I can... party!

Everybody loves a party! From a child’s birthday party at a classmate’s house, to that teenage sleep-over (no parents allowed!) or a wild, crazy night out! Parties provide us with a chance to dress up, spend time with our friends and to meet new people. What a great opportunity for social banter, telling stories, gossiping and asking questions!

Here are some vocabulary suggestions for getting ready for a night out:

Can you hold the mirror so I can see?	Please find my hairstyles page. I’ll show you the one I want.	Please show me my clothes choices.
I love it!	I would like something different.	What colours are there?
Bad!	Not quite what I had in mind!	What do you think?
You look great too!	Can you call me a taxi, please?	Looks great!

Teens and Personal Relationships

For older teens, parties provide an environment where relationships can develop, new experiences can occur and boundaries may be tested. Often it can be difficult for teenagers to engage in discussion around such issues. An individual who uses AAC will likely find it even more difficult, as he/she may not have the vocabulary to talk about potentially sensitive topics such as relationships, sex and alcohol or drug use.

“Speak Up” is a web site that offers many resources around relationships and sexuality, including communication displays and links to other websites that teens, young adults and parents of individuals who have complex communication needs may find useful. The website also highlights the importance of enabling individuals to disclose information about abuse.

“Speak Up is about ending the silences that prevent people who use alternative ways to communicate from protecting themselves from sexual abuse. It is about giving people with complex communication needs the information, education and means to communicate about healthy sexuality and sexual abuse”.

The Speak Up web site can be found at  http://www.accpc.ca/Speak_Up/index.htm

No-Tech Ideas

• Kids like to share information about themselves and their experiences. Take photos at a party and make up a small communication book using a dollar store photo album. Add labels that invite interaction from others, e.g. “I went to the Very Merry Mickey Party at Disney. That’s me with Baloo the bear. If you went to Disney, who would you party with?”

Light Tech Ideas

• Parties and holiday gatherings are ideal situations to practice turn-taking, with greetings, social comments and/ or questions. For example, a scripted series of messages can be recorded into a device such as a Go Talk 4+ 

High Tech Ideas

• Music files can be played on some dynamic display devices – choose the music ahead of time and be the DJ!
• Photos can also be added to devices – perfect for sharing information about the party at a later date. Some Speech Generating Devices, such as the Tango! ®, even have the camera built in! 

I can... get ready for the holidays!

Is it already that time of year again? As 2008 draws to a close, students are starting to think about the holidays, celebrations and time to be spent with family and friends. It’s a time for giving, a time for wishing and a great time to talk about special events that happen only once a year ….

Here are some vocabulary suggestions for the holidays:

Happy Holidays!	Let’s sing some holiday songs.	See you in January!
What are you doing over the holidays?	I’ve been so good this year.  I’m hoping for a….	My favourite holiday movie is….what’s yours?
My favourite holiday food is….what’s yours?	I’m going to miss you over the holidays.	What do you like best about the holiday season?
I want to write a letter to…	Can we play some holiday games?	Have a Happy New Year!

Gift Ideas!

Sometimes it can be challenging to find gifts that are fun and appropriate for students who use switches to control their world.  Here are some suggestions to consider for the wish list (or maybe even the classroom wish list!).

Switch Adapted Products for the Young at Heart:

Jokemaster: http://rjcooper.com/jokemaster/index.html

Adpated Mini Bubble Blower: http://www.flaghouse.ca/itemdy00.asp?T1=36741

Switch Adapted Products for Teens:

Game Box Controller: http://rjcooper.com/game-controller/index.html

Computer Hardware & Software:

ICanEmail Software: http://rjcooper.com/icanemail/index.html

Communication:

AbleNet has made improvements to many of their products.  Now would be a great time to purchase a new Step-by-Step^TM. http://www.ablenetinc.com/Store/tabid/205/Default.aspx?CategoryCode=108

Light Tech Ideas 

• Keep everyone up to date with what’s happening: fund raising events, the school play, the Christmas concert. In the weeks leading up to the December school break, there are often many new and different events happening around the school. Designate one of your students to report on the events each week. Classmates can decide on the topic for the week and the information that needs to be reported. A peer could record the messages into a Step-by-Step^TM, and then the student could then report to students across the school.

• 
  

High Tech Ideas

This is a great time of year to complete some topic-specific writing tasks.  Make use of some ready-made activities.

Send a holiday e-card:  http://www.mayer-johnson.com/ECard.aspx?DirID=Christmas

Winter Holiday Writing (including Kwanzaa, Christmas, Eid and Hanukkah):

http://aex.intellitools.com/searchdetails.php?act_key=winterholidaywriting 

Write about Charles Dickens ‘A Christmas Carol’:

http://www.learninggrids.com/us/SearchResults.aspx?p=1&sp=3&program=1&cid=2168&recs=10&level=3

I can... get to know you!

Since starting back to school in early September, your students have likely had several opportunities to meet new people: teachers, classmates, support personnel, even a new bus driver.  Meeting new people can be challenging, particularly for students who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Here are some ideas to make this a less stressful process.


Here are some vocabulary suggestions for getting to know new people:

Great to meet you!	Let’s trade e-mail addresses.	What’s your name?
There are some things you need to know about how I communicate…	I’d like to remember your name. Can you help me add it to my device?	I need to compose my message. It will take a few minutes – can you wait?
Tell me something about yourself.	Check out my “All About Me Book”, it’s in my backpack.	I don’t think we’ve met. My name is …
Do you have time to talk?	Please get my symbol display.	How are you doing today?

Communication Passports or All About Me books

Communication passports are books that present an overall picture of a person. They are written in a way which reflects the person’s personality and can include the following:

• general background information including details about likes & dislikes, family and friends;
• a description of how the person communicates and how others can best communicate with them;
• a summary of the person’s views and preferences.

Communication passports are best created in partnership with the person who will “own” the  finished product. They need to be unique and engaging to others. These resources are particularly useful at times of transition, for example when a student moves from elementary school to high school. 

No-Tech Ideas

·         People can be nervous about talking to an individual who uses AAC. Help your student create a personal introduction to their communication system. Write a short paragraph about how the system is used and how the student wants the listener to help. Post it in a place, where all listeners will notice it & read it, for example on a tray or a wheelchair.

Light Tech Ideas

·         Ablenet carries a range of introductory devices that work well for students who want to share information or news. The good news is that they have recently improved some of the devices, such as the Step-by-Step^TM, which now has 2 full minutes of recording time, better digital sound and improved battery life. Makes a great Christmas gift!

 High Tech Ideas

·         Some devices have Internet, email and messaging capabilities. Chat with your ACS clinician to find out more about this.

·         Remember your Internet safety tips

http://safecanada.ca/parents_e.asp?OP=link&topic=239

Resources for families and educators: Check out the following websites for great ideas…

· Read more information about the 2007 ICE conference (See “Opportunities to Learn”): http://www.marchofdimes.ca/dimes/people_with_disabilities_caregivers/news_and_ media/omod_news/2007/ICE2007.htm

I can...get organized!

Welcome back! A brand new school year…a great time to encourage students to become more independent by keeping themselves organized!  There are all kinds of ways that we can help our students to keep track of their schedules and to remember what tasks need to be completed.

Here are some vocabulary suggestions for getting organized:

Let’s start a timer!	Where’s my visual schedule?	I’ll check my day timer.
Let’s record that in my Step by Step ™	Can I help check it off?	Can you add that to my reminder list?
Here’s our grocery list….	Can you record a reminder in my Step-by –Step ™ for my mom?	Is it time for lunch yet?
Do you want to hear what I did at school?	What do we need to take on our class trip?	Let me tell you about my summer vacation…

Visual Schedules  

• Encourage a student who uses an SGD to remind the class of upcoming events or the daily schedule. Use this in combination with a visual schedule in your class to help remind all students of what’s coming next. To make a visual schedule more manageable, split it into a morning and an afternoon section. Show a book buddy how to use a visual schedule, so that your student can see it being used by many different communication partners. Remember that a visual schedule is not just a classroom decoration! It needs to be used frequently so that the student can learn the sequence of events throughout a given time period.
   

No-Tech Ideas 

• Post-It® Notes are great for reminders, adding temporary information to a communication display or as a communication exchange (a series of messages on subsequent notes)

  
Light Tech Ideas

• Use a student’s Step-by-Step^TM to add a reminder for home. Make it part of the overall daily message, so that the social function of the device is not lost. “Hi Mom & Dad! I had a great day today. We listened to a story about Fall and watched a puppet show. Don’t forget I need to bring in some indoor shoes for gym tomorrow.”

  High Tech Ideas

·         It may be difficult to know whether a student has certain vocabulary within his SGD. Many of the device manufacturers provide support materials that can assist facilitators who want to model language for the student, e.g. wall charts, vocabulary lists and copies of the symbol sets for printing. Ask your ACS therapist to help you find the resources that you need.

·         Many high tech devices have integrated e-mail capabilities, reminder functions and address books that might be helpful to a student. Check the manufacturer’s website or ask your ACS clinician for information.

Resources for families and educators: Check out the following websites for great ideas…

For older students, Hutton House has developed a series of age appropriate books http://www.huttonhouse.com  

I can...keep in touch!

As the school year draws to a close, students may want to keep in touch with all their friends over the summer vacation. Today there are so many ways kids can connect including e-mail, letter writing, text messaging, Facebook and using the telephone. Students who use augmentative communication may need some help to use these methods effectively.

Here are some vocabulary suggestions for talking about keeping in touch:

What’s your e-mail?	Are you on Facebook?	We’ll be BFF!
I’ll send you a postcard	Give me a call over the summer.	Write back soon!
Do we have stamps?	Do you have a cell phone?	I’ll post my vacation pictures
Help me write a letter.	What’s your Facebook status?	Keep in touch!

Get Connected!

Ability Online is a free and monitored online support community that links kids with disabilities or illness to other kids and adults who care.   It also provides information on health related issues.  You must register online and then you will be sent a password via Canada Post. 

E-mail  

Help students create an address book so that they can exchange e-mail addresses to keep in touch with their friends over the summer.

• If a student has difficulty with spelling while composing an e-mail, try using symbols to help them choose which message to send to a friend. For example:

 

Send an E-Card

Students can send each other e-cards using Mayer Johnson’s website.  Browse by topic such as birthday, missing you etc.  http://www.mayer-johnson.com/ECard.aspx?DirID=Thinking%20of%20You

 

No-Tech Ideas
Try creating a remnant book or journal of the summer holidays so that students can share their memories. 

Light Tech Ideas
Collect vacation photos and display them in a talking photo album. 

High Tech Ideas

• Students who use voice output devices can talk on the phone too. Try programming a few phrases to let the person receiving the call know that the speaker is using a voice output device.
• Ask your students to report on their summer vacation once they return to school. They can share their stories with the rest of the class by using their communication device.

Resources for teachers and educators: Check out the following websites for great ideas…

• The AC On-Line User's Group is an Internet Listserv which allows users of AC and their families to communicate with each other and with professionals who are interested in AC. Don’t know who to write to? Try hooking up your students with a pen pal. Check out this website for more information. http://www.theteacherscorner.net/penpals/

I can...get involved in science!

Getting involved in science helps us to learn about our world and to answer questions about why things are the way that they are. There are lots of resources to make science fun for all ages! Help your students who use augmentative communication to check out cool websites or to get their hands dirty with a “green” activity.

Here are some vocabulary suggestions for talking about science:

I want to see it!	Is it going to blow up?	How does that work?
Why did that happen?	Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!	That’s cool!
Can I have your pop tab?	I love science!	I’m scared!
Let’s save it!	I have a litterless lunch!	Let’s clean up our school!

Go Green!

Encourage your students to get involved in taking care of our environment.  Try one of these suggestions with your student(s): 

Save your Pop Tabs for a Wheelchair!

Did you know it takes 1,000 aluminum pop tabs to equal one pound? Aluminum can be sold for approximately 60¢ a pound. The money raised is donated to the March of Dimes Assistive Devices Program. They help buy wheelchairs for children who need them. Challenge your classroom or school to collect pop tabs throughout the year! Involve students who use a voice output communication aid in an end of the year assembly to tell the students how much money was raised and how that money will be used.

Create a Recycle Team!
Encourage your students to participate in the collection and sorting of recycling materials for a classroom or two. Try recording a message on a Step-by-Step™ communicator such as “I’m here for the recycling”, “Reduce, reuse, recycle!” Use this chart to help kids sort their recycling: http://www.abcteach.com/free/w/wksht_reducereuserecycle.pdf

Create a Buy and Sell Board!
Many children who have disabilities have expensive equipment or toys that they may no longer need. Why not have a place where parents can post a picture or an add for equipment that they don’t have a need for? Be sure to indicate that parents should check with their child’s therapist to ensure that the equipment is appropriate and safe to use.

No-Tech Ideas
Create a specific communication display for use during a science project or experiment.

Light Tech Ideas
Use a Step-by-Step™ to allow a student ask questions during a science experiment. Try recording questions such as “What are we going to be doing?”, “Will it make a loud noise?”, “Why did that happen?”

High Tech Ideas

Sometimes students are limited because they only have access to a basic vocabulary. Review vocabulary pages available to your student and talk about other words that he or she might like to add. For example, when talking about the Solar System, it’s one thing to be able to name the planets, but your student may also want to talk about “asteroids”, “comets”, “meteoroids”, “interstellar space” and “nuclear fusion”. (The student can even explain these terms to a parent!).

Resources for teachers and educators: Check out the following websites for great ideas…

• Science books developed for older students with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product.asp?product=20005
• Science Projects for kids with disabilities http://www.ablenetinc.com/wiz.asp

I can...take care of myself!

As kids get older, they need to take more responsibility for taking care of themselves. Providing them with the vocabulary and opportunities to practice directing their own care and managing their needs will help them become more independent.

Here are some vocabulary ideas for self care:

I need a new haircut!	Do I have to visit the dentist?	Do I have to get a needle?
I’m nervous	I need to book a taxi	I need to buy some groceries
Will it hurt?	Can you help me make a list?	Can you help me?
What are the side effects?	I need to make an appointment	I have an appointment
I consent to this treatment	Can you explain that again?	Let’s go shopping

Strategies for a Successful Appointment

·        Often health professionals have limited time during appointments.  Call ahead to book a longer appointment and to explain what communication strategies a person may use.

·        Try bringing this brochure with you on your appointment to help provide some general information on ways to communicate with someone who uses augmentative communication.  

·        Create a custom communication display specifically for the appointment or community outing you have planned.  Check out this website for some examples of boards that can be used at the hospital: http://www.speakingofspeech.com/uploads/Hospital_1.pdf

      http://www.speakingofspeech.com/uploads/Hospital_2.pdf

·        If you are using a device, ensure that it is charged!  If possible, print out any pre-programmed questions you might have.  If using low-tech, bring some back up batteries. 

·        Encourage your student to practice making appointment over the phone.  Try role-playing with a familiar listener.  Be sure to include clarification messages such as “I have difficulty talking.  I use a device to communicate.  Please be patient.”

Light Tech Ideas

• Student can use a Step by Step™ to introduce themselves to people they meet in the community.
• Designate a student to be in charge of a shopping list. Try recording the list on a Step by Step ™. Voisec Talking Buttons can be used to record reminders for taking medications, remembering appointments etc.
  

Resources for teachers and educators: Check out the following websites for great ideas…

• Product information on portable electronic devices for memory and organization: http://www.biausa.org/Pages/AT/index.php

I can...get involved in music!

Listening to music, playing an instrument, cheering for the next Canadian Idol. Music is all around us. Students who have disabilities can get actively involved in all aspects of music, from shaking the maracas to composing songs.


Here are some vocabulary ideas for music activities:

Let me play it!
Have you heard the song….?
I want to sing…
Turn it up!
I’m the next Canadian Idol!
Who’s your favourite band?
It’s too loud!
Do you watch Don’t forget the Lyrics?
Can I choose an instrument?
Play it again.
What do you want to sing next?
Can I listen to my iPod?
Change the CD
My favourite song is….What’s yours?
I love this song

No-Tech Ideas

• Make a symbol board for students to make choices during music activities such as choosing song verses or choosing which instrument to play.
• Make a symbol board for students to talk about music with their peers. Try including questions such as “Who is your favourite band?”, “Did you watch Canadian Idol last night?”
• Use a Post-it ™ note to keep a communication board current. Include a weekly update about a recent music event such as “Can you believe ….got kicked off the show?”

Light Tech Ideas

• Have your student start a song with a recorded intro line on a single message device e.g. “Old McDonald had a farm…”, “Swimming, swimming in the swimming pool…”

High Tech Ideas

• Some high tech communication devices have built in MP3 players. Contact your ACS clinician if you would like to explore this further

I can...go out and about!

Exploring the community is fun for everyone. Try planning a field trip and encourage your students to participate in the preparation as well as the event itself. Students can also share their adventures by taking pictures and talking about them in a variety of ways.

Here are some vocabulary ideas for your student to use while out in the community:

Are we there yet?	I need to go to….	Are we taking the bus?
Where are we going?	Can you guess where I went today?	I need to call a taxi
I’d like to order a…	Do we have to go home already?	Let’s take a picture
That’s amazing!	It’s your turn to choose where we’ll eat	Watch out for the….
I’m lost!	Can you help me pack my bag?	I need some water

Here are some suggestions for making your trip out in the community a success:

• Role Play - Talking about an upcoming trip with your students can help them prepare for the different places they will visit and people they might meet.  For example, if planning a trip to the mall, be sure to make a list of items you are looking for.  Try role-playing to give students a chance to use some of the phrases they might use while on their trip.
• Educating Others – When taking your students out to a new place, call ahead to find out when there may be a quieter time so that students who use Augmentative Communication can be more successful in their communication. Share information with people in the community on how best to communicate with someone who uses Augmentative Communication.   
• Review vocabulary on your student’s device or communication display – Brainstorm the situations in which the student may want to communicate.  Try using the vocabulary available and then add additional vocabulary that might be needed. For example, in a trip to the bowling alley a student may want to say “Strike!”, “Spare!”, “Gutter ball!”.
•  Sharing the experience – Try to provide your students with the opportunity to tell others about their recent field trip.  Be sure to include some questions for the listener to help draw them into in the conversation.  For example, after a trip to the zoo a student may ask someone “What’s your favourite animal?”

No-Tech Ideas  

• Take digital photos so that students can share their experience. 
• Remnant Book – collect souvenir items such as a coaster, a movie ticket, a flyer etc and display in a small photo album. Students can then share information about where they have been visiting.

Light Tech Ideas

• Try choosing a student to act as a “reporter”. Record the events on a Step by Step™ and ask the student to report the field trip highlights.

High Tech Ideas

• Use digital pictures to create an electronic book. Try using Powerpoint™, Intellitools or Clicker to display the pictures. These books can be set up for switch accessibility.