Visual Scene Displays (VSDs) can be included in both low technology and high technology communication systems, offering an alternative way for an end user to access a range of vocabulary.  VSDs usually consist of a picture with hot spots, which give the user a context for communication. A range of research projects have been (and still are being) undertaken to determine whether this is a transparent and effective way for vocabulary to be arranged with different populations. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have been focusing on VSDs as a tool for young children with complex communication needs to develop communication, language and literacy skills. Some therapists have voiced concerns that this research simply measures output and not quality or intent of communication.  The state of the research will be discussed and sample visual scene displays will be shown.  Additional material will be provided through a single case study of a student who had used a traditional topic based grid system to access vocabulary on his speech generating device, moved to using VSDs and has now moved to a Pragmatically Organised Dynamic Display (PODD) system.  The rationales behind these decisions as well as the outcomes for the student will be shown.In addition, research into visual scene displays with other groups of people with complex communication needs is also being carried out, much of it my members of the AAC-RERC.  Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital have been looking at the role of VSDs and wider virtual environments in providing contextual language development for children with autism spectrum disorder.  Again, the state of this research will be discussed and sample visual scene displays will be shown.  Puddingstone Place, the virtual environment software developed at the Boston Children’s Hospital, will be demonstrated briefly.Researchers at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln have also been looking at the role of VSDs in providing a framework for accessing language for adults with aphasia.  The state of this research will be discussed and The Visual Scenes for Adults Application will be demonstrated.

Jane Farrall has been working in the disability and assistive technology field for 20 years. She has extensive practical experience in both Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and in teaching children and adults with disabilities to acquire literacy. Jane has worked for Yooralla Society of Victoria School and Adult services as both therapist and literacy teacher. She has also worked at the Microcomputer Applications Centre (now called ComTEC) in Victoria, Australia, as an assistive technology professional. She has completed a Masters in Special Education focusing on literacy acquisition in children and adults without speech. Jane is a former Chairperson of AGOSCI and is the founder and organiser of the Big Mouth Camp, a camp for school aged students using speech generating devices and their families.