Wonderful resources!
Amcastro - 5/19/2018

6/19/2015 11:26 PM
Creating Tangible systems can be time consuming. Often teams are creating each item individually rather than thinking of each item/word as a message in a larger language system. There are several tangible or object systems that have a common structure to them that you may want to investigate. Adaptivation - Tangible Object Cards http://www.adaptivation.com/product_detail.php?ID=194 Attainment Company now has a Tactile Talk Tool Kit for the GoTalk Now App http://www.attainmentcompany.com/tactiletalk-toolkit Britteny Asher Consulting has a system called the LORAC http://www.brittenyasherconsulting.com/products/shop/ From the American Printing House for the Blind - 2 products: STACS: Standardized Tactile Augmentative Communication Symbols Kit & Tactile Connections Kit: Symbols for Communication http://shop.aph.org/webapp/wcs/stores/ from the Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired, a free resource on creating and their system, a Tactile Symbols Directory. At their website they also have pictures of each symbol in the directory and a video explaining the system. http://www.tsbvi.edu/tactile-symbols#ACTIONS For Displaying, Sorting & Mounting these objects, look to the velcro boards & displays from Augmentative Resources. They have many creative portable carrying cases and table top mounts for you to use to present these types of symbols for communication, a behavior chart or schedule display. http://www.augresources.com/ For more information on Tangible Symbol Systems, Design To Learn has books and a video describing Tangible symbols as two- and three-dimensional objects used as symbols by individuals who have difficulty understanding abstract symbols such as speech, manual sign language or other abstract symbols. These products describe instructional strategies appropriate for a broad range of learners of all ages who need a conceptually concrete symbol system. http://www.designtolearn.com/products/tangible_symbol_systems
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Wonderful resources!
Amcastro - 5/19/2018
Thank you for sharing these resources. The development of a meaningful communication system can indeed be time consuming and the idea of one that can be used across a number of students or learning environments would have certain advantages. It may be worth noting that while such options may expedite the development of a concrete communication system they may in fact not be "Tangible" by the definition put forth In Tangible Symbol Systems (Rowland & Schweigert). In this book tangible is defined as being conceptually tangible from the perspective of the user. This suggests then that symbol selection is whenever possible done based on the experiences of the learners for whom they are intended rather than a predetermined set which may or may not be. With that in mind then I think the more readily a learner can relate the symbol to the referent the better and more successful they may be especially at the early stages of transitioning from pre- to symbolic communication
philip - 6/29/2015
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Many teachers require their college students in communication disorders or child development classes to complete a Communication Matrix online. Please have your students use the Test Drive site for this purpose. You may ask them to print out the Profile and Communication Skills List as proof of their work.
The only way I know that he wants something is because he fusses or whines when he's unhappy or uncomfortable, and he smiles, makes noises or calms down when he's happy and comfortable. Does this statement describe your child?
She doesn't come to me to let me know what she wants, but it's easy for me to figure out, because she tries to do things for herself. She knows what she wants, and her behavior shows me what she wants. If she runs out of something to eat, she will just try to get more, rather than trying to get me to give her more.
Does this statement describe your child?
He knows how to get me to do something for him. He uses some of the kinds of behaviors below to communicate:
Does this statement describe your child?
Each question you will see is related to a certain message that your child might be able to express using a variety of behaviors. Read the question and decide whether your child is able to express the message described using any of the listed behaviors. If the answer is YES, then you must also decide whether your child has mastered the use of each behavior or whether it is still at an emerging stage. Check either the mastered or emerging box next to any behaviors your child uses to express the message. Use the following definitions to decide whether a behavior is mastered or emerging
– Does this independently most of the time when the opportunity arises
– Does this in a number of dierent contexts, and with dierent people
– Does this inconsistently
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Only does this when prompted or encouraged to do so. Only does this in one or two contexts or with one person.
Each question you will see is related to a certain message that your child might be able to express using a variety of behaviors. Read the question and decide whether your child is able to express the message described using any of the listed behaviors. If the answer is YES, then you must also decide whether your child has mastered the use of each behavior or whether it is still at an emerging stage. Check either the mastered or emerging box next to any behaviors your child uses to express the message. Use the following definitions to decide whether a behavior is mastered or emerging