02/28/2024
This is a great resource list! I just had to share. See comments-
I had the opportunity to chat with a fabulous young client last week. She is a strong AAC user. I was there to make suggestions to further support her communication. We were focused on her high-tech. During our conversation, she advocated strongly for her use of sign language and shared an interest in learning sign. My response? "Cool! Sounds like a great tool to have in your toolbox!" Communication success and autonomy is the goal. Every strategy has its place. We talked about how different strategies work better depending on what you have to say, who you're talking to and where you are. When thinking about communication strategies, we don't need to make it an either/or conversation. The more strategies a person is able to use, the more options they have to share their autonomous thought.
Image description:
Bitmoji gesturing toward a red container, labeled toolbox. The toolbox is overflowing with items representing different communication strategies. Items include a communication device, a single message voice output device, a picture book, a keyboard, a phone with a texting symbol, a hand pointing to represent gestures, a child with brown skin winking to represent facial expressions, a whiteboard with marker, a paper based communication board, and an outline of a head with sound coming out of its mouth to represent speech/vocalizations.
Text reads:
Fill up your learner's communication toolbox
Using the device or talker is not the goal. The goal is having enough tools in your AAC learner's communication toolbox for them to share their autonomous thought however they choose!
