Social Networks

Per Lorentzen:
A common creative action, where the experience of sharing is
made possible.
Communication happens when:
The student makes an action The communication partner recognize
and confirm the students intention
of communication.
The student receive this
as confirmation
and when

(From social networks‘ manual)
Social networks for professionals who are engaged
to advise on and teach AAC(augmentative and
alternative communication). The material may also
be of interest to professionals and caregivers who
use AAC in their interaction with people with
disabilities.
The material was released in the U.S. in 2003 and
was developed by doctoral Sarah W. Blackstone and
Mary Hunt Berg, Ph.D., in collaboration with the
Berkeley Study Group.

Social networks are tools that make it possible to
gather knowledge on a number of necessary areas
where you have to advise people with disabilities
about what kinds of AAC will be appropriate to use.
Social Networks are characterized by the person in
need of AAC communication, and its closest is at the
center to gather information and plan the
educational effort, since the person's own
perspective involved as much as possible.

A major basis of the material mapping of whom
the individual communicates with in his or hers
life. What he or she communicates about or
want to communicate to its various
communication partners.

In Social Networks also includes an assessment
of language and related skills. This score puts
great emphasis on clarifying what has formed the
basis for assessment.

Circles with communication partners:

CIRCLE ONE:
Person's lifetime communication partner. The first
circle includes family members and others for which
the person lives with or is a family member.
CIRCLE TWO:
Close friends / relatives.The second circle
represents the people, that person spends leisure
time with, share interests with, play with and
confides in.

CIRCLE THREE:
Acquaintances. This circle includes people who
know the person, but he has no regularly
socialize with.
CIRCLE FOUR:
Professionals. Here, it is generally people who
are paid to be with that person.

CIRCLE FIVE:
Persons unknown: The fifth circle represents "all
others". There is no talk about specific people,
but a category of people who could be potential
communication partners.
Over time and through a person's life, the circle
of communication partners can change. When a
person's circle change, the same will be true for
their communications needs and AAC - systems.

Types of communications.
Dawning of communication:
Expresses itself not symbolic.
Uses; body language, gestures, vocalizations and
non-symbolic ways of communication.
Can communicate yes/no for accept/rejection,
but no use of yes/no signals beyond the
immediate context.

contextual communication:
Efficient symbolic communication, but limited to specific
contexts or partners, for two reasons: some speak
incomprehensible - use special communication
strategies, the other can only communicate in limited
contexts, because they do not have an adequate or
appropriate vocabulary.
Depending on others to choose and pre-program their
vocabulary.
Addicted to familiar communication partners to help to
be understood or to have the right vocabulary.

Independent Communications:
Eligible for the interaction of known and
unknown partners on any topic in any context
Can typically read and write.
can generate new messages independently

How to use Social Networks:
Social Networks is a debate and planning tool
that enables professionals to collect and
interpret important information which may
influence the yield of AAC - actions.
Who participates in the process:
one person in the first circle.
one person in the fourth circle.
the person who uses AAC, whenever possible.

How to use Social Networks
Preconditions for communication
Communication partners
Express ways
Forms of representation
Selection techniques
Strategies that support interaction
Conversation topics
Type of communication

Wishes and needs in relation to communication
Conclusion
Recommendations

I believe, when I see it
I see it, when I believe