Although language capability has been regarded as one of the key factors of communication competences for AAC users, no proper language capabilities assessment that considers AAC users’ limitations of motor control and speech is available in Taiwan. This study aimed to develop a web-based platform for the clinical professionals a simple interface to create their owned language capabilities assessment for their AAC users based on core vocabulary approach. Meanwhile an assessment for lower grade students who use AAC was also developed by this platform.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technology has potential to improve wellbeing and communication access for non-verbal and semi-verbal autistic adults, but most research, design, and provision focuses on non-verbal autistic children. There is a gap in the literature in relation to the impact that person-centred approaches of AAC have on adults with autism. This study aimed to determine whether technology enabled AAC has an impact on these adults in relation to perceived overall wellbeing and perceived interaction with AAC devices, when compared with traditional unaided AAC methods.As this study aimed to measure impact of AAC, as well as obtain practitioners’ perspectives and opinions, a mixed methods within-groups research design was deemed most suitable. A survey instrument, designed by the researcher was utilised to collect the data. This survey included 7 items off the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS), while still maintaining validity, to measure perceived wellbeing. Research with adults suggests that the WEMWBS can detect clinically meaningful change. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 10 participants from autism day services. These services are currently piloting a new technology-based method of AAC called Aided Language Input (ALI) using the app TD Snap on an iPad or tablet device. Results provide additional data to build on current study findings and existing theories. Future practical implications and limitations are discussed.

Around 97 million people in the world could benefit from Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), but according to the WHO and other organisations, access to digital AAC resources is very limited, especially in low-income countries. Free AAC software could help to improve this situation, but many existing "free" applications are either behind a paywall or not published under a free licence. We therefore propose "freely accessible software" for AAC, which truly can be used by anyone.

AsTeRICS Grid (AG) is a feature-rich, grid based AAC web application which has been developed based on the feedback of AAC users from around the world. The single-page architecture and offline capability of AG reduce the required server resources and human workload for maintenance, so that the service can remain freely accessible in the long term.

We conducted an online survey which was completed by 277 participants, to examine the current usage context of AG. Most answers came from professionals (78%) who had previously used other AAC apps. Open questions were asked about advantages and disadvantages of AG, with free accessibility being rated most positively and the lack of certain features being rated most negatively.

Examples from the past show that "free" AAC apps (that are not "freely accessible software") have either disappeared or become chargeable. AsTeRICS Grid shows how the conditions for free AAC can be created and how these concepts can be implemented sustainably.

People having difficulties in verbal expression have used mobile Augmentative and Alternative Communication(AAC) applications. The location and situation-based AAC mobile application that recommends AAC boards based on users’ current location and communication situation was developed recently. Facilitators can manage AAC resources such as AAC symbols and boards on the mobile application, but, because of the fact that mobile devices are for personal use and their relatively small screen, facilitators have difficulty in managing and sharing AAC resources.

In this study, we developed a location and situation based AAC web for facilitators. The web supports the same functions as the mobile app. The web makes it easy to share AAC resources among other facilitators, and provides a convenient user interface compared to the mobile app for facilitators. Furthermore, by supporting automatic synchronization of AAC resources generated by the web to individual mobile devices of AAC users using them, it is easy to develop and distribute AAC resources for individual AAC users of facilitators.

We conducted the usability evaluation for the web with 21 people experienced in AAC, and the results show the web can ease the inconvenience and can improve efficiency of managing AAC users and hierarchical AAC resources for facilitators. Also, the web enables the sharing of AAC resources and is interoperable with the mobile app to extend the range of the location and situation-based AAC service.