Building Communication with people with communication difficulties through Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC) Tools

Her dedication and the effective use of these AAC tools resulted in a successful report from one of her clients, highlighting the positive impact of tailored communication strategies.

Ms. Ponleu, a member of the Council on Women's Affairs in Po Commune, Kampong Chhnang province, initially paid little attention to children with communication challenges. She believed they couldn’t provide specific answers and sometimes felt uneasy around them, often relying on parents or caregivers for information. After receiving training on picture-based reporting tools through an OIC Cambodia project supported by the World Childhood Foundation. Ms. Ponleu encountered significant difficulties with the AAC training. Progress was slow, and it took multiple sessions before she started to gain a better understanding. However, through persistence and continuous effort, she gradually developed the skills needed to effectively use these tools.

Ms. Ponleu began working directly with children who have communication difficulties. With her new skills, she is now able to engage more effectively, helping these children communicate and share their experiences. So far, she has worked with three children in her community with communication challenges. From one of them, she successfully gathered information on their needs and how she can provide support.

After working with individuals with communication difficulties in her community, Ms. Ponleu found that younger children (under 15) are interested in using picture books or communication boards. However, older children tend to show less interest in picture-based tools and often lose focus during conversations when using them.

Ms. Ponleu recommends developing an app to support more effective communication for individuals with communication difficulties, especially older children and adults who may be less engaged with picture-based tools. She also suggests expanding AAC training for the Council on Women's Affairs across Kampong Chhnang province, as currently, only three communes have received this technical training.

Ms. Ponleu hopes that all communes in Kampong Chhnang will have access to this valuable training, as it has proven to be highly beneficial for the community. She greatly appreciates the efforts of OIC Cambodia and hopes to see more training opportunities in her community, along with the introduction of new technical skills. She is committed to continuing her work with individuals who have communication difficulties. She hopes that her skills will enable them to report incidents of sexual harassment or neglect directly to her in the future