Having a Voice Output Device is One Thing - Using it, Another!

Trying to get the students with autism to move beyond requesting is immensely difficult. Just ask any speech therapist or indeed, a parent of a child with autism - (always the best expert!) Asking questions, commenting, participating in a conversation are constant goals for our students, and yet remain elusive - usually due to lack of initiation or motivation of the student. But we sometimes forget that for them to make comments or ask questions, they must know more than nouns, for which we usually have a plethora of icons available. Verbs are very hard to teach. Descriptors even harder. And so we try to incorporate these within their augmentative communication systems, low tech picture schedules, communication books and devices. Again, the devices and communication books are only as good as the information loaded onto them. And the student must be trained to use the device and understand that the voice output will gain him the things he needs or wants. But just as important is the student's communication partner who must also be trained in the use of the device. And trained well enough that he/she can model asking questions and conversing. These devices can be intimidating. But modeling how a conversation takes place naturally is critical to enable the student to get a sense of the back and forth involved. So training is a must!

Over the last 2 years, we have been working with our speech therapists and AAC specialist to get our staff beyond the icons and communication books and up to speed in the use of devices. We use the Vantage, the Springboard, Say-It-Sam, Chatpc, GoTalk and now iPads. In each case, the staff have to understand how the device functions, and carefully monitor the student's use to minimize stimming or just random playing. We know that our students will happily fiddle with any electronic gadget and we also know that when they are fiddling, they are not processing information. So, all time with the devices must be structured to optimize the potential communications. Its an ongoing challenge, but worth every minute as we see our students beginning to grasp the idea of real communication.