I teach a self contained class for students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities. The majority of my students are nonverbal and are learning to use picture symbols, communication devices or sign language to communicate. Many of my students also have physical limitations that make accessing the school and classroom environment independently very difficult. Daily instruction in my class focuses on life skills and learning how to be as independent as possible. My students are amazing and love to learn.
My Project
These materials will greatly assist in my classroom by allowing me to create more communication boards, it will allow for mounting of communication devices and give me the ability to create learning folders for my students. Because Velcro has so many uses and is consumable it is something we are always using and running out of.
By Velcro-ing pictures to hard plastic boards I allow my students to have customized communication boards that meet their
needs. The boards allow them to pull off pictures to exchange with a partner, answer questions, say "hello" or "good-bye" or request items such as a preferred activity, a drink or a snack. Velcro tape on strips of hard plastic also allows students to make a phrase from their pictures such as "more music please" or "drink please" that won't fall off and can be carried to an adult who can assist them.
The Velcro tape gives me the ability to mount communication devices in various places throughout our classroom. By doing this students can request a drink by activating a device mounted on the refrigerator or ask to use the bathroom by activating a device mounted on the bathroom door. I also have switch activated toys that allow students who struggle with fine motor and gross motor movements to play the bells, drums or turn on the radio by pressing the switch. Velcro tape allows me to mount the switch in easily accessible places and ensures my students won't accidentally knock the switch off their desk or tray while trying to activate it.
Additionally, I use Velcro tape to create learning folders for my students with their name and numbers. This allows them to learn to match the letters of their name and then sequence them by placing them on the Velcro strip.
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