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Alexandria Cook
8/15/2016 6:58 PM
During the ISAAC conference, I saw a great poster titled "Do Students Really Need Communication Devices? Paraprofessionals' Perspectives on AAC and Interaction" from Deanna Morrow, MS CCC-SLP, Mo Chen, MA, and Jolene Hyppa Martic MA CCC-SLP at Minnesota. A majority of paraprofessionals in their sample reported that students can communicate in different ways than using communication devices. They also agreed that there is not enough training on devices or time for staff to help students use their communication devices.
Here is what I got out of this interesting poster:
-Paraprofessionals may not get enough training on AAC and can often do without it by recognizing the other forms of communication (such as gestures and vocalizations).
-Paraprofessionals may benefit from an online community like this to ask questions and learn more about AAC.
What do you think this poster shows about how paraprofessionals help students use AAC? How can we improve practice of using AAC in the classroom? Should communication devices be used less and communication methods that the students are already using be emphasized? Or is it just a matter of providing more time and more extensive training to paraprofessionals so that students can use a more universal method of communication?
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This accurately reflects the attitudes here at Kirk. Buried in the results is that a minority of paraprofessionals ARE comfortable using the student's devices.
Nancy D-M - 9/8/2016
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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 di erent contexts, and with di erent people
– Does this inconsistently
–
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
