The term "Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)" covers all forms of communication that supplement or replace spoken language and are intended to bridge or compensate for communication impairments (Wilken 2006, 3). These can be bodily forms of communication such as gestures, facial expressions, gestures or non-bodily forms of communication such as communication books, boards or electronic communication devices.

The AAC Institution offers diagnostics, support and counselling for people who are unable to communicate adequately using spoken language. These can be children, young people and adults who are impaired in spoken language communication due to various causes (e.g. due to impairments in mental development, a physical and motor impairment or a neurological illness). The counselling services are also aimed at relatives and professionals working with these target groups.

Involvement

The area of AAC is part of the Outpatient Center for ReHabilitation (now KoggE) with the other areas of the Outpatient Clinic: Psychology Rehabilitation (headed by Prof. Dr. von Düring), Health care (headed by Prof. Dr. Schulze), Research and support in the field of motor skills and movement, the International Ethnomethodological Research Center (headed by Prof. Dr. Ortmann), the Centre of Excellence for Participation Promotion & Prevention in Behavioural Disorders (headed by Prof. Dr. Wittrock) and the Centre for Professionalisation (headed by Prof. Dr. Hillenbrand) at the Institute of Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation in School I at the University of Oldenburg. The area of Augmentative and Alternative Communication is assigned to the Professorship of Pedagogy and didactics for intellectual development impairments (Prof. Dr. Andrea Erdélyi).