Communication during times of natural or man-made emergencies.
During man-made or natural emergencies, communication is essential. However, for millions of individuals worldwide who have significant communication disabilities, spoken language may not be effective or efficient. As a result, emergencies can quickly turn into life-threatening situations. Alternatives to spoken language or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) may be necessary to ensure effective and efficient communication. The purpose of this study was to identify needed vocabulary for communication during times of emergency. In order to identify needed vocabulary, two online focus groups generated and prioritized this vocabulary. Based on the 209 words that were identified, we used 50 priority words to develop downloadable communication aids for use during times of natural or man-made emergencies.