To demonstrate an ability to recommend and provide rationale for the most appropriate form of augmentative communication for a specific learner profile.

ABS 202 Assignment 6 (20%)
This assignment relates to the following Course Learning Requirements:
1. Assess the characteristics and skills of learners with ASD using formal and informal procedures.
2. Develop treatment plans within ABA/IBI context that are developmentally appropriate and functional.
3. Recommend and/or modify intervention strategies and adapt the environment as needed to increase learning success and reduce problem behaviour.
4. Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of behavioural approaches to teaching language and cognitive skills.
Objective of this Assignment:
To demonstrate an ability to recommend and provide rationale for the most appropriate form of augmentative communication for a specific learner profile.
Instructions:
Please read the following scenario:
There are two new learners here at ABC Learning Centre and it is imperative that they begin communicating as soon as possible. The director needs Sally to recommend the most appropriate form of augmentative communication for ONE of the learner profiles presented below. So that we can explain methods to the parents the Centre needs Sally to provide a detailed rationale for why she chose the specific augmentative communication strategy.

Answer the following questions based on the above scenario:
1. Read the case studies below and choose one learner and the appropriate form of augmentative communication for that learner.
2. Provide a detailed rationale as to why you chose that particular strategy by including the following information:
a) Address the learners strengths
b) Identify skill deficits
c) Discuss any potential environmental or family variables
d) Discuss advantages and disadvantages of the particular strategy.
3. Provide a description of how you would implement this particular strategy, such that anyone unfamiliar with applied behaviour analysis would understand and be able to implement the strategy, while paying particular attention to the following in your report:
a) Discuss where and by whom the strategy would be implemented
b) List any materials that may be needed
c) Describe the type of training that would be necessary for both the learner and the individuals implementing the strategy.

Case Study 1

Casey is a four year-old non-verbal learner diagnosed with Autistic Disorder on the severe end of the spectrum as well Fragile X Syndrome. She currently does not have a functional communication system but does have a handful of word approximations that are unintelligible to the untrained ear that she uses to ask for some things that she wants (i.e. juice, DVD, come, up, cookie). Casey does not point to things when she wants them, but instead will grab someones hand and lead them to what she wants.

Caseys parents report that she is a visual learner with poor fine motor skills. She is able to match a variety of objects, do inset puzzles that have large handles, and can follow a number of one-step instructions. Caseys parents report that she wants to communicate with them but does not know how and is easily frustrated if her needs are not met. She will often cry, scream, lash out at others and bite herself if she is denied access to preferred items or activities.

Casey is easy to motivate because she likes various toys, activities, edibles, and thoroughly enjoys being around people.

Both parents work full-time and claim to have little free time for anything. Casey is integrated into a day care full-time with an enhanced support worker. She will be transitioning to school in 6 months and her parents would like for her to be a happier learner so that other learners will want to be around her.

Case Study 2
Jacob is a five year-old learner diagnosed with Autistic Disorder on the moderate-severe end of the spectrum and Apraxia of speech (the inability to execute speech movements because of motor planning and coordination problems). His parents have accepted the fact that he will never speak and have been working with various professionals in the home and the school (i.e. Speech and Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, ASD Consultant) on various communication and behavioural strategies that have been relatively unsuccessful to date.

Jacobs parents report that he has many great skills, mostly because his mother has been working with him at home on various skills since he was diagnosed two years ago. More specifically, Jacob understands anything that his parents say to him; he has no fine or gross motor deficits; is independent in most activities of daily living; he can do 40 piece jigsaw puzzles; and sort items by feature, function and class.

That being said, Jacob rarely babbles or approximates words, lacks the intent to communicate (i.e. does not hand-lead or point to items he wants), and does not have strong motivation for many items, all of which, according to the Speech and Language Pathologist, make speech therapy challenging.

Jacob attends school full-time and has the support of a full-time educational assistant. Jacobs mother stated that she is willing to try anything at this point because she just wants her son to be able to communicate with her and her family.

Rubric (20%):
Criteria/Level Does not meet Requirements Meets Requirements Exceeds Requirements Grade
Grading Grade Range < 50% Grade Range 50-79% Grade Range 80%-100% Address the learners strengths Strategy was not appropriate to the learner Lacked depth and breadth Inaccurate information (i.e. did not attend to information presented in the case study) Did not attend to information presented in the course materials. Appropriate for learner Thorough Accurate information provided Discussed all aspects of the case study Information based on the literature and course materials. /2 Identify skill deficits Inaccurate information (i.e. did not attend to information presented in the case study) Did not attend to information presented in the course materials. Accurate information provided Discussed all aspects of the case study Information based on the literature and course materials. /2 Discuss any potential environmental or family variables Strategy was not appropriate to the learner Lacked depth and breadth Inaccurate information (i.e. did not attend to information presented in the case study) Did not attend to information presented in the course materials. Appropriate for learner Thorough Accurate information provided Discussed all aspects of the case study Information based on the literature and course materials. /3 Discuss advantages and disadvantages of the particular strategy Strategy was not appropriate to the learner Lacked depth and breadth Appropriate for learner Thorough /4 Discuss where and by whom the strategy would be implemented Lacked detail; did not include all relevant information Inaccurate information (i.e. did not attend to information presented in the case study) Did not attend to information presented in the course materials. Clear and concise Descriptive Accurate information provided Discussed all aspects of the case study Information based on the literature and course materials. /2 List any materials that may be needed Lacked detail; did not include all relevant information Inaccurate information (i.e. did not attend to information presented in the case study) Did not attend to information presented in the course materials. Clear and concise Descriptive Accurate information provided Discussed all aspects of the case study Information based on the literature and course materials. /1 Describe the type of training that would be necessary for both the learner and the individuals implementing the strategy. Lacked detail; did not include all relevant information Inaccurate information (i.e. did not attend to information presented in the case study) Did not attend to information presented in the course materials. Clear and concise Descriptive Accurate information provided Discussed all aspects of the case study Information based on the literature and course materials. /2 Quality of writing- Spelling and Grammar Over-use of jargon Spelling and grammatical errors Lacked depth and breadth. Evidence of grammar errors. Not well organized. Thorough Able to communicate recommendations clearly Well organized. /4