Development and evaluation of the expertise module of a system for training teachers in adapting alternative communication to disabled children

The process of adapting Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC) systems for use by disabled children is an interdisciplinary and highly knowledge intensive decision-making endeavour. The work reported here is part of a project aimed at creating tools for training teachers in the complex and delicate diagnostic and adaptation process of AAC systems. The first version of a computer system has been developed and consists of: (a) a declarative knowledge-base containing details of 66 diagnostic variables and knowledge about AAC systems; (b) a communication module (built upon the case-variables) which allows a trainee to enter data about actual cases; and (c) procedural knowledge for generating communication-system adaptation recommendations based on the actual data. The system has been evaluated for fifteen real cases by comparing its recommendations with those of human experts. For all but two cases, the computer system produced the same recommendations as the human experts. In the two remaining cases it was the second system choosen by the computer which matched the recommendation of the human experts. Based on these results our next goal is to add tutorial and coaching features to the system to be used in special education training programmes.