Help My Students Express Themselves!

My Students: Can you imagine wanting a drink of water and not being able to ask for it? I would like to help my students not only with these beginning expressive language skills, but also...

My Project: The "Cheap Talk" is an assistive technology system for language delayed students that has a simple voice output for a visual representation of an object or emotion. Students ... more»

My Students: Can you imagine wanting a drink of water and not being able to ask for it? I would like to help my students not only with these beginning expressive language skills, but also with sharing their feelings and opinions.

There are 12 children with a variety of special needs. For example, one is non-verbal. Several others vocalize, but don't speak. Some are starting to use communication devices to aid in their expressive language.

They are all curious about how things work and love to learn about new things. They get along well, for the most part, even to the point of offering assistance to a classmate in need. They all have a good sense of humor.

My Project: The "Cheap Talk" is an assistive technology system for language delayed students that has a simple voice output for a visual representation of an object or emotion. Students can push a large button beside the picture of the food, emotion, or action they want to express and the voice on the machine "says" it for them. For example, students can push the button next to the picture of a glass of water when they are thirsty. "Cheap Talk" devices are very motivating and flexible for many areas of the curriculum.

The digital camera can record what the student is saying and doing at a moment in time. This can be downloaded into a CD for each student for future viewing and review. For example, the student could be holding a carrot and saying, "carrots." The students can get needed review by watching/listening to themselves over and over again. Also, later in the school year, progress could be noted, for example, the student could be recorded holding carrots and saying, "I like carrots."

Both the tape recorder/camera and assistive technology device will help move my classroom into the 21st century! These items will inject excitement as well as provide solid language learning opportunities at a time when it's so difficult to fund technology that promotes quality educational experiences. Your generosity will be very much appreciated. hide»