Tool for alternative and augmented communication: A study implemented in hospitals environment to support pedagogical therapies

Abstract

Communication is a basic need of human beings. It is required in professional, social and personal relationships, establishing a fundamental aspect for survival. Communication can be considered a set of signs that refers to behaviors that occur among two or more persons and which provide a way to create meanings between them. When individuals have no forms of communication or have some form of communication, but this is not enough to maintain communication links, establishing social relationships, it is necessary to use some resources to promote communication, integrating this individual in social life. Adapt and create alternative ways of communication is essential for people with disabilities or lack of oral communication to interact with their peers into the work, social and personal environments. For these adaptations it is common to use alternative and augmented communication tools (AACT), for example, uses of alternative communication boards and applications to support the communication process, using images, videos and technological resources to support the communication. The objective of this research is propose the development of prototypes with medium fidelity to facilitate patients with disabilities to learn and communicate, and understanding their distinctions in learning and interacting during communication process.