I work with students with a variety of special needs. The majority of my students have autism and many are developmentally delayed, but all of them have a speech and language impairment. Most of my students are completely nonverbal and communicate via AAC. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) includes all forms of communication (other than oral speech) that are used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. My students rely on AAC to supplement existing speech or replace speech that is not functional. Despite their many challenges, they share a common goal to communicate. Each and every day they come to school ready to learn. They are eager to explore new materials and are visibly excited when they are able to interact with their classmates and with the world around them.
Everyone deserves a voice, so help my students find theirs!
My Project
This iPad will help to facilitate communication in so many ways! In this day and age, the ability to incorporate technology into learning is key, and for my students, this is no different. Just seeing the iPad will be a fantastic conversation starter for my more verbal students, and it will help my earlier communicators to express their wants and needs. The iPad can also be used as an incentive for my students who are working on other speech and language goals. There are a plethora of apps geared toward speech and language development as well videos that can help students learn proper placement for articulation. Many of my students are visual learners and having access to an iPad will allow them to approach their learning in an engaging, interactive way. They will be able to watch short stories come to life, practice their speech sounds with vivid, real-life picture, and sing along to preschool music videos during the music and movement portion of circle time.
With an iPad mini, the possibilities for speech and language are endless!
My students deserve the opportunity to interact with the world around them and having an iPad mini at their disposal will definitely help! Incorporating technology into speech and language therapy is the wave of the future... Don't let my students get left behind!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Hawkins and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.