The world we live in was not made for my students. People are social, so we've constructed a society of connection. Our communicative capacity has evolved to the point that we can affect someone we've never met with our words. I teach students with autism in a self-contained center school. Children who, although they live in this wonderful world, are not entirely a part of it. Their autism primarily manifests in communication deficits. Deficits, only when compared to the objectively arbitrary standards imposed by the centuries of practice our society has had in its own echo chamber of expectations.
In my classroom to teach communication skills, we use low-tech AAC daily. Picture symbols my students can point to express themselves in a limited capacity. I've seen a student grow into a liberal user of the symbols to request, protest, or comment from someone who rarely shared anything of herself other than frustration. They are a fantastic introduction to the principles of communicating in our world, using a symbol to stand in for the spoken word describing the physical item, sensation, idea, etc...
Still, my students need voices. The act of unbridled communication is liberating, the first amendment to the US constitution ensures free speech, for all who can. Tobii Dynavox, is an app for the iPad that builds off the foundation of our current boards, using symbols to express something. However, this technology is far more engaging and empowering than just a colorful piece of paper. The app speaks out loud! The user can use the same symbols as the low-tech devices, set up new symbols, and type - both with and without suggestions. Please help me give my students the opportunity to connect with the rest of this world, expressing ideas and using a voice that is their own.
About my class
The world we live in was not made for my students. People are social, so we've constructed a society of connection. Our communicative capacity has evolved to the point that we can affect someone we've never met with our words. I teach students with autism in a self-contained center school. Children who, although they live in this wonderful world, are not entirely a part of it. Their autism primarily manifests in communication deficits. Deficits, only when compared to the objectively arbitrary standards imposed by the centuries of practice our society has had in its own echo chamber of expectations.
In my classroom to teach communication skills, we use low-tech AAC daily. Picture symbols my students can point to express themselves in a limited capacity. I've seen a student grow into a liberal user of the symbols to request, protest, or comment from someone who rarely shared anything of herself other than frustration. They are a fantastic introduction to the principles of communicating in our world, using a symbol to stand in for the spoken word describing the physical item, sensation, idea, etc...
Still, my students need voices. The act of unbridled communication is liberating, the first amendment to the US constitution ensures free speech, for all who can. Tobii Dynavox, is an app for the iPad that builds off the foundation of our current boards, using symbols to express something. However, this technology is far more engaging and empowering than just a colorful piece of paper. The app speaks out loud! The user can use the same symbols as the low-tech devices, set up new symbols, and type - both with and without suggestions. Please help me give my students the opportunity to connect with the rest of this world, expressing ideas and using a voice that is their own.
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