Complex communication needs
The term complex communication needs refers to people who cannot cope with everyday communication situations by means of speech alone. It is difficult for them to produce or understand speech. Speech impairment often also involves difficulties with reading and writing.
There are around 65 000 people in Finland with communicative impairments to a varying degree. Of them about 30 000 need augmentative and alternative communication. Around 650 000 – 750 000 people in Finland benefit from easy-to-read language.
Papunet – accessible communication
The Papunet website offers information and material for people with communicative impairments and their close ones as well as professionals in the field. The pages also contain information on how to realize easy-to-read, accessible web services. Most of the material is in Finnish. A selection of games, exercises and tools is also available in English.
Papunet promotes inclusion and equality in society for people with communicative impairments and other people who need support in learning, understanding and communicating.
The goal of Papunet is to ensure that the communication partners as well as professionals and students in the field have access to information on communicative impairments, different communication methods and aids as well as tools and materials for practical work.
Papunet wants to ensure that people with communicative impairments and others with special learning and communication needs can obtain information and engage in pastime activities accessibly online and have the opportunity to communicate through easy-to-use web applications and social media.
Tikoteekki fosters communication and interaction
Communication and Technology Centre Tikoteekki promotes the inclusion, right of self-determination and opportunities of people with communicative impairments to communicate in their communities and society.
Tikoteekki develops to this end models and communication materials for enhancing interaction between people with complex communication needs and their communication partners. The centre also disseminates information, offers guidance over the phone and consultations on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) solutions. Tikoteekki also aims to influence the development of services through national and international networks, so that people with communicative impairments can have flexible access to assistive communication technologies, and the communication partners can receive guidance in their use.
Tikoteekki also trains communities and professionals in the areas of communication, interaction, operating models and materials.