Social Networks: A Communication Inventory for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs and their Communication Partners

The field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has enabled many individuals who struggle with communicating the most basic needs to become active participants in every day conversation and communication exchanges. AAC refers to any method of communication other than conventional speech and consists of any combination of gestures, sign, electronic voice output devices, pictures, symbols, facial expressions, communication boards, and technology that is used to provide a way for a person to communicate.

The question of how to best evaluate a person’s AAC needs is something that professionals often grapple with. Social Networks: A Communication Inventory for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs and their Communication Partners is a tool to use during the evaluation process to identify important variables affecting communication and to guide interventions that may impact the development of communication skills over time. The tool takes a “Person Centered” approach to developing AAC strategies, actively involving the individual along with those people most likely to be knowledgeable about his or her communication behaviors. Social Networks: A Communication Inventory for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs and their Communication Partners is convenient to administer, yet comprehensive in what it yields.  The process acknowledges that communication is multi-modal and will occur in different ways across contexts and partners. The tool helps to plan communication goals that will enhance an individuals ability to participate in daily activities and ultimately enjoy a stronger quality of life.

Social Networks: A Communication Inventory for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs and their Communication Partners is based on the Circle of Friends paradigm (Falvey, Forest, Pearpoint and Rosenberg 1994).  Using a structured inventory, a profile of communication partners is identified and communication methods are delineated across contexts. As the process evolves, distinctions are made based on a persons observable communication behaviors, rather than on receptive and expressive language levels, cognitive abilities or communication needs. Dowden (1999) described a 3-group communication continuum based on these characteristics, including emerging, context-dependent and independent. 

Emerging communication: Those individuals identified as members of the emerging communication group have no reliable method of symbolic expression and are limited to emerging communication strategies such as facial expressions, gesturing, vocalizations or other non-symbolic methods. The goals for individuals who fall into this group should focus on the acquisition of consistent and reliable symbolic communication strategies in order to communicate effectively with an increasing number of partners.

Context-dependent communication: Individuals who fall into this group have reliable symbolic communication but are limited to specific contexts or partners.  This usually occurs as the result of two factors: (1) the development of “partner familiarity” (only being understood by a limited number of people); (2) lack of access to sufficient and/or appropriate vocabulary, often due to dependency on others to pre-select or pre-program messages for them. Goals for members of this group include increasing access to vocabulary and developing more independence in communication. The primary way to achieve independence in communication is to develop language and literacy skills necessary to support the independent generation of novel speech or text.

Independent communication:  Members of this group can generate novel messages about almost any topic familiar to them and be understood by any person in any context. Goals for individuals may focus on improving their competence with AAC, increasing their rate and fluency of communication as well as expanding communication options. Additionally, goals to integrate AAC into post secondary education, community, leisure and employment are central to the individuals quality of life.

Administration of the Social Networks Inventory is relatively simple, however, it is designed to be used by a professional with knowledge of speech disorders, language and communication. It is also assumed that the individual administering the Inventory will be competent in the administration and interpretation of structured assessments.  While Social Networks is not a standardized test, it is a structured interview that follows a specific protocol. Typically there are two or three people who are interviewed, based on the relationship to the individual (see explanation of circles of communication below). During the interview, someone in the person’s first circle such as parent or spouse and someone in the person’s fourth circle such as a paid speech support, answer questions relative to the person’s language skills; additionally, whenever poss bile the individual who uses )or will use AAC) is also interviewed. Throughout the process the following information is gathered:

• Identifying information
• Skills and abilities of the individual
• Circles of communication partners
• 1st circle = life partners/family
• 2nd circle = good friends
• 3rd circle = acquaintances
• 4th circle = paid support
• 5th circle = unfamiliar partners
• Modes of Expression
• Representational strategies
• Strategies that support interaction
• Topics of conversation
• Types of communication

Following the administration of the Social Networks Inventory the information is summarized into visual representations of the individuals communication profile. This includes the Circle of Communication Partners; Modes of Communication; Skills, Strategies and Topics; Intervention Planning. When completed the visuals serve as a powerful illustration of the persons communication strengths and vulnerabilities.

Social Networks: A Communication Inventory for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs and their Communication Partners is an excellent tool to use as part of a comprehensive assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication evaluation.  It emphasizes the communication process between partners and across contexts.  Its person centered approach is sensitive to the unique needs of the individual, taking into consideration the need for the person with a disability to develop relationships and engage in a variety of social roles across the life span. The Social Networks Inventory can be used with any individual at any age; it can be used as a planning tool prior to transitions as well as a method to track changes in current situations.  The Social Networks Inventory can serve as a vital part of a comprehensive AAC evaluation by providing that personal component so often missed in clinical protocols. There is also a DVD that is available called The Social Networks DVD; it chronicles the social network of 5 individuals with complex communication needs and includes interviews with users of both AAC devices and the Social Networks Inventory. If you are an AAC professional you will want to include Social Networks: A Communication Inventory for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs and their Communication Partners in your repertoire of assessment practices. If you are seeking to have your own AAC needs or those of someone that you support, request that this piece be included in the process.

References:

Falvey, M., Forest, M., Pearpoint, J. and Rosenberg, R. (1994). All my life's a circle. Using the Tools: Circles, MAP'S and PATH. Toronto: Inclusion Press.

Dowden, P.A. (1999). Augmentative and alternative communication for children with motor speech disorders. Clinical Management of Motor Speech Disorders of Children. New York: Thieme Publ. Co.

© 2006 ConnSENSE Bulletin