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The paper describes a scripted elicitation procedure for assessing the communication skills of nonspeaking physically disabled children. Preliminary data are reported for 16 children attending the Communica tion Aids Centre for children, London. Functions of communication, such as requests for clarification and expression of self, were more likely to be used by children during the scripted procedure with an unfamiliar adult than when they were observed in interaction with a parent.

Children who are severely physically handicapped and non-speaking may be assessed for recommendation of an augmentative communica tion system. A working model of assessment, developed at the Com munication Aids Centre at The Wolfson Centre, London, is presented and illustrated with three case studies. The paper includes discussion of the prerequisite skills for use of a communication aid, and consideration of important factors in the child's environment, such as training opportunities and the expectations of communication partners, which affect the success of the outcome.