Abstract:

School inclusion in Italy has been a central theme in various legislative provisions from 1971 to the present day, with the aim of ensuring equal opportunities for participation and learning for all students, in an effort to remove the barriers that may arise in the presence of Special Educational Needs (SEN). Currently, the use of assistive technologies (AT), particularly digital ones, is common in projects and interventions aimed at people with Complex Communication Needs (CCN). In particular, the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems is spreading on a large scale. These systems, in accordance with the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), aim to enhance natural communication skills and provide alternative methods, even in school contexts: among these, applications and software for mobile devices and computers specifically designed to develop the user’s communication skills can prove to be very effective.

This paper offers an analysis of the various AAC applications and software available in Italy, selecting them on the basis of several criteria (freely available, number of reviews, availability of video tutorials, etc.), each of which is described in terms of its main features, target audience and symbol sets used, while also conducting a qualitative analysis based on a comparison of the different applications. The aim is to highlight which features can be considered most relevant and suitable for meeting specific communication needs, while also acknowledging their limitations. Finally, a proposal is put forward for a potential AAC application that could address the identified gaps, featuring a wide range of functions designed to ensure greater customization in use, tailored to the target audience, application context and specific needs.

Keywords:

Assistive Technologies, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Special Educational Needs, Digital Applications.