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Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC)
The current director of CAAC is Prof Shakila Dada
Prof Shakila Dada is the director at the Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, University of Pretoria, and has a PhD in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Her work explores the use of AAC systems to facilitate language learning and participation in society for persons with complex communication needs. Her research has also investigated the perspectives of communication partners such as family members, teachers, and health care professionals regarding AAC interventions as well as the practices and policies related to AAC systems and the availability and acceptability of those systems to persons with complex communication needs. Much of her research is co-authored with postgraduate students. With her research, she seeks to systemically describe, understand and address the communication and participation patterns of persons with complex communication needs. Her particular focus is on how graphic symbol-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems can be used to facilitate language learning for persons with complex communication needs so as to facilitate their participation in society.
The Centre for Augmentative & Alternative Communication is committed to making a difference in the communication and life-skills of people with severe disabilities, and in particular those complex communication needs, by:
- Multi-professional and community training
- Research in the fields of severe disabilities, early intervention and augmentative & alternative communication
- Influencing policy making impacting on the lives of people with severe disabilities.
For inquiries regarding this collection or items in the collection, please contact Gcobisa Xalabile
Tel.: +27 12 420 4793
Collections in this community
Recent Submissions
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(Korean Association of Speech-Language Pathologists, 2023-08)PURPOSE : Language Sample Analysis (LSA) is a prominent method in researching language development and is also used in clinical practice in the speech-language pathology (SLP) discipline. This scoping review aims to describe ...
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(Springer, 2024-03)PURPOSE OF REVIEW : Minimally-speaking autistic individuals can be effectively supported through evidence-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Instead, some families/clinicians rely on facilitator-dependent ...
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(Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, 2023)Communication partner training is typically designed to equip communication partners of adults with acquired neurogenic communication disorders with the necessary skills to create communication opportunities. Communication ...
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(Wiley, 2023-03)One important evidence-based component of early communication interventions in high-income countries is teaching parents and other primary caregivers to provide communication opportunities in daily activities to ...
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(Taylor and Francis, 2023)BACKGROUND : Equitable partnerships across borders, sectors and communities are integral in creating shared understanding, novel solutions and sustainable development. Sustainable development goal (SDG) 17: Partnerships ...
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(Taylor and Francis, 2024)PURPOSE : The development of culturally and linguistically appropriate resources to support communication interventions for underserved communities is an urgent necessity. The purpose of the study was to obtain stakeholder ...
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(Taylor and Francis, 2023-08-23)BACKGROUND : Contemporary healthcare practitioners require leadership skills for a variety of professional roles related to improved patient/client outcomes, heightened personal and professional development, as well as ...
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(Wiley, 2024-03)BACKGROUND : Interactive engagement, specifically attention and initiation, are considered important skills for facilitating development and learning in students with severe/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. ...
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(Taylor and Francis, 2024)In South Africa, many children with extensive support needs—including children who require AAC—are accommodated in care centers rather than the public schooling system. Caregivers employed at these centers need training ...
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(MDPI, 2023-01)Globally vulnerable populations are negatively impacted by policy and practice. For vulnerable youth, risks to growth, development, and a lack of participation in decisions about their lives are common. Leadership programs ...
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(Wiley, 2023-10)AIM : This study aims to report patients' experiences of nursing care in the critical care unit and the resulting effect of such care on the personhood of patients. DESIGN AND METHOD : The study adopted a qualitative ...
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(Taylor and Francis, 2023)BACKGROUND : Knowledge is limited on attendance and involvement of perceived participation of children with long-term health conditions. AIMS : To evaluate the perceived participation of children with long-term health ...
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(Taylor and Francis, 2024)Participation is a fundamental human right, and being able to communicate is an essential component of participation in various life situations, such as at school, with peers, and in the community. Augmentative and alternative ...
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(Wiley, 2023-11)BACKGROUND : An individual's ability to make autonomous decisions is fundamental to self-determination. The presence of neurological pathology, for example, aphasia, and its associated difficulties with language and/or ...
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(Taylor and Francis, 2023)PURPOSE : Various factors influence the selection of assistive technology for young children within a context with limited resources, such as South Africa. Rehabilitation professionals are required to weigh up different ...
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(Taylor and Francis, 2024)Core vocabulary lists and vocabulary inventories vary according to language. Lists from one language cannot and should not be assumed to be translatable, as words represent language-specific concepts and grammar. In this ...
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(Taylor and Francis, 2022)BACKGROUND : Children with intellectual disabilities are at risk of becoming victims of abuse. However, persons working with this population often lack knowledge on how to interpret signs of abuse. The purpose of this study ...
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(Karger, 2023-01)BACKGROUND : Language sample analysis (LSA) is invaluable to describe and understand child language use and development for clinical purposes and research. Digital tools supporting LSA are available, but many of the LSA ...
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(Taylor and Francis, 2023)Aided language stimulation is an augmented input strategy that facilitates the expressive and receptive language skills of persons who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The aim of this study was to ...
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(Routledge, 2022)BACKGROUND : Friendship is a crucial relationship for young adults with disabilities as it offers practical support and enjoyment, and it is essential to well-being and health. The present study examined the friendships ...