My students need picture symbols for all academics. Having a camera and printer in my room would allow me to quickly serve their communication needs allowing them success.
Imagine not having the ability to communicate your understanding of academic material because you lack verbal skills. Picture symbols are an integral part of my students education giving them a voice. My students require social stories which feature real pictures for better generalization. Thank you!
I serve students ages 13-22 with autism.
We are in a public school district that has suffered many budget cuts due to the Florida economy.
Many of my students do not speak and use picture symbols to communicate. These symbols allow them to have a voice, communicate needs, and knowledge of academic areas. My students do not process information typically and often require social stories using pictures of real objects to support their understanding of their environment, behavioral expectations, and emotions.
My Project
My students are an awesome group of unique individuals but there is a lot of preparation involved when it comes to preparing them for each new activity, environment, or emotion.
I must anticipate their needs and have symbols ready for them should a new situation arise. Each lesson requires 10-20 symbols to be printed and laminated in order for the students to demonstrate their understanding of the information presented.
If we have an off campus activity, I must print off pictures of the new environment and write a social story for the students explaining what can happen while out as well as the social expectations of behavior. I must anticipate all good and bad scenarios and review them prior to activity.
It would be beneficial for my students for us to have a printer and camera readily available to us as it takes time to borrow from our media center and then ask another department to print color printers. It would be efficient and allow me to serve their immediate needs.
Again, my students often lack the ability to communicate due to lack of language.
Their voice consists of pictures and symbols to explain their needs, wants, desires and fears. Having the printer and camera available would allow me to meet their needs immediately and more efficiently instead of currently having to wait until days later when the media is able to support my students.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Ms. Linard-Hanley and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
