Your Communication Matters

05/09/2025

Messages from a client’s mom that made our day! (Forwarded from the school)

Progress for every client looks different.
For some it looks like increased engagement,
for some it’s navigating their AAC system to find words of interest,
for some it’s learning to type on the keyboard
for others responding to what their communication partners say.

Sometimes this takes days, weeks, months or years. However, what keeps us going are small glimpses of success, small steps in the correct direction.

And when others catch the vision, when they sit down and have a conversation with our kids, when they express joy by what and how much our kids have to say, that’s priceless! ❤️🤩

Let’s keep dreaming BIG and celebrating small wins!

29/08/2025

ABCDE

A is to remind you to introduce the Alphabet 🔤
B is for demonstrating the use of Backspace (and other special keys) ⬅️
C reminds you that you can start with Copying (type out words on labels of food items, stationery packaging, YouTube Channels etc) 🏷️
D is for make it Delightful - use the keyboard while singing the phonics, ABC, EIEIO or BINGO song 🎶
E is for Encourage Exploration of the keyboard at all times (even if they type nonsense words!) 💪🏻

Any other tips for using the keyboard? Share them in the comments below!

01/08/2025

Dear KH,
From singing and using gestalts which were hard to decipher 1.5 years ago,

to
❤️requesting
❤️asking questions
❤️making comments
❤️rejecting
❤️protesting
❤️giving instructions
verbally

📱after introduction of AAC and use of Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) strategies!

It has been an honour to witness your growth over 30 therapy sessions. Wishing you all the best!

PSA : introducing AAC does not hinder speech ❇ A robust AAC system supports autistics when they are not able to use their mouth words and can contribute to the growth of literacy ❇

25/07/2025

13/06/2025

🔊Calling all therapists and teachers! Are you ready to level up your AAC skills?

Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) for Professionals! Hosted by Start Smart Early Intervention Center .

Join our upcoming AAC webinar to help you better support individuals with complex communication needs.
Learn tools, strategies , & real life case studies you can apply immediately!

🔊 Register now - Limited seats available!

Get in touch with us for further details!

📞 0122338430

https://wa.me/+60122338430

28/05/2025

STORY TIME

April 2025: Client H wanted to visit Singapore 🇸🇬

At that time, some of his older siblings were in Singapore, while he stayed behind in Malaysia 🇲🇾. He felt sad and sometimes cried when they were away. When they returned, they showed him photos from their trip, and H used his AAC system to say

“Duck Boat - MBS hotel - Bus - I - house.” 😭

Upon hearing this, his mom felt really sorry for not bringing him along.

Fast forward to today... Mom shared that they will be going on a short trip soon because H has been requesting for it through his AAC app. He’s even started packing his bags in excitement!

June 2025: Client H will visit Singapore 🇸🇬🎉

24/05/2025

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month. In line with the theme 'Empowering Communication, Enhancing Lives', we are grateful for the opportunity to share about AAC assessment and intervention with fellow speech-language therapists over the past two weeks.

We spent a total of six hours exploring assessment frameworks, intervention skills and strategies, and local case studies.

A huge thanks to the organiser Kulim Speech Therapy Centre

We are also encouraged by the involvement and feedback by participants regarding our workshops:

💟The speaker's ability to share her knowledge was excellent. Examples of case studies gave us a good insight on the topic.

💟The course was so interactive – with videos, exercises, and space to ask questions or share cases. It made learning feel supportive and fun.

26/04/2025

M U S I C & S O N G S
We love incorporating music and songs into our AAC sessions!

How it looks like…
❤️ Typing out lyrics of favourite songs and saving them as preformed sentences in the AAC app
💙 Exploring a musical instrument
💚 Choosing a song to sing
❤️ Singing a related song as the child is doing an activity (e.g. the phonics song while the child draws on a letter, Old MacDonald while the child explores animals on the TalkXpress)
💙 Playing a YouTube video of the child’s favourite song
etc
💚 Saving an audio recording of the song within the AAC app
etc

We love music / songs as it
✅ supports engagement and participation
✅ taps onto the child’s interest
✅ introduces vocabulary
✅ supports turn taking skills (we can take turns singing a line from the song)
✅ helps emotional regulation
and so much more!

Looks like those years of piano & guitar lessons have come in handy 💝

09/04/2025

Level Up Your AAC Skills – 2-Day Webinar for Speech Therapists!

Join Kulim Speech Therapy Centre for an exclusive online course focused on Alternative & Augmentative Communication (AAC)—designed specially for professionals in the field.

Featuring Expert Speaker: Deborah Yong
Speech-Language Therapist | AAC Specialist | ATP Certified

With over a decade of experience in Malaysia and Singapore, Deborah will guide you through practical knowledge and tools you can apply immediately in your clinical work.

DAY 1: Assessment AAC
🗓️ 12 May 2025
🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

DAY 2: Intervention AAC
🗓️ 22 May 2025
🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Early Bird Fees: before 2 May 2025
RM180.00 (1 course)
RM300.00 (2 courses)

Normal Price:
RM200.00 (1 course)
RM380.00 (2 courses)

Limited slots available!
Register now: 011-11234197
https://wa.link/l0rv2t

21/02/2025

🗣️ Introducing TalkXpress 🗣️

TalkXpress is a powerful, easy-to-use communication board/book designed to empower individuals with vocabulary for effective communication. It comes in English, Malay and English-Chinese.

✨ Who can benefit from TalkXpress? ✨
- Non-speaking or minimally speaking individuals
- Children with speech-language delays or disorders
- Anyone who can benefit from visual communication support!

🛠️ Key Features 🛠️
✔️ 24 pages packed with core and fringe vocabulary
✔️ Page categories include activities, food, social, places, alphabet, and more!
✔️ Durable, laminated pages for long-lasting use
✔️ Easy navigation with multiple tabs
✔️ One empty page to add your own vocabulary
✔️ Universally recognized Boardmaker Symbols
✔️ Colour-coded based on the Modified Fitzgerald Key

TalkXpress makes communication accessible and easy. 🌟 Get yours today!

Find out more: https://www.yourcommunicationmattersslt.com/aac-products

13/02/2025

Just wrapped up an incredible AAC training session with therapists and teachers at Excel Qhalif🎉✨

Together, we explored AAC systems, strategies, and best practices to ensure that everyone, regardless of their communication abilities, has a voice. 🗣️💬

Huge thanks to everyone who participated—your commitment to this work is what makes a difference in people's lives!

04/12/2024

Now I know my ABC... Next time won’t you sing with me 🎵

Many of our clients like the alphabet. Perhaps it is due to the predictability of the alphabet, how A is always followed by B. Perhaps it is a special interest of theirs. Perhaps they recognize letters from the environment and would like to spell them out. Perhaps some of them are hyperlexic.

Client HL showed increased interest in his AAC keyboard just 2 months ago.

It started from pressing the alphabet in sequence and pausing at certain times just like how you would sing the ABC song (i.e ABCDEFG HIJKLMNOP)…

To colouring the alphabet...

To telling me the colour of each letter (i.e. A red B purple C blue)...

To ‘singing’ the phonics song (saved into a button on his AAC app), selecting upper and lower case letters, and choosing a mixture of words that start with that particular letter on his AAC system (e.g. Aa apple Bb bus Cc cow moo moo Dd Let’s feed the ducks)

He has also started using speech to say some colours, letters and single words (e.g. apple, bus and cow). I’m so excited to see what’s next for Client HL!

🧡 AAC tip: Make sure to always have a keyboard/letter board and support emerging literacy!