Adeli goes AAC - work in progress

AAC in its original meaning AAC - English for Augmentative Alternative Communication - has the purpose of building bridges. An almost insurmountable gap in communication gets a real way through the use of alternative forms of communication. Many people have no or only insufficient verbal language. The UK/AAC helps here by means of used symbols (pictures), electronic and non-electronic aids to overcome these barriers. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a scientific field where much research may still be done. We at Adeli Medical Center want to go the practical way.

Traditionally, communication with clients has been the domain of speech therapy. Clinical speech therapists are always striving to better communicate with patients and develop their communicative skills. Now we would like to go one step further.

AAC/UK is to be established throughout Adeli Medical Center. This requires great commitment from all staff and an equally great willingness from our patients to embrace something new. Of course, a client's communication is very individual, and much depends on their perception of the new environment/therapy. In an initial consultation at the beginning of the stay, we would like to find out together with the patients in the future what needs to be done to make UK/AAC more successful for the time at Adeli Medical Center. In close cooperation with the speech therapists, the communication offers should then be designed in such a way that they really help the patient to better express his thoughts and needs, but also emotions.

We have agreed on the symbol language Metacom (©️Metacom Anette Kitzinger) in the house. These symbols are to be implemented throughout Adeli Medical Center through visual offerings. Many of our patients already know Metacom from home or school. Therefore, it is logical to continue using these symbols.

Throughout the building, visual concepts are to be offered that provide orientation (guidance system) on the one hand, but also communication panels for interactive communication on the other.

Of course, using symbols alone is not enough. Adeli goes a step further here. With the Metacom symbols, it is possible to form complete, grammatically correct sentences. But this requires the electronic form of communication using tablets and computers. These are gradually being adapted and adapted to the needs of the patients or to the forms of therapy.

In order to realize our heart's project the AAK/AAC/UK in the Adeli Medical Center, we decided to cooperate with Mrs. Petra Zehentner. Ms. Zehentner is a trained communication pedagogue for AAC and herself a mother of a child with speech impairment. She leads the project Adeli goes AAC and is responsible for the implementation and realization of AAC. As of September 2023, Ms. Zehentner will also be available to ADELI guests. Just ask your assistant or write to info@adelicenter.com.

"You can't not communicate" (Paul Watzlawick).

This sentence stands for itself. Adeli wants to understand, make understandable and translate the clients' communication. It is about building bridges and avoiding misunderstandings that arise from a lack of communication. AAC always strives to improve a person's communication. This will also be Adeli's goal for our patients' stay.

And as far as we know, in ADELI we are the first and only rehabilitation center to implement Metacom symbols to such an extent.

Starting in September 2023, Petra will be at ADELI Medical Center every Monday for consultations and discussions.