The Communication Matrix was developed to fill a gap in assessment practices: at the time, there was no instrument to describe how individuals who can’t speak CAN communicate. The emphasis of existing assessments was strictly on spoken communication, and there was no means to document the many ways that someone without speech could communicate using other means. In 1990 the Communication Matrix was created to fill that gap. Since then, a series of grants from the U.S. Department of Education has supported progressive improvement of the web site that was designed to allow parents and professionals to administer this assessment online. The latest and current grant underwrites the development of a virtual community of practice for professionals and nonprofessionals who support individuals with complex communication needs. This session will present the story of the Communication Matrix–its foundations and its evolution into the current complex web site that is used around the world.
