ASSESSING THE UTILITY OF THE CHILD-ORIENTED READILY EXPANDING WORDS STRATEGY(TM) (CORE WS(TM))

THE PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE DEVELOPMENT OR ADAPTATION OF ASSISTIVE DEVICES TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATIONS AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, AND ACCESS TO MAINSTREAM ENVIRONMENTS BY INFANTS, TODDLERS, PRESCHOOLERS, CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, SPECIFICALLY CHILDREN WHO MUST RELY ON AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION DEVICES BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEVERE COMMUNICATIVE DISORDERS AND SEVERE MOTOR LIMITATIONS. EFFECTIVE INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL BEFORE A PERSON CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE MAINTREAM ENVIRONMENT. THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A CORE VOCABULARY SET FOR THE VERY YOUNG CHILD, DESIGNED TO FACILITATE FURTHER AGE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE USE OF A MICROPROCESSOR BASED COMMUNICATION DEVICE. THE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WILL BE MODIFIED TO FURTHER REDUCE THE COGNITIVE AND MOTOR DEMANDS ON THE CHILD WHILE ALLOWING EXPANDED VOCABULARY AND USAGE FORMS.