Communication Access
AAA Communication Access products and services include:
- Communication Access & Awareness Training (online)
- Customised communication boards
- Customised communication access tags
- Printed and enlarged communication boards
- Communication access signs.
Organisations that are providing a service to the general public need to be aware of potential barriers to communication. At Access Ability Australia, we provide learning outcomes to upskill your business to become responsive in excellent customer service delivery.
- Over 1.2 million Australians have a communication disorder [1]
- Over 5 million Australians speak a language other than English [2]
- Over 4 million Australians have a hearing loss [3]
Living with these challenges can increase anxiety and isolation.
Lack of awareness and understanding of these challenges can impact effective service delivery.
Designed to facilitate confident communication, Access Ability Australia have developed a range of products and services to help organisations become communication accessible.
Communication Access & Awareness Training
Ineffective communication can be both frustrating and isolating and does not aid good customer service.
Our training will help you to increase your knowledge of communication challenges as well as help you understand the impacts for individuals.
You will also receive an introduction to alternative and augmentative communication, discover where communication access fits into an access audit, learn how you can run communication accessible meetings and conferences and learn how everyone can be an advocate for best practices.
Designed for front-line staff, event staff, customer service officers, team leaders, supervisors and managers, disability service providers, support workers, health care workers, educators and more.
AAA Communication Access and Awareness Training reduces communication barriers and allows you to create an abundance of skills and strategies so you can help others to build connections and improve their quality of life.
Visit our website training page to learn more or contact our office for further information.
AAA Communication Boards
AAA Communication Boards enable communication and comprehension for people who experience communication challenges. Challenges may arise as a result of a variety of causes. These causes may include autism spectrum disorder, Intellectual Disability, Down Syndrome as well as some neurological conditions such stroke, an acquired brain injury (ABI), Parkinson’s disease or people who do not speak English.
AAA Communication Boards, featuring contextualised symbols that reflect your business, allow your visitors to express their needs, interact with others, build and maintain relationships with your staff and help your visitors to be active and involved in making choices for the products and services you offer.
Communication resources can be customised so the vocabulary and content complement your business and the products and services that you offer.
With a selection of three distinct designs, we ensure all your communication access requirements are met.
Communication Boards can be easily developed online for a low cost of $335. Included in this price is a digital communication board with up to 20 symbols of your choice from our symbol suite, an A3 corflute hard copy board mailed directly to you along with your board being uploaded to the AAA Communication Board website librar
You also have the choice of a way finding communication board with up to 28 symbols and sequential markers. Not only are they a great communication tool for individuals with communication challenges but they are also a great navigational tool to help individuals plan their visit. Priced at only $410 and also developed online.
AAA Communication Access Tags
AAA communication access tags incorporate symbols tailored to your business.
Tags can aid in initial interactions with visitors, assist active participation and decision making, facilitate communication between staff members and clients or may serve other purposes.
With a selection of hundreds of communication symbols to choose from, along with the option to fully customise symbols, we ensure all your communication access requirements are met.
You have the option to include your logo. Tags are printed, laminated and cut, with delivery included.
Additional customised symbols are available.
With our bespoken online platform, we will guide and assist you to make communication access tags of your choice.
Communication access tags can be easily developed online for a low cost of $95.
Communication Access Signs
People communicate in lots of different ways. Some people use pictures or symbols to help understand and share their message.
AAA communication access signs are used to support, or provide an alternative means of communication, for people with communication needs or who may speak a language other than English.
Symbols are used to represent a range of different words to help people understand information and to share a message.
These signs provide the opportunity for individuals with complex communication needs to use an easily understood tool so they can interact with communication partners and peers. Importantly, they facilitate inclusive opportunities for users within natural settings.
AAA communication access signs are a joint collaboration with Access Ability Australia and Versalearn Speech Pathology. Together, we aim to increase community exposure to augmentative and alternative communication for the community as a whole. Suitable for spaces such as all ability play spaces, school playgrounds, recreational centres, community centres, shopping centres, libraries and more, we want to achieve communication access for all members of our community, so that every person has the opportunity, and the means, to communicate effectively.
Signs are customised to each individual venue or space so that the words used are relevant.
The symbols on the sign represent two main categories of words: core words and fringe words.
Core words, or, everyday words are used in everyday talking. These words can be used to help share lots of different messages.
Fringe words, or, activity words relate specifically to a space and type of activity that may take place.
By using both types of words on the sign, people can communicate what they want to do, describe their activity, ask questions or request help.
These signs also feature symbols that represent feelings. This enables people to share comments, emotions and needs.
Other great features include QR codes. They will provide users with instructions and links to other AAA products (if applicable).
For our clients, our services will also extend to providing guidance on how to best present and promote your communication access sign.
Signs can be purchased as a stand-alone product or can complement Access Keys and Social Stories.
Communication access signs promote interactions and conversation and are also a wonderful therapy tool. Experiences can be shared; helping to promote a great day out for everyone.
[2] https://profile.id.com.au/australia/language
[3] ‘Listen Hear! The economic impact and cost of hearing loss in Australia’ 2006, Access Economics. https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2006-02/apo-nid2755.pdf