Thursday, January 1, 2015
Blog #12 - Using AAC Devices in the Classroom
Based on your readings, class discussion, the video shown in class, and the SLP presentation, please share how you think AAC devices can best be used in the classroom with children with and without speech. Think about high tech and low tech devices as well as aided and unaided devices. Do you currently use any AAC devices in your classroom? If so, has it been a positive experience for you and/or the student(s) who use these devices?
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Learning about all of the different AAC devices in class was very insightful. I believe that they can postively be used in the classroom to help a child find their voice and learn how to express themselves when they can't verbally do so. I have a third grade student in my classroom who can typically speak in two word utterances, but besides that does not have much speech. We had gotten him approved recently for an AAC device. He uses LAMP words for life, which is typically used for students with motor planning disabilities. My student was diagnosed with Apraxia this year as well so this app was a perfect fit for him. Using the device the past couple of months has been a positive experience for all. It takes a lot of hard work and modeling, but I see my student smiling much more, which tells me he is happy. He surprises me everyday with how much he is already learning from the device and how familiar he is becoming with it. This student typically has extremely high anxiety, but is much more silly and giggly. I think that AAC has helped him to feel like he is being heard more by others! I heard a story of a boy that had Apraxia, was nonverbal, and utilized a device when he was younger and by later teen years he was verbally speaking well! I have this same hope and dream for my student. AAC will help to supplement him in discovering his voice.
ReplyDeleteAfter hearing Allison talk abut all the different AAC devices I was amazed. Technology has come such a long way and made things easier for children that have disabilities. I think AAC devices are wonderful for children with and without communication disorders. Children without communication disorders are able to experience communication in an alternative way. I currently do not have any children that use AAC devices. Howeve,r when I was an aide I had two students that used devices. I can not recall the names of those devices. One device we made boardmaker sheets and we would program our voice into the device. This particular AAC communication system was not conducive to the child's situation and he did not like using it. The second device resembled a small portable computer. This device was more high-tech and easier for the child to communicate. The only set back was it was heavy and difficult for the child to carry on his own. When the child was at a desk he would use his device to communicate. Seeing these children interact with their devices gave them a voice and a way to communicate with those around him.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many factors to consider when choosing an AAC device for a child.
DeleteI do not have any students that use an AAC device. It was interesting to hear what Allison had to say about the different devices. When I interviewed my slp he had some interesting points on AAC. He is not a big fan of the more technical devices that are sometimes used. He worries that if students become too reliant on the technology, and that technology breaks, how will the student communicate. He also struggles with students, particularly those with autism that will use their AAC device in order to earn the reward of playing games on the device. He feels that students with autism like being in their own world, playing on technology, and we really need to try to have them come out of their own world to communicate with those around them. He has a son that has autism, so part of his belief comes from the experience he has with his own child.
ReplyDeleteYour SLP makes some interesting points.
DeleteI have learned a lot about AAC devices from this course. At SWSRA we have few participants who use AAC devices but they are not properly used. It never occurred to me that they aren't being used properly if no one taught them how to use it correctly. I think it is more important to have the individuals use the device correctly and then teach staff working with the individual to use the device with them. One thing that Allison said that stuck with me was if the individual is pressing random buttons on the device they are just babbling and communicating. I never thought of that before. I do not have anyone in the classroom using AAC devices but at the beginning of the year I often use pictures to help the students get into a routine procedure such as morning procedures of putting their things away. This slowly gets faded out. Even for children without disabilities picture communication is beneficial.
ReplyDeleteI so agree that picture communication is beneficial for so many children.
ReplyDeleteI have learned quite a bit about the AAC devices. Currently, there are no children in our school that use electronic devices to communicate. We do, however, have students that use the picture charts for scheduling, monitoring behavior, and story comprehension. I will be curious to complete my interview for SPED 525 when I ask about the device I know the girl I'm interviewing used to have, but to my knowledge, no longer uses. As far as communication with iPads or tablet type devices, I'm on the fence about those. Using it for a communicating device alone, I think could prove to be difficult, because there is too much access to other things such as games and videos that are not educational.
ReplyDeleteThose devices can prove to be difficult.
DeleteThere is so much to learn about AAC devices, because there are so many different options and no one-size-fits-all model. It is so awesome to see and hear success stories with students being able to find their voice through us of an AAC device. As Kristina stated, I also never thought of student's pushing buttons on a device as babbling. I knew they had to learn how to use the device, but often thought they were pressing around for attention. I think what is most important about AAC devices for students is establishing a way that they are comfortable in the classroom utilizing the device, especially if they are one of the few students with a device in the room. If the student has an AAC device, and does not utilize it, then it defeats the purposes. The IEP team should also make sure that they are picking devices that are appropriate, and allow the student to express him or herself to the best of his or her ability.
ReplyDeleteAll great things to remember when using AAC devices.
ReplyDelete