What is InterAACt?
InterAACt is the language framework on all DynaVox devices that allows individuals
with speech and language disabilities to successfully communicate, develop high-level language skills and express themselves. InterAACt provides the messages needed
to say what you want, how you want and when you want! InterAACt uses familiar communication
environments that are natural. Many language systems provide the tools for basic
communication, but InterAACt provides everything you need for complete communication
and self-expression.
How does InterAACt work on the V+?
The V+ addresses communication needs across age span and communication ability ensuring that emergent, context-dependent and independent communicators can speak their minds quickly and efficiently across a range of topics and subjects with ease and precision using InterAACt. The V+ and InterAACt combine to allow individuals with complex communication needs to successfully communicate, develop higher-level language skills and express themselves in everyday activities. The vocabulary on the V+ provides highly interactive and social messages needed to participate in new and familiar communication settings.
What are the key factors that drive InterAACt on the V+?
1. Age Relevance
InterAACt on the V+ offers children and adults a wide range of content specific to their communication needs that is appropriate for their age group.
The V+ offers communication pages for:
- Young Children ages 2 - 6
- Children ages 7 - 13
- Teenagers ages 14 - 21
- Young Adults ages 22 - 50
- Adults ages 50+
Language studies have shown that we all tend to talk about the same topics - whether we're 4 years old, 40 years old or 90 years old. However, how we talk about these topics is dependent up on our age and ability level. Sure, we talk about the same things, but we talk about them in different ways. The V+ gives you everything you need to speak your mind regardless of age or communication ability-level. In fact, the InterAACt language framework ensures that if you begin using the V+ with a high communication ability level, you have the tools
you need to stay where you are or even grow!
Child / Visual Scene - Bedroom
Teen / Visual Scene - Bedroom
Young Adult / Visual Scene - Bedroom
2. Communication Environment
InterAACt pays particular attention to the places where people communicate. InterAACt on V+ offers home, school, work and other communication pages to support everyday situations where social interactions occur.
Emergent Communicator / Visual
Scene - Baseball
Context-Dependent - ATM / Banking
Navigator / Legal
3. Communication Ability
InterAACt recognizes that people with significant communication needs fall into a broad spectrum of communication ability levels. Keeping this in mind, InterAACt on the V+ is designed to provide options that allow individuals to communicate using pages sets that are appropriate for their communication ability and use them the way they want for communication. InterAACt supports communication for Emergent, Context-Dependent and Independent communicators.
Child - My Phrases / Argue / 6 Button
Child - My Phrases / Argue / 12 Button
Child - My Phrases / Argue / 20 Button
Ultimate Communication Everyday
The power of InterAACt lies in the common elements that support continuity and progression across age and independence levels. InterAACt supports communication and language by maintaining these common elements in all page sets across the framework spectrum.
1. InterAACt is efficient.
InterAACt on the V+ includes My Phrases and Quickfires that encourage successful day-to-day interaction by making use of preprogrammed words, re-usable phrases, and sentences that support fast and efficient communication.
Quickfires / Child / Context-Dependent
Quickfires / Teen / Context-Dependent
My Phrases / Young Adult /
Context-Dependent
2. InterAACt is precise.
Precision elements facilitate the development and use of higher-level language ability. The V+ provides page sets that include a core of the most frequently used words along with age-specific and/or topic based phrases and fringe vocabulary. These words can be combined to expand communication messages and support language growth.
Child / Context-Dependent
Teen / Emergent Communicator
Young Adult / Independent Communicator
3. InterAACt is organized.
All communication pages found within InterAACt offer a consistent button layout strategy which promotes motor learning. Due to the fact that InterAACt is the exclusive language framework found on all DynaVox devices, the common progression across all age and communication ability levels will support the individual's effortless transition to their next DynaVox device, if needed.
Child / Master Page / 6 Button
Child / Master Page / 12 Button
Child / Master Page / 20 Button
4. InterAACt can be customized.
InterAACt on the V+ offers ease of use through flexible and intuitive customization tools such as symbol libraries, new page creation templates and digital images.
Add a Template
Symbol Library
Navigator / Sound Browser
5. InterAACt provides connections to the world.
InterAACt offers environmental control pages to allow individuals to use their V+ to operate many household electronic appliances. On the V+ it also allows individuals to make phone calls, send e-mail and text messages - all from within their communication software.
Child / E-mail
Teen / Text Message
Young Adult / Phone
All of the five common elements found within InterAACt work together to create a robust and complete communication system on the V+. This multi-dimensional approach to communication on all DynaVox products ensures that individuals have the right words for the right situation and the right tools to develop new or maintain existing language and literacy skills.
If your client's or loved one's skills and needs differ from those listed above, DynaVox offers several other devices that might be a better match for their
language and literacy levels. Please see information about the DynaVox Xpress, V+, Vmax+, Tango or M3.