Hi All,
The below post is related to a topic which was part of the Conference / Workshop organized by Vasantham. Below are the details of the session:
Conference – Workshop cum conference on Best Practices in the rehabilitation of individuals with special needs
Date – 18th March 2023 16:40 PM
Mode of Presentation – Offline Venue – Sengai Meenakshi Mahal, Mogappair, Chennai – 37
Topic – Limitless Communication Possibilities: AAC
Speaker – Dr.Krupa M , Speech Language Pathologist – Vasantham Team
Below are the points shared in the presentation:
We communicate to share our ideas, needs etc. There are different ways in which communication can happen, it need not be limited to verbal mode.
If I am in a stage talking to an audience and I need a glass of water, I can signal through my hands which will let one of the organizers bring a glass of water to me. We all use actions for communicating with others at times.
AAC – Alternative and Augmentative communication
When we talk using our words, we call it normal communication, while we talk if I use a hand gesture or a PowerPoint slide along with it, in addition to my speech it is called augmenting. Every one does not learn through a single way, some like to hear it, some like to write it, some like to understand it, etc.. Every one is a different type of learner.
In order to learn something, first we need to see what it is, then hear about it, then we should experience it, only then the learning chain gets completed.
Alternative communication means where I cannot speak words, due to any reason, I could use picture boards, printouts, recorded messages in a device, free apps that can be used on phone, etc. .. According to the child the same can be designed.
You can easily show a picture of a Noun, but it is very difficult to capture a picture of a verb.
One of the biggest worry of parents is that if I adopt these devices for communication, will my child never talk? It is a wrong assumption that many parents have, most people think of it as a means to reduce the communication, whereas it actually used to increase the communication.
Most of the behavioural issues like tantrums, self harming actions etc. happen when the child is unable to communicate. when you have the ability to scold someone for their mistakes say your younger sibling or your child or anyone, you do it immediately through words, but assume when you cannot scold someone for their mistakes, like your boss, colleague or parents or anyone, you will not do it through words, but you do it through all other means like closing the door rashly, handling vessels in a loud way, or adopt to any practice that will irritate the other person without using words, this is what the child does when he cannot communicate, it comes through actions.
The usage of AAC should not be limited to classroom and therapy sessions alone, it should be used everywhere for the child so that he can communicate whenever and wherever required.
Our children are predominantly visual learners, hence photos of places where they went or where they are going to vist can be shared for them to understand, these are visual cues.
She also mentioned usage of the below:
1) Text to Speech Devices or Applications
2) Eye Gaze devices
3) Tablets with communication applications
4) Simple leveled speech generating devices
5) Sequential message communications
6) Singe message communications
7) Communication Book
8) Dedicated Dynamic screen devices
9) Communication Boards
10) Unaided – Sings or Gestures
11) Madras Developmental Programming System (MDPS) printouts
Limitless Communication Possibilities: Storytelling
Speaker – Abinayaa Kannan – Speech Language Pathologist – Consultant at Vasantham Team
Below are the points shared in the presentation:
Story telling has been my passion since childhood, I was able to leverage it to a next level when I became an SLP. Storytelling is the best way to get to the children and also I believe in the naturalistic approach of teaching. i.e. they should enjoy, be happy, and be entertained.
She bought a Tamil story book called “Gajapathy Kulapathi” and went through storytelling for a couple of pages. She mentioned,
“Gajapathy Kulapathi” is my all time favorite book , it is a book about elephant. The reason to choose this book is due to the pictures, as we have been listening to other experts say that children are mostly visual learners.
When you first introduce a story to children, opt for a book with pictures. Ensure that there are not too many pictures in it, it should have limited pictures, they should be clear, big, broad, appealing, etc.. This is a book like that.
With one book, we can do story telling at multiple levels. Even though this book has limited words it can still be used for all ages, as it purely depends on how we make use of the book.
This is how i do it…(she sang the below in a rhyming tone)
Gaja Gaja Gaja Gajapathy Kula Kula Kula Kulapathy Gaja Gaja Gaja Gajapathy Kula Kula Kula Kulapathy
bom bom bom bom Gajapathy, bom bom bom bom Kulapathi ……….
Music instruments, sounds, singing etc..will definitely reach the child and attract them to it. If you are unable to sing, you can use sounds like brroommmmm dooommmmmmm for elephant sounds, to get their attention towards the storyteller.
Before storytelling
Instead of choosing the book for the child, you can let the child choose the book for themselves . Some parents complain that the child is tearing the pages of the book, you can avail hard paged or card board books for overcoming that. Some parents say the child does not even look at the book , even if we give it to them, they will not take it. We have to do modelling, the more parents do modelling the child will do it. As parents you keep books everywhere at the house like a few books in the kitchen, bedroom, living room, study room, etc..
Instead of you forcing a book on the child, you let the books spread across the place, when a child picks a book you capitalize on that opportunity and teach the child about that story. Taking up the child’s lead helps in that case.
Even by doing all such things nothing works for you, then everyone at the house keeps taking the book multiple times a day in front of the child, reading it and keeping it back. i.e. Father takes the book once and reads it and keeps it back, later mother does the same, later siblings does the same …all should happen in front of the child eventually, they will come towards the book slowly.
During story telling
During book reading or storytelling, involve music but also more important is to use props. Either use props or make props. For this story, I made puppet kind of props.
Voice modulation is important during story telling. We have to make a lot of Intonation changes during story telling instead of a single tone, which does not work. To highlight a word which you want the child to understand, you have to change the intonation.
Selection of words and phrases are important as well. If I have a one year old child, they are at the level of only turning the pages. I don’t have to go into the details of the story as per the book, I can simply state “Elephant” “Runs” etc..which is a starting point.
Allow participation – Instead of you keep on talking by yourself, give a pause in between for the children to ask questions and participate in the stories. Be mindful as too many questions are not going to be helpful either. Ask questions on areas the child is familiar with and avoid questions on unfamiliar aspects of the story, else this will force the child to lose interest and move away.
After story telling
Once you finish reading the story, give the book to the child to see what they do. It will run through minds as a commentary as they scroll each page. You can ask questions at that time as well.
Regards,
Saranya and Karthikeyan
Autism Spectrum Disorder - Personal Experiences (Chennai Family) 