Examining issues of aided communication display and navigational strategies for young children with developmental disabilities

Gestural mode and graphic mode augmentative communication systems offer viable options for young communicators with cognitive and physical disabilities that preclude speech or result in speech that has insufficient intelligibility to be understood by a range of communicative partners. This article examines issues related to strategies of interest to interventionists that focus on navigating displays of aided communication systems utilizing displays of graphic symbols. After briefly describing aided communication systems we will differentiate between static and dynamic communicative displays. Subsequently, we will consider symbol arrangement. This will lead to discussion of a sampling of strategies that can be implemented in a dynamic communication display to facilitate navigation (including both electronic and non-electronic applications). In discussing the preceding areas, our primary emphasis will be on navigating dynamic communication displays.