Sight words are generally taught through the systematic presentation of words, prompts, and contingent feedback for correct and incorrect responses (Browder et al., 2006). Yet, in the absence of developed phonic skills, it can assist individuals in navigating their environments to support everyday independent functioning (e.g., grocery or community words Mechling et al., 2002), help individuals increase confidence ( Light & McNaughton, 2013), support meaningful reading experiences (Mandak et al., 2018), and assist students with limited literacy skills in seeing a relationship between words and meaning ( Broun, 2004). Sight word reading instruction alone is not sufficient for students to meet high literacy standards. Alternatively, an individual may focus primarily on the orthography of the word and associate it with its referent by sight ( Ehri, 2005). If decoding, the individual looks at the letters, retrieves the sound of each letter, blends the sounds, and thus determines the word. When approaching a written word, an individual may either decode the word or recognize the word by sight. One critical component of skilled reading is the ability to read individual words. Research indicates only one in five students with extensive support needs acquire basic literacy skills upon leaving secondary education ( Allor et al., 2010). Assistive technology and use of an AAC system become critical components to full educational participation, including participation in literacy instruction. Therefore, instruction must be adapted to meet their needs ( Knight et al., 2010 Light & McNaughton, 2013). These learners must have access to, be involved in, and progress in the general curriculum. More students are being diagnosed with ASD, and subsequently, more students with severe ASD who have minimal speech are entering school than ever before. Individuals with ASD who require AAC often select high-tech devices when offered choices among high-tech speech-generating devices, low-tech picture exchange-based systems, or manual sign language ( Ganz, 2015). More specifically, research demonstrates that aided, graphics-based AAC systems are successfully and frequently used with individuals with ASD and complex communication needs ( Ganz, 2015 Ganz et al., 2012 Holyfield et al., 2017 Mirenda & Erickson, 2000). Currently, AAC systems are used with these individuals with the purpose to decrease challenging behaviors, increase social participation (e.g., turn-taking, social initiations), make requests, and participate in academic activities (e.g., spelling). To support communication and increase opportunities for participation, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC e.g., sign language, picture communication boards, AAC apps on mobile technology) may be required for individuals with ASD who have minimal speech. For example, the individual may only use spoken words for requesting preferred food items with a familiar adult (e.g., I want X Kasari et al., 2013). In addition, the spoken words or phrases are often restricted within contexts and functions and likely include scripted phrases that have been highly trained. These individuals have significant communication impairments characterized by having a very small repertoire of spoken words or fixed phrases that are used communicatively ( Kasari et al., 2013). As many as 30–50% of individuals with ASD do not develop functional speech ( Shane et al., 2015). ![]() ![]() Communication impairments are inherent with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis ( Kasari et al., 2014).
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