Reciprocal Innovation to Optimize Low-Tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for I… (NCT07581483) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Reciprocal Innovation to Optimize Low-Tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for Individuals
United States, Kenya500 participantsStarted 2027-06-01
Plain-language summary
Many people with autism and other developmental conditions have difficulty speaking or do not use speech and need other ways to communicate. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes tools such as picture boards, communication books, and gestures that support communication. In low-resource settings and underserved rural areas in the United States, high-tech AAC devices are often too expensive or difficult to access, and trained specialists are limited.
Low-tech AAC options are more affordable but are often not used successfully because tools may not match the individual's abilities or daily environment, caregivers and providers may lack training, and stigma or low awareness may discourage use. These challenges can lead to AAC abandonment and social isolation.
Rural Virginia and western Kenya face similar barriers, including limited AAC expertise, inconsistent assessment, and insufficient training for families, educators, and community providers. This project uses a shared learning approach that combines western Kenya's experience implementing low-tech AAC in new settings with rural Virginia's expertise in individualized assessment, training, and scalable service delivery. The goal is to better match individuals to appropriate low-tech AAC systems and support communication partners to use them effectively.
Who can participate
Age range
3 Years – 14 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Communication partners (e.g., caregivers, parents, teachers, community health workers, or aides) aged 18 years or older
* Primary communication partner of a child aged 3 to 14 years
* Child has a documented diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or a related neurodevelopmental condition
* Child is minimally verbal or non-verbal
* Able to communicate in English (U.S. sites) or English or Swahili (Kenya sites)
* Able and willing to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Communication partners younger than 18 years of age
* Communication partners of children younger than 3 years or older than 14 years
* Communication partners of children who use fluent spoken language
* Inability to communicate in the required study languages
* Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Functional Communication
Timeframe: Baseline, 6 months, and 12 months
2
AAC Implementation Fidelity
Timeframe: Baseline to end of intervention (approximately 12 weeks)