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Alternative communication book published in Chinese

By Wang Wei: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, October 12, 2011

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The Chinese edition of a book which introduces ways to increase communication methods for people with limited spoken language skills has now been released in China. [China.org.cn]

The Chinese edition of a book which introduces ways to increase communication methods for people with limited spoken language skills has now been released in China.

"Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication", written by two Norwegian professors -- Stephen von Tetzchner and Harald Martinsen -- has been used as a special education textbook throughout both Europe and North America. It has been translated into a variety of languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, German and Dutch.

"I hope it will be useful for many people -- the children, adolescents and adults with disabilities, not only autism as one group, but also intellectual impairments, and those who cannot speak because they have motor impairments," said Professor Stephen von Tetzchner from the University of Oslo, who attended the press conference to announce the release of the Chinese version in Beijing on October 11.

"Alternative Communication has two functions. One is to promote speech. It's a support, because you have more cues to help your understanding. And the second one is if you don't speak, you should have another way to communicate. We think that in China, like in Norway, there are many individuals who have this problem," Von Tetchner told China.org.cn.

As estimated, about 6,480 Norwegians aged between 1 and 18 are communication-impaired, while in China the number for the same age group is 1.6 million.

"Then, for adults, there will be a larger numbe - China has 250 times as many people as Norway does," Von Tetzchner said.

He added that the Chinese version of his book aims to serve as an introductory text and guide for speech and language therapists, special educators, teachers in kindergartens and schools, psychologists, care nurses and other professionals, as well as for families with members who need an alternative from of communication, whether for a short period, or throughout their life.

Stephen von Tetzchner (7th Right) and Harald Martinsen (6th Left), authors of the book "Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication", pose for a group photo at the press conference in Beijing, Oct. 11. [Wang Wei/China.org.cn]

Beijing Reindeer Children Behavioral Rehabilitation Center is the first Chinese agency to try the application of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in its teaching practice.

"We are honored to have had so much training and guidance from the two professors, and to our delight, the method really works," said Sun Menglin, president of the Rehabilitation Center.

Some children who cannot speak learn to express their thoughts and demands by using communication tools. Alternative communication effectively promotes the understanding of those who find speech difficult to understand, said Sun.

According to Sun, her rehabilitation center employs 120 teachers on three campuses, who have been helping more than 200 children to develop better means of communication.

A book donation ceremony was held at the end of the press conference. Both the Beijing Chaoyang Disabled Persons Federation and the Royal Norwegian Embassy purchased 1,000 books and donated them to families caring for disabled relatives. Beijing Youyuan Huaxia Culture Spreading Company donated books worth 20,000 yuan to Beijing Reindeer Children Behavioral Rehabilitation Center.

Sun also expressed her gratitude to Beijing Normal University, which was responsible for the translation of the book into Chinese.

"The publication of this Chinese edition is really a milestone in the field of special education, since AAC has never been systematically studied and used in China," Sun said. "It will bring benefits to a wide range of Chinese children, adolescents and adults with sever disorders of speech, language and communication."

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