The literature has discussed the importance of early implementation of augmentative and alternative systems with people with various disabilities. This discussion is related to concerns about language acquisition and development within the various expressive possibilities. Researchers advise that starting intervention early through resources and procedures using augmentative and alternative communication does not impede speech acquisition and development. This paper aimed to describe oral expressive abilities during the implementation of augmentative and alternative communication with a student with cerebral palsy. An 11-year-old student with cerebral palsy participated in the augmentative and alternative communication program for two years. Twelve sessions were selected during the first year of the intervention. The sessions were filmed and the augmentative and alternative communication resource procedures were transcribed. The categories of analysis were defined as verbal expression; nonverbal expression and verbal and nonverbal expression associated. The results of this study identified that augmentative and alternative communication resources supported the use of verbal expression such as vocalizations, words and unintelligible oral expressions.
Special Education; Communication Systems; Communication Abilities; Inclusion; Intervention
