Viewing posts tagged with: low tech

Core or PECS for students with ASD?

At the beginning of this year, multiple people in my district began discussing communication for children with autism. The early childhood program is primarily using picture exchange communication with their students. However, once these same students enter elementary school, the elementary-high school SLPs begin using core vocabulary as our primary communication modality. At that… Read more

Low-tech AAC: Picture Exchange (Pros and Cons)

Please note before I begin this post that I am aware that PECS is a specific and trademarked system. I have been through the formal training, however, like most, I have adapted it and can no longer officially call it PECS. Over the years, I’ve had a love/hate relationship with picture exchange. I have gone… Read more

Low-tech AAC: Core Vocabulary (Pros and Cons)

Last year, several SLPs in my district attended a fantastic conference by Gail Van Tatenhove. By the end of the two days, we were ready to make some district-wide changes to AAC in our district. Although I have been using core boards and core vocabulary for years, this was going to be a radical collaborative… Read more

Low-tech AAC: PODD (Pros and Cons)

Seventeen years ago I was a brand new SLP graduate. I accepted the only mid-year job that I could find (overage for 2 SLPs with high caseloads) and began on a crazy adventure. One of the classrooms that I was to be serving contained students who were profoundly impacted by a variety of disabilities. I… Read more

Secrets for Modeling Language

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The difficulty with verbal language for many children with language disorders is that it is fleeting and invisible. Communication boards make that language visual, permanent, and give clear delineations between different words. My students with low language skills need as many cues as possible. Modeling language with communication boards and books make understanding language an… Read more

Language Based Communication Boards

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A little speech talk here. Wait! Don’t go! You just might learn something awesome. 😉 Language development of a typical child includes expressing: 5-20 words at 18 months of age 150-300 words at 24 months 900-1000 words at 36 months Although the vocabulary expansion throughout early childhood is tremendous, about 80% of everything that is… Read more

Go To Sleep Gecko

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Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. My husband recently checked Go To Sleep Gecko out of the library to appease my “get the kids some new books now!” demands. He did well. Go To Sleep Gecko is a retelling of a Balinese Folktale. It contains charming artwork from acrylic medium. The artist’s personification… Read more

Stone Soup

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Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I decided a few days ago that this week’s Children’s Book Monday, would be on Stone Soup. What I did not realize, however, if that there are a myriad of versions of this story, from all around the world. Since I have read no version other than the… Read more

GoTalk

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I love me my Go Talk 9+. This is a very simple 12 button voice output device. You record short messages for each button. There are 5 levels that can be saved (like 5 different files on the computer) so you can switch from level to level without re-recording. The top 3 buttons remain consistent… Read more

Communication Bracelets

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I just saw these communication bracelets yesterday for the first time, and I am so excited about them! They combine the trendy, jelly-type bracelets (think “livestrong”) with a (very) simple communication book. What a great idea! And, why in the world didn’t I think of it first! This is a fabulous tool for the non-verbal… Read more

Single Button Messages

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A low cost way of helping children speak single messages is through recording toys or “talking” buttons. These can be purchased at places like Radio Shack or other electronics stores. Single messages can help children that have difficulty communicating, such as those with speech and language delays or any young children. Through companies like Attainment… Read more

BIGmack

Picture Communication Boards

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For most people, picture communication boards are one of the first forms of Augmentative Communication tried. These can be extremely simple: 2 pictures of breakfast cereals on a piece of paper. Then ask, “Which cereal do you want?” Reduces frustration, helps facilitate communication, and enables the child the ability to talk about something out of… Read more