active users are there?
Facebook500 million
Twitter200 million
Skype660 million
MSN Messenger330 million
Google +20 million in first two
weeksNow?
What is Twitter?
A social networking and “microblogging” service, enabling its users to send and read messages called tweets.
Say anything you want in 140 characters or less.
History of Twitter
Now 140 million tweets per day!
Twitter is everywhere!
Twitter is everywhere!
Twitter is everywhere!
Is Twitter easy?
Is Twitter valuable?
Live Chat programs
Why would you want to use them?
• Sharing news and being “social”• 24 hours a day with no geographic
boundaries
Why would you want to use them?
• Sharing news and being “social”• 24 hours a day with no geographic
boundaries• Breaking news updates
Why would you want to use them?
• Sharing news and being “social”• 24 hours a day with no geographic
boundaries• Breaking news updates• Calls for assistance!
Why would you want to use them?
• Sharing news and being “social”• 24 hours a day with no geographic
boundaries• Breaking news updates• Calls for assistance!• Building your Personal Learning Network
(PLN)
Personal Learning Networks• Facebook Groups• Facebook Pages• Twitter searches by #hashtag
• By topic area #augcomm #assistivetech• By events #MTG2011
• Lists of “useful tweeters to follow”“Today’s IV-drip of professional development”
Want to learn more?
@spectronics
@janefarrall
@gregoconnor
22nd - 25th May 2012Jupiters Gold Coast Convention Centre
Queensland, Australia
www.spectronicsinoz.com/conference/2012
AAC Users and social closeness• “Adults with a lifelong disability are more
lonely than their peers (Balandin, Berg, &Waller, 2006; McVilly, Stancliffe)
• Light (1998) Most of our daily communication is to build social closeness
• Beukelman (2000) Most AAC users feel they have limited opportunities for social interaction
AAC Users and social closeness• Parmenter, & Burton-Smith, 2006a). In a recent
qualitative study of loneliness and friendship some of the seven adult participants with cerebral palsy noted that their current living arrangements did not support friendship development. They had little in common with those with whom they lived and who they had not chosen as house partners (Ballin & Balandin, 2007).
AAC users and social closeness• People with lifelong disability experience loneliness
for the same reasons as people without disability (Emerson & McVilly, 2004; Fees, Martin, & Poon, 1999), but have additional problems with communication, in particular with non familiar communication partners and on the phone (Ballin & Balandin, 2007; Cooper et al., 2009). Furthermore, problems with acceptance in the community increase their feelings of loneliness.”
Social networking and AAC users• Converse as equals• Communication looks the same from all senders• Usually the rhythm of conversation encourages
non-instantaneous response• “Conversations” can happen over distance and
time –supporting mobility-impaired and stay-at-home users
Features of software• Onscreen keyboards• Mouse emulation
• Cross hair• Radar
• Rate enhancement• Abbreviation expansion• Phrase banks• Word/Phrase Prediction
Let’s have a look at and DynaVox Series 5
Point and Chat
• Works with Saltillo's DesktopChat, computer keyboard, Saltillo ChatBox 40 XT, DynaVox Series 4 devices, and DynaVox Series 5 devices• Currently for email and chat, Twitter version in Beta• 30 day trial available• www.simtalk.com/PnC/FreeTrial
Let’s have a look at with Point-and-Chat
Easy Chirp• Traditional Twitter interfaces difficult to access with onscreen keyboards• Easy Chirp uses keyboard shortcuts• www.easychirp.com
Tracey• 37 years old• Locked in syndrome since 1994• Setup:
• Monitor mounted to overway table• Clamp with switch on table• Uses chin to hit switch• Tobii Communicator with scanning and onscreen
keyboard
Tracey• Started using computer 4 years ago• Uses internet to:
• stay up dated on the outside world• stay in touch with relatives locally and interstate, plus
new and old friends• beat the BOREDOM.....Grrrrrr
• Using Facebook, You Tube, Google, iTunes and GMail
Tracey• talks to new and old friends on Facebook• has ‘met’ a lot of people from overseas but ‘talks’
with them through Facebook games• keeps in connection with family locally and
interstate
Tracey
“The computer/internet has opened my world, it has knocked down the wall's and brought the world to me”
“More importantly I have been able to reunite with other sisters and brother over in W.A.”
References• Strategies to Enhance the Social Identities and Social Networks of
Adolescent Students With Disabilities by Debby M. Zombo. From Council for Exceptional Children- Teaching Exceptional Children journal Vol. 43, no: 2 & 3
• Social media - barrier or tool for inclusion? http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=9810
• Twitter for poor readers, non readers and AAC users with Point-and-Chat® Ben Slotznick at ATIA, Orlando
• http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/internet-an-equalizer-for-people-with-disabilities-2072448.html
