Augmentative and Alternative Communication at the University of Washington, Seattle

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Home > Continuum of Communication Independence > Summary

Summary of the Communicative Independence Model

Now it is time to bring this model together for you. Below you will see a table showing the transition from "Emerging" to "Context-Dependent" to "Independent".

You can see that the difference between Emerging Communication and Context-Dependent is the development and use of a reliable means of symbolic communication.

Table labeled "Towards Communicative Independence" (see link to full description)
Complete text description of table

The Context-Dependent Communicator uses symbolic language reliably, but he or she is limited in terms of the vocabulary available or the partners who understand. We have to work on expanding vocabulary and expanding the partners for these individuals.

The Independent Communicator is no longer dependent on others to provide vocabulary; they have the spelling skills to communicate about anything they wish to. These individuals are also not dependent on familiar partners; they have the ability and the means of communication (the AAC system) that works for any listener, familiar or not.

How does this model relate to intervention?

What the model is NOT:

1) a reflection of cognitive ability
2) a description of how someone understands (receptive language)
3) a prediction of potential

A very capable individual with excellent cognition and receptive language can be held back by poor services. Conversely, a different individual, with good AAC services and education, can become an independent communicator despite cognitive and language delays.

As you can see, this model begins to describe some of the goals of intervention for different types of communicators.

The primary goals are:

for emerging communicators:
==> identify that 1st method of symbolic communication.

for the context-dependent communicator:
==> expand vocabulary and partners and contexts

for the independent communicator:
==> their goals and desires for improved communication

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