Using AAC devices during lockdown with kids with special needs.
There is a new way we all are leading our lives at this time during the coronavirus crisis. Social distancing is still in effect. Hopefully, we will see light at the end of the tunnel we all are in right now. It has been hard on all of us but very challenging for our kids with autism who are sensing there is something going on but cannot express it to us as most of them are non-verbal or even if they speak they still cannot express it to us.
So here AAC comes in to play. For those of you who don't know what AAC is. It is short for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. The purpose of this is to provide the child or adult with a form of communication. These come in two forms a low tech option like PECS which is the short form of picture exchange communication system, communication books, or boards. There are high tech options like dedicated speech generating devices, also Proloquo2go,, Touch Chat, and many more apps.
I am not a speech therapist but I am trying to share some things I use with my son to communicate with my son during this lockdown. AAC is a part of our life in a big way as my son is non-verbal and uses P2G to communicate. He recently got evaluated for a new AAC device as his needs are changing now as he is a teenager but it is on hold due to the lockdown so we continue to use his present device to communicate every day.
Like all kids with autism, motivation is a struggle for my son as well. He can communicate with his device only if he is motivated. It is limited to requesting for snacks and some tangibles. Modeling with AAC is very important wherein we as adults can point to the symbols in their device so they can see how their device can be used to communicate. In other words, we have to speak their language for them to be able to communicate. It is very important now that we are home we do this so they can practice using their device. It is not necessary for every word but highlights the keywords.
It is also important to show them the device can be used not only for requesting it can also be used for commenting, greetings, asking and answering questions, protesting, conveying their emotions and feelings, and so on.
I am going to share a few ways you can use the device to communicate with your kids during this lockdown. The devices must be charged every day so the kids do not miss communication opportunities during the day. You must make a low tech option of the device by taking screenshots of the important vocabulary the kids use during the day This is very important if the devices break down or some kids may not have access to their device if it is left at school they have some means to communicate. It is very important that the device is charged every day or as required.
Some ways you can use devices to communicate with your kids are to use greetings in the morning once they wake up. Daily life skills provide lots of opportunities for kids to communicate with AAC. Try using AAc during daily activities. The other way we use it is by playing board games and reading. Today in the times of distance learning we use it to talk about the weather, calendar, feelings.
We must get all the people the child gets in contact with familiar using the AAC device as typically developing children learn to talk by listening to adults around them so we need to learn the device and use it to communicate with the child so they get comfortable with it. Our kids need to see their AAC device being used around them because if they don't see us using the device they won't do it either. In the beginning, you might see your child pressing the buttons randomly which is very similar to typical children babbling when they are learning to talk. We mustn't take their device away from them but instead try to respond to their communication attempts and show them we are listening to them
It is required to speak AAC to teach them. Hopefully, I have given you some ideas you can use with your kids to get comfortable with their AAC.
So here AAC comes in to play. For those of you who don't know what AAC is. It is short for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. The purpose of this is to provide the child or adult with a form of communication. These come in two forms a low tech option like PECS which is the short form of picture exchange communication system, communication books, or boards. There are high tech options like dedicated speech generating devices, also Proloquo2go,, Touch Chat, and many more apps.
I am not a speech therapist but I am trying to share some things I use with my son to communicate with my son during this lockdown. AAC is a part of our life in a big way as my son is non-verbal and uses P2G to communicate. He recently got evaluated for a new AAC device as his needs are changing now as he is a teenager but it is on hold due to the lockdown so we continue to use his present device to communicate every day.
Like all kids with autism, motivation is a struggle for my son as well. He can communicate with his device only if he is motivated. It is limited to requesting for snacks and some tangibles. Modeling with AAC is very important wherein we as adults can point to the symbols in their device so they can see how their device can be used to communicate. In other words, we have to speak their language for them to be able to communicate. It is very important now that we are home we do this so they can practice using their device. It is not necessary for every word but highlights the keywords.
It is also important to show them the device can be used not only for requesting it can also be used for commenting, greetings, asking and answering questions, protesting, conveying their emotions and feelings, and so on.
I am going to share a few ways you can use the device to communicate with your kids during this lockdown. The devices must be charged every day so the kids do not miss communication opportunities during the day. You must make a low tech option of the device by taking screenshots of the important vocabulary the kids use during the day This is very important if the devices break down or some kids may not have access to their device if it is left at school they have some means to communicate. It is very important that the device is charged every day or as required.
Some ways you can use devices to communicate with your kids are to use greetings in the morning once they wake up. Daily life skills provide lots of opportunities for kids to communicate with AAC. Try using AAc during daily activities. The other way we use it is by playing board games and reading. Today in the times of distance learning we use it to talk about the weather, calendar, feelings.
We must get all the people the child gets in contact with familiar using the AAC device as typically developing children learn to talk by listening to adults around them so we need to learn the device and use it to communicate with the child so they get comfortable with it. Our kids need to see their AAC device being used around them because if they don't see us using the device they won't do it either. In the beginning, you might see your child pressing the buttons randomly which is very similar to typical children babbling when they are learning to talk. We mustn't take their device away from them but instead try to respond to their communication attempts and show them we are listening to them
It is required to speak AAC to teach them. Hopefully, I have given you some ideas you can use with your kids to get comfortable with their AAC.
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