Meeting the Communication needs of the Family and the Community for a student who uses Augmentive Communication

In the last blog, I discussed some strategies teachers can use when thinking about helping families use communication tools.  This blog will focus on using the augmentive communication tool in the community.  Typically, people in the community are less familiar with such tools so teachers can support their use by creating situations such as assemblies or planned field trips.  This week the new and unfamiliar person may be more "prepped" to engage with such a student.  Thereby, providing our student with a positive experience using augmentive communication with a stranger.

The textbook also provides some helpful tips for all of us who may engage with a person using augmentive communication

1. Talk to the person normally as you would for someone of their age.  Do not talk to an 18 year old like they are 5 years old.

2. Be as normal as you can be; people using augmentive communication want to have typical conversations. 

3. Talk to the individual not someone who is with them (or helping them do something). 

4. If they have a screen with typed words, ask if you can read it.  Do not assume you should.  Many will want to use a computer generated voice.

5. If you are having a regular conversation, do not praise the use of the augmentive device.  They are just talking and want you to talk with them.

Source: Dell, A; Newton, G and Petroff, J.  (2012).  Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experience of Students with Disabilities. Pearson Education.