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Funded by the AAC-RERC,NIDRR, USDE

What is a contextually relevantWhat is a contextually relevantscene?scene?

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Collaborative TeamCollaborative Team Research Team:

University of Nebraska – Lincoln1, Kearney2, &Omaha3

David Beukelman1

Aimee Dietz1,3

Karen Hux1

Miechelle McKelvey1,2

Sarah Wallace1

Kristy Weissling1

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Visual Scene DisplaysVisual Scene Displays

What are Visual Scene Displays?Who benefits from them?When and where are they useful?How do you make them?Why do they help?

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Fundamental Challenges inFundamental Challenges inAphasia InterventionAphasia Intervention

Not everyone with aphasia regains sufficientskills to become a functional speaker

The “Multiple Multiples” Challenge Multiple people Multiple topics Multiple situations

Aphasia intervention philosophies Restorative approaches Compensatory approaches Combined approaches

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Rationale for UsingRationale for UsingVisual Scene DisplaysVisual Scene Displays

Make use of preserved skills of peoplewith chronic aphasiaVisual-spatial processingRetention of information about life

experiencesRetention of general world knowledge

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Contextually-Rich Visual ImagesContextually-Rich Visual Images

Provide a way to represent meaningSupport navigation within an AAC systemServe as a platform for co-constructing

messagesEstablish a shared communication spaceAllow for integration with other types of

communication supports

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Definition ofDefinition ofContextually-Rich ImagesContextually-Rich Images

Pictures, photographs, or images that representsituations, places, or experiences by depictingpeople or objects in relation to one another, thenatural environment, and the central action of ascene

Do not require inferences or verbalizations by aperson with aphasia or a communication partner

Contrast with portraits and iconic symbols that containlimited, usually decontextualized, information Holistic framework Convey the “gist” of a situation or event Provide support for conversational exchanges

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Evaluating Images forEvaluating Images forContextual RichnessContextual Richness

Four criteria:Environmental context (setting, people,

objects, and activities) Interaction with people or the environmentPersonal relevancyClarity regarding elements key to the implied

relationships

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Rating ScalesRating ScalesEnvironment

High Medium Low Absent

InteractionHigh Medium Low Absent

Personal relevanceHigh Medium Low Absent

ClarityHigh Medium Low Absent

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Environment: HighInteraction: HighPersonal relevance: HighClarity: HighComment: Satisfies all the elements for being a goodcontextually-rich picture to support a story

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Environment: AbsentInteraction: AbsentPersonal relevance: HighClarity: HighComment: Typical portrait that does not convey anycontextual or interaction information

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Environment: AbsentInteraction: AbsentPersonal relevance: AbsentClarity: HighComment: Only serves to identify an object; typical ofpictures available in stimulus sets

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Environment: HighInteraction: HighPersonal relevance: HighClarity: LowComment: View is too distant to provide sufficient detailto support a conversation

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Environment: AbsentInteraction: LowPersonal relevance: HighClarity: HighComment: More contextual richness and interaction arenecessary to communicate a story; typical of picturessupplied by families

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Environment: MediumInteraction: HighPersonal relevance: HighClarity: HighComment: Good picture for communicating about afavorite activity

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Environment: HighInteraction: MediumPersonal relevance: HighClarity: HighComment: Could be a good signature photo forcommunicating a story about golfing with a grandchild

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Environment: Medium or HighInteraction: AbsentPersonal relevance: HighClarity: LowComment: Serves only to identify a location or specificobjects in a room

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Environment: HighInteraction: HighPersonal relevance: HighClarity: HighComment: Good picture to communicate a story about achild’s birthday party

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Environment: AbsentInteraction: AbsentPersonal relevance: LowClarity: HighComment: Lack of context, interaction, and relevancyare problematic

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Environment: HighInteraction: HighPersonal relevance: HighClarity: HighComment: Good picture to communicate a story

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Environment: HighInteraction: LowPersonal relevance: LowClarity: LowComment: Serves only to identify a location; does notcommunicate a story