Communication
Communication is the interchange of messages between people. Communication is key for people to have relationships with one another. When people are unable to communicate with one another, life becomes a bit more challenging. Thankfully, technology is able to fill in the gaps for a great deal of people who find themselves unable to express themselves.
Low Tech Tools:
- PECS: this is a picture exchange communication system. There are six phases to this program: 1. Physical exchange 2. Expanding spontaneity 3. Picture Discrimination 4. Sentence Structure 5. Responding to "What do you want?" 6. Responsive and Spontaneous Commenting; the phases work the child up to being able to respond to simple questions such as, "What do you see?", "What do you want?", "What do you have?" etc. This enables a child to be able to express him or herself with simple tasks and expressions we take for granted during our day. PECS has pictures of objects, people, foods, etc. of what the student see's or needs everyday. It is personalized to each student. The pictures are organized inside a binder and have velcro on them. Outside of the binder the user can form sentences by using the pictures with velcro to express what he or she needs, or wants.
- Choice boards: objects, pictures, and/or symbols that can be used on a choice board to offer students opportunities to communicate the language of snack/leisure activities, learning activities, transitioning, literacy act, and daily living.
- Vendor: http://www.turningpointtechnology.com/Comm/LoTech.asp
- Big Mac: a single switch or button device, which allows for 20 seconds of record time. One can record his/her voice on the device, when the button is pushed the device will say what was recorded. This device is priced between $89.00-$124.00.
- Vendor: AbleNet
- TalkPad: This device has four switches that hold up to 15 seconds of recorded memory for each switch. The user can press it and hear the recorded message and communicate. This device is $99.00.
- Vendor: Frame Technologies
Mid-Tech Tools:
Voice-in-a-box
Voice-in-a-box is a multi-message battery operated communication device. It is available in 16, 24,40 messages/buttons. This device is priced at $195.00
- Age: Pre-K thru Middle School
- Vendor: Frame Technologies
Voice-in-a-box is a multi-message battery operated communication device. It is available in 16, 24,40 messages/buttons. This device is priced at $195.00
- Age: Pre-K thru Middle School
- Vendor: Frame Technologies
AlphaTalker II
This is an easy lightweight communicator that can be personalized specifically to the user. It is durable, and is helpful to students who have poor gross motor skills. A key can now be put in the overlay to use on a computer or environmental control commands. This product is $2,245.00.
- Age: K-adult
- Vendor: Alpha Talker II: http://www.pacmedhawaii.com/specialty/alpha.htm
This is an easy lightweight communicator that can be personalized specifically to the user. It is durable, and is helpful to students who have poor gross motor skills. A key can now be put in the overlay to use on a computer or environmental control commands. This product is $2,245.00.
- Age: K-adult
- Vendor: Alpha Talker II: http://www.pacmedhawaii.com/specialty/alpha.htm
GoTalk 9+
This is a durable, lightweight, and mobile tool. It has 9 minutes of recorded memory, and a 45-message size. The student can press the button and hear the recorded message and communicate. This device is around $179.0.
- Age: K-adult
- Vendor: Mayer Johnson: http://www.mayer-johnson.com
This is a durable, lightweight, and mobile tool. It has 9 minutes of recorded memory, and a 45-message size. The student can press the button and hear the recorded message and communicate. This device is around $179.0.
- Age: K-adult
- Vendor: Mayer Johnson: http://www.mayer-johnson.com
High-Tech Tools:
iPad
The iPad has an app called Proloquo2Go. For children who are highly functioning this device is awesome for them, as you will see on the video below sometimes this programs opens children up to a whole new world, and shows us they know more than we thought they knew. However, this program is not for everyone. What this program does is the teacher can program with specific vocabulary individualized to the user, for him or her to communicate sentences.
- Age: K-adult
- Vendor: Apple
The iPad has an app called Proloquo2Go. For children who are highly functioning this device is awesome for them, as you will see on the video below sometimes this programs opens children up to a whole new world, and shows us they know more than we thought they knew. However, this program is not for everyone. What this program does is the teacher can program with specific vocabulary individualized to the user, for him or her to communicate sentences.
- Age: K-adult
- Vendor: Apple
DynaVox: Xpress
This product is an on the go durable communicator. It is personalized to the individual, and has a swipe screen to get to different vocabulary. It also has a calendar built in to be able to remind the user of appointments, taking medication or important events.
-Age: 5th grade- adult
- Vendor: DynaVox
This product is an on the go durable communicator. It is personalized to the individual, and has a swipe screen to get to different vocabulary. It also has a calendar built in to be able to remind the user of appointments, taking medication or important events.
-Age: 5th grade- adult
- Vendor: DynaVox
DeltaTalker:
Thisis an augmentative/alternative communication (AAC) this device comes with synthesize speech and digitized speech. Synthesize speech allows for a large span of vocabulary whereas digitized speech allows different noises and songs, can open conversations on the phone. One can use it by pressing the keys, or switch-activated scanning, or optical pointing. This device can help dial phone numbers, or can be hooked up to a computer in order to access it, or can help control other electrical devices. - Age: 5th grade- adult - Vendor: Delta Talker |