TIPS and IDEAS Footnote
1
Everyone
feels better about himself when they are able to be independent or be a part of
life by interacting with others.
I have
seen a child’s face light up when he is able to give a message to someone or
interact with friends. I have seen
children become more animated and excited because they are able to communicate
their needs and to actively participate in their environment. Everyone should have the opportunity to be a
contributing member of the school and classroom. Some children respond more to voice output
and are more eager to use devices to communicate.
COMMUNICATION DEVICES
Single Level Devices (ie. Big Mack voice output) Holds only one message at a time.
General Uses
-
Greetings
-
Giving
message to office
-
Telling
teacher where you are going
-
Message
between school and home
Activities
-
Reading
with friend, “Turn the page, please”
-
Using
to take turns reading books that have repetitive parts
(ie. Very Hungry
Caterpillar – The student can press the
switch to say “He was still hungry.”)
-
Jobs: ex. Sorting bottles and cans – Using two
devices,
partner asks student “Is this a bottle or can?” or “Where
do I put this one?”. Student presses the appropriate switch.
-
Jobs:
Attendance – student can ask different teachers for the
attendance or ask his
helper to get the attendance.
-
Bowling
– Use two devices for “Go”, “Roll” or “now”
and “Move over”
-
Working
on the computer with someone: the
student can
say “Do it again” or “I’m finished”. Use two devices so the
student can say “I
want a different game” and
“I am finished”.
Classes
-
Drama
– student can press the switch to say his part in a skit
-
Gym: Use two devices for “Go” and “Stop”, “In” and Out”
for volleyball, “Duck” and
“Goose” etc.
-
In
choir or music – record what was heard and student can
use it to let the
teacher know what they did in choir/music.
Games
-
“Go
Fish” card game – record “Go Fish” on
the switch.
-
Taking
turns in any game. If you have two
devices, record
“My turn” on one and “Your turn” on the other.
-
Go,
Go, Go Stop – Use two devices to play the game
-
Mother
May I – Record “Yes you may” on one and on the
other record, “NO, you may
not. You may take 3
backwards steps.”
-
Use
one device for saying “Bingo”
Multi-Level Devices (ie. Step by Step and Sequencers)
Holds many messages to be played in sequence.
It can be used in all of the above areas as well as:
General
- Record
messages about other classes ie: “This is what we did in choir”, record several
bits of songs, “I had fun” or
“It was boring”
-
Record
conversation to share with others ie: “What did you do today?”, “I did….” It
was fun.” OR record the same message using different children’s names.
-
Telling
jokes
-
Sharing
what happened at school
Activities
-
Use
for Puppet shows
-
Computer
programs with someone: use multiple
messages to make choices within a program ie. Wheels on the Bus has several
parts OR with Kids Pix the student can ask for different pictures, colours or
stamps
-
Record
a complete story or every second page so the student can read with his buddy or
to a friend
Classes
-
Student
can give directions or steps to Science experiments, cooking or Art
-
Use in
Drama so the student can have a lot of parts to say.
Games
-
Outside
games or gym games – Student can have many different selections
ie. for “Mother May I”
-
“Bingo
Games” – student can be the caller
-
“Go, go,
go. Stop.”
Randomizer Holds many
messages and will play them in random order
-
Use
for games where random sequences work ie. Simon Says, Mother May I
-
Drama
– The student can use it to tell others what to act out. Ie “Be sad”, “Pretend
you’re at the doctor’s”, “You are lost
in a snowstorm”
-
Computer
programs and games (making choices the same as with multi-level devices)
Tech Series (ie. Tech Talk, Tech Speak, Message Mate etc.) Multi level devices with several picture
symbols on each level.
General
-
Use
throughout the student’s day in various areas. ie. At his desk, at the
computer, lunch and snack time, bathroom, going places, outside, different
classes.
-
Open
House or parent interview days – Student can tell parents what she does at
school and share her work
-
Conversations
with friends at lunch time or outside
-
Choices
in all areas of class time: ie. choosing colours for art, choosing items for
cooking time
-
Getting
ready for class work or for going home
-
For
making choices for the next activity
Activities
-
Calendar
time – Use to tell about the weather, date, and special events
-
Sharing
days, show and tell, puppet shows, public speaking, science and social studies
presentations, book reports
Games
-
For
card games
Classes
-
For
making choices at art time
-
Math
games and number recognition
-
Spelling
and Dolche words
-
Drama
– The student can use it to tell others what to act out. ie “Be sad”, “Pretend
you’re at the doctor’s”, “Be a dog.”
Able Net Used to
control electrical devices. Allows the
student to be more involved and contribute in classroom.
-
Use to
turn on blender or mixer for lunch time or cooking time
-
Use to
turn music on and off for gym games
-
Use to
listen to music or have a fan on (put it on a limited time so the student has
to use his switch)
-
Reading
time – have a tape recorder attached to the Able Net. The Able Net can be timed so only on page at
a time can be heard within that time frame and the student can turn it back on
for the next page
-
Use it
for pencil sharpeners and electric staplers
Spinner The student
can use the button, switch or head switch to control the spinner while a friend
calls out the words, pictures or numbers
-
Bingo
-
Math
questions
-
Spelling
words
-
Who
takes a turn next
-
Simon
Says
-
Drama:
Student can spin to select action or character
someone needs to act out
Footnote
1: This submission is from the workshop “IF YOU’RE QUIET, THEY WILL TALK”
Facilitating and Empowering Children to Talk. 2007 – Patricia Bailey
