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National Resource Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication

IICP established, Roshni, the National Resource Centre for AAC (NRCAAC) in Kolkata. Roshni is a symbol of light - the light of knowledge that will enable persons with complex speech and communication disorders to break away from the shackles of silence. This is the only specialized centre, first of its own kind that has been set up in the eastern region of the country to cater to the needs of users with complex communication needs. AAC is a term used to describe a broad range of communicative behaviors and methods which support and enhance speech attempts of people who are unable to talk. AAC includes methods ranging from simple techniques to complicated devices that are assistive technology.

In order for the users to use technology meaningfully a conducive infrastructure needs to exist. We realize that the main challenge is to create interest and perception that culturally appropriate, economically viable assistive technology (AT), if universally designed, can be useful not only for people with disabilities but for all, especially for all students in the pre-primary and primary level in mainstream schools.

Roshni displays and demonstrates all AAC and AT resources developed in India and standard devices commercially available for users, parents, trainees and professionals. It caters to the users with complex communication needs and loco-motor impairment such as stroke patients, brain and spinal injury patients, throat cancer patients, persons with autism, aphasia, learning problems and multiple disabilities. The key strength of Roshni is a very strong team of professionals and pro-active AAC users. Roshni has a strong research base, with software developers and designers dedicated to the cause and experienced AAC users who are involved at every stage of development. It has strong links with national and international technical institutes and universities. Roshni has worked with IIT, Kharagpur (one of the premier technical institute of India) for collaborative research and development. We have completed three AT projects with IIT (all these projects have come through Media Lab Asia). The in-house software development team also has developed two AT software with funding from Yooralla Society, Australia.

At Roshni we offer the following range of services

• Assessment of individual needs
• Providing customized solutions with help of low-tech and hi-tech resources for users with technological support
• Training for the professionals, users and families. We also disseminate a range of resource material in Hindi, English and Bengali, developed by IICP. We provide tailor-made need-based training for the target groups.
• Providing solutions for inclusion in school and workplace (for users, schools and employers)
• Research and development of low-tech and hi-tech resources in the form of
• Various Multimedia software
• Alternative access options
• Communication hardware
• Voice Output Devices
• Training and Teaching Material(Free downloadable demos of multimedia software and easy to use resource material are available on the web.)
• Field-testing of devices and software with suggestions for modifications
• We have free web based training modules available

Roshni uses and develop lo-tech and hi-tech resources to provide opportunities for inclusion in regular activities including education and employment for the users. The non-technical resources are in the form of printed displays and books that facilitate communication for users at various levels of needs and cognition.

Low-tech & high-tech communication aids at Roshni