Augmentative and Alternative Communication in the Health Sector: Symposium at the Technikum

In cooperation with the Federation of Viennese Welfare Facilities, a symposium on the topic of “Health and AAC” took place at the UAS Technikum Wien in September. On behalf of the organizers, Toni Schmalhofer from the umbrella organization welcomed the more than 70 guests. In his opening statement, UASTW Vice Rector Stefan Sauermann referred to the importance of networking the system partners and the involvement of those affected in improving universal health care.

Sandra Frauenberger, managing director of the umbrella organization of Viennese social institutions, also emphasized the power of networking in her opening remarks. Health and communication are two essential prerequisites for the social participation of disadvantaged persons and a constant topic in the work of the umbrella organization.

AAC in Viennese Health Care

After the statement by Tanja Fruhmann, head of the target management and health planning group in MA 24 (strategic health care), Martina Ranner, head of the LIFEtool counseling center, addressed the legal framework and the importance of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in the health care sector. Sophie Komenda, a member of staff at the umbrella organization, then reported on a survey on AAC in Viennese health care. According to the survey, the advantages of AAC are clearly perceived by all professional groups, but the additional time required and the lack of training and further education in this area are cited as the main obstacles.

Bernadette Sacluti and Martin Pommer are clients of the Austrian Association for the Deafblind and Highly Hearing and Visually Impaired (ÖHTB) and reported on their experiences, on the hurdles, but also on the bright spots they encountered in the health care system in terms of communication. Afterwards, Martina Leising from the Floridsdorf Clinic gave insights into the AAC pilot project running there.

AsTeRICS Grid – Flexibly Adaptable AAC tool

Finally, the UASTW experts Chris Veigl and Benjamin Klaus presented the AAC tool AsTeRICS Grid, which they developed. The free, browser-based software can be flexibly adapted to the needs of the users and allows the import of symbols from different symbol collections or from own photos as well as the adaptation of the input mode, the change of the language or the playback of radio stations and Youtube videos. Finally, the various application possibilities of the system were presented in a live demo.