PECT PECT Assistive Technology and AAC 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does AAC stand for in special education contexts?
- Adaptive Academic Curriculum
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (Correct answer)
- Applied Assistive Classroom
- Auditory Accessibility Compliance
Correct answer: Augmentative and Alternative Communication
AAC stands for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, which encompasses tools and strategies that support or replace verbal speech for individuals with communication difficulties.
Question 2: Which federal law mandates that IEP teams consider assistive technology needs for all students with disabilities?
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- The Americans with Disabilities Act
- IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) (Correct answer)
- The Every Student Succeeds Act
Correct answer: IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
IDEA requires IEP teams to consider whether a student needs assistive technology devices and services as part of the IEP development process.
Question 3: A student with autism uses a tablet-based speech-generating device (SGD). This is an example of what type of assistive technology?
- Low-tech AT
- No-tech AT
- High-tech AT (Correct answer)
- Mid-tech AT
Correct answer: High-tech AT
A tablet-based speech-generating device is considered high-tech AT because it requires a power source and uses complex, programmable software.
Question 4: Which AAC strategy involves teaching a student to exchange a picture card for a desired item?
- PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) (Correct answer)
- Social Stories
- VOCA training
- Discrete Trial Training
Correct answer: PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
PECS is a structured AAC approach where students learn to initiate communication by exchanging picture symbols for desired items or activities.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a communication board for a preschool student with cerebral palsy?
- To replace all academic instruction
- To provide a low-tech means for the student to express wants, needs, and ideas (Correct answer)
- To eliminate the need for a speech-language pathologist
- To assess cognitive functioning
Correct answer: To provide a low-tech means for the student to express wants, needs, and ideas
A communication board gives students with limited speech a low-tech tool to express themselves by pointing to symbols, pictures, or words.
Question 6: Which professional is most qualified to conduct a formal assistive technology assessment for a student with a physical disability?
- The classroom teacher alone
- An AT specialist, often in collaboration with an OT and SLP (Correct answer)
- The school principal
- The student's parents
Correct answer: An AT specialist, often in collaboration with an OT and SLP
An AT assessment is best conducted by an assistive technology specialist working collaboratively with occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and other team members.
PECT PECT Assistive Technology and AAC 1
What does AAC stand for in special education contexts?