Symbol Set Choices

• Symbol Set Choices

  
  

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    This topic is all about the need to think about AAC symbol set choices by:

    • Reviewing available symbols sets 
    • Identifying some key features of symbol sets 
    • Suggesting considerations when choosing a symbol set

    
    

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    Matching symbol set to user

    Let's think about the flexibility needed in a communication book or application made up of symbols and listen to how Tamsin uses her symbol set to say that her brother is crazy! Also appreciate how her school are working to achieve an inclusive environment. ( Transcript download) 

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    Activity - Describing symbol sets
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    Task - Comparing symbol sets

    
    

    
    Many commercial symbol sets are available on certain AAC devices, Open licenced symbol sets (Creative Commons) can usually be added to any device (Sometimes they have to be adapted).  Look at this comparison chart (developed by Spectronics) to compare symbol sets and our presentation slides on the subject.   It might help you to start to make a chart of some of the considerations that we have touched on. 

    
    

    Check Points to Consider for Symbol Set Selection

    Think about your user (more on this subject in the modules to come), environment, tasks and then iconicity, abstract representations. Look and feel across the whole symbol set not just individual symbols.	✔
    Does the symbol set allow sufficient vocabulary coverage for the future?	✔
    Are the core words that are most frequently used well represented?	✔
    Are their clear rules that show how different parts of speech, actions, topics are depicted? e.g. a group has an outline cloud around it, prepositions represented by squares etc.	✔
    How consistent are the representations?	✔
    How complex are the symbols? Looking at backgrounds and amount of detail	✔
    Can the symbols be adapted for poor vision - black and white, high contrast?	✔
    Will the symbols be easily adapted to suit many different settings?  e.g. walls, charts etc.	✔
    Can the symbol set be used as a basis for developing literacy skills?	✔
    Does the symbol set have a licence that allows independent adaptations and sharing?	✔
    More options...

    
    

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    Pictographic Symbol Sets

    AAC systems are made up of all the items that go towards total communication, part of that collection may be an AAC symbol set.   

    A pictographic symbol set is usually:

    • Available as a collection of symbols.
    • Not standardised like road signs, icons or emojis (ISO).
    • Made up of concepts – symbols as referents – what they relate to.
    • Linked to labels that can be changed to suit the language and user. These are separate from the symbols (can be printed above the symbol so communication partners can see the meaning or below when focussing on literacy skills). 

    
    

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    Moving from single concepts to building language with symbols

    Highly pictographic symbol sets may have easy to guess symbols, but may be less easy to apply in all contexts. A symbol for 'water' might not work when a child wants to tell you his eyes are watering.  

    
    

    
    Explore a range of symbol sets on Global Symbols and from other resources you may have found and develop your own ideas about the best symbol sets for the children you support.  You could add the selection to your reflective journal. 

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    Summary 

    • There are many AAC symbol sets. 
    • Different sets have a different look and feel, grammar structures and categories.  There are no international standards
    • Don’t forget the needs and abilities of the AAC user and their family, setting, culture and language in choosing a set
    • Consider iconicity (how guessable), flexibility, consistency and how easy to generate language for progression.
    • Remember symbols are used in many different ways and situations. 

    
    

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    Further Reading 

    • Selecting Symbol Sets: Implications for AAC Users, Clinicians, and Researchers (2007) Mary Joan McClure, MS, CCC-SLP and Elizabeth (Libby) Rush, MA, CCC-SLP, CPM (download PDF slides)
      
    • Dauterman, W.T., 2021. A Study of Factors that Influence Symbol Selection on Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Doctoral dissertation, Nova Southeastern University).
      
    • Working with Multiple Symbol Sets (2019) Carole Zangari
      

    
    

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    Reflective Journal 

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    Journal

    Activity - Reflective Journal - Choosing a Symbol Set
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    Presentation slides

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    URL

    Choosing a symbol set URL