Working in special education, I see so many different types of kiddos everyday. Currently, I work for a special education co-op that services over 10 different schools in a rural county north of Waco, Texas. I see many children multiple times a week for speech therapy.
My students are incredible and capable, but each has a speech and/or language disability that is negatively impacting them in the classroom.
Many have additional disabilities or impairments including Autism, Dyslexia, ADHD, Down syndrome, Intellectual Disability, Sensory Processing Disorder, and many others. On top of all this, many of my students come from low-income households. It is essential to me that I do my best to ensure my students have everything they need to succeed.
My Project
Many of my nonverbal or limited verbal students use a high-tech or low-tech device to communicate. Some use iPads with a communication app, some use a core board to point to words they want to say, and others use voice-output switches. Some use these as their only form of communication, while others use these devices (called AAC) to supplement their verbal communication. I have access to a product from Jenna Rayburn Kirk that adapts common books and makes them easier to use with AAC devices, by simplifying the text and incorporating core vocabulary words.
I am hoping to purchase books that can be adapted to teach core vocabulary and use with AAC devices.
Once these books are adapted, my students will be able to use their communication devices to read the books. I will also be able to use the books to teach core vocab by modeling the books using my student's devices. These books would make a world of difference to my students and allow them to make progress with their speech therapy goals.
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