Scope information on AAC (communication aids)

forgoodnesssake

Scope used to have some very good online resources and info about AAC (see No Voice No Choice campaign etc) However I am very concerned at the rather negative and simplistic information for parents which now appears regarding electronic communication aids. This is a complex area which needs proper assessment involving a speech and language therapist (you say that parents should go to an OT). I understand that you may be trying to make the point that electronic communication aids are not for everyone, but the overall effect is too negative and plays right into the hands of statutory providers who are looking for any opportunity NOT to provide. In addition there are now national standards for AAC provision as well as regional hubs and local spokes; you should be informing parents of their rights and the correct routes to provision, not simply putting them off at the first hurdle (may not be the intention but I fear it may be the result)

AlexW_Scope

It's certainly not our intention to put parents off using communication aids. We are currently reviewing our old AAC materials with a speech and language therapist and we hope to provide more detailed information in the New Year. The old pdfs that we used to have can be obtained from helpline@scope.org.uk

forgoodnesssake

I understand that this issue is now being addressed due to concerns raised by a number of people and organisations and so the offending page is gone and some useful basic tips from Communication Matters are now there.

sallymillar

Re your Passport template - the correct term is '(Personal) Communication Passport' NOT 'communications passport'.

Passports were invented at CALL Scotland (old name was CALL Centre, that name is out of date since 2008), so it would have been nice to see some acknowledgement of that fact. However, my main concern is that the web link you give is completely out of date, please amend from www.callcentrescotland.org.uk
to http://www.communicationpassports.org.uk/Home/index.php

Since it includes PCS symbols, your Passport template should also probably include a copyright statement, re the use of Mayer Johnson PCS symbol, see http://www.mayer-johnson.com/pcs-information/
Thanks

AlexW_Scope

Thanks for pointing this out, Sally. We will address this ASAP

AlexW_Scope

Hi Sally, We have updated the title and website link. The copyright statement was already there on page 4. Please let us know if we need to update anything else. Many thanks!