AAC: Choice Boards You know what? Sometimes the best tools we have in special education are the ones that don’t require a charger. I have been teaching for nearly two decades, and I have seen fancy tablets gather dust while a piece of cardboard with Velcro gets used fifty times a day. That is the … Read more
We are in the middle of a busy classroom. It is loud. The lights are humming. A student, let’s call him Sam, is getting red in the face. He is clenching his fists. He is making that low growling noise that every special needs teacher knows. He stomps his foot. He reaches out and shoves … Read more
6 Signs a Child Needs a New Communication Strategy Help teachers spot when PECS, AAC, or other methods need an update. You know your pupils. You know when something’s off. Maybe a child’s progress stalls, they stop using their communication book or device, or meltdowns return out of nowhere. These aren’t just bad days. They’re … Read more
Embracing Multimodal Communication: Supporting Complex Communication Needs Understanding the broad spectrum of communication methods of our children is essential for effective teaching – especially for those with complex communication needs (CCN). Multimodal communication offers a rich, inclusive approach to communication that combines both unaided and aided modalities, broadening the ways individuals can share their thoughts, … Read more
Connection: A Guide to Functional Communication I’ve witnessed countless breakthrough moments when children discover their voice – whether through words, gestures, or alternative means. One moment stands out vividly: when five-year-old Sophie, who had barely communicated before, used her picture card to request her favourite teddy for the first time. Her mum’s tears of joy … Read more
A Guide to Different Types of AAC and How SLPs Choose the Right One This blog post will examine different types of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), including their advantages and disadvantages, and discuss how a speech-language pathologist (SLP) determines the most appropriate AAC approach for a person. What is AAC? Augmentative and alternative communication … Read more
Understanding the Function of Communication When we think about communication, we often focus on spoken language – the daily exchange of words and sentences that fills our lives. However, communication serves far deeper and more varied purposes than simply exchanging information. From a baby’s first cry to a CEO’s keynote speech, from a reassuring touch … Read more
Methods for Gaining Pupil Voice from Children with Speech, Language, and Communication Needs The recognition of children’s voices has become increasingly imperative in contemporary educational discourse. Shifting social, cultural, and political landscapes, alongside legal mandates such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, underscore the necessity of involving children, particularly those with … Read more
Embed Communication Devices in All Your Lessons Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are becoming increasingly common in classrooms as technology advances. These devices, whether simple picture boards or sophisticated speech-generating tablets, allow students with communication difficulties to express themselves. As a teacher, you play a crucial role in ensuring students can use AAC devices … Read more
Why Developing Communication is a Safeguarding Priority it is essential you ensure developing child voice for non-verbal pupils is a top safeguarding priority. You cannot overstate the importance of providing children with opportunities to demonstrate choices throughout their education. In early years education, this is acknowledged through EYFS documents (Early Years Foundation Stage). If you … Read more
The Mr Potato Head scavenger hunt is a great accessible activity that can be set up for AAC (Augmentative and assertive communication). There are many other activities you can use Mr Potato Head for: Following Instructions Developing Fine Motor Skills Team work and interaction Emotions Playing with food Problem Solving Sequencing Senses (Worksheet available below) … Read more
I teach in a autism specific classroom. The majority of the group are non-verbal and use a range of AAC (Augmentative and alternative communication resources). A common learning objective that links to a child’s EHCP targets is social interaction. This requires a commonly understood communication method. The key to this is using simple symbol/images which … Read more
This will be an ongoing post where I upload the scavenger hunt AAC communication boards and other activity sheets I make. I hope you find these useful and please share if you like them. We also have a post outlining 150 sensory learning activities you may be interested in. All the boards are fully editable … Read more
Using Snack Time at School to Enhance Communication Snack time at school can be a great opportunity to develop a number of key skills for our pupils. Given the regular nature of mealtimes in school settings and the inherent positive nature of mealtimes for most children, this activity is an outstanding context for social communication … Read more
Frustration is a classic game that one of my classes chose to buy with their pocket money (Residential school). The one we have is the slamtastic version. It is brilliant for developing a range of skills. The flip paddles add a brilliant tactile element to the game. The class was a mixed group of 6 … Read more
AAC Games for Communication Our next review for a game suitable for AAC users is Shark Bite. I bought this reduced at a supermarket. Shark does does tick the boxes for being suitable for use in communication and interaction sessions. It has a surprise movement to make you jump. The game has multicoloured accessories and … Read more
I couldn’t resist this for £7 at Wilko. A fun little AAC game especially for children that find anything to do with Poo hilarious. This requires 2 aaa batteries for the moo or fart noises. The premise of the game is that each player chooses a boot colour. You then spin the spinner to decide … Read more
AAC and Interaction Games There are many ways to inspire and motivate children to communicate. One way I have found effective is structuring a game/play session. It is important to enable reluctant communicators or those who rely on AAC to fully engage with their peers. AAC means Augmentative and Alternative Communication and can range from … Read more
Seeing as my most popular post is Star Wars quotes I thought why not tap into the force and write a post on Using star wars toys, games and lightsabers in the classroom. All these have links to the products but my favourite way to gather resources is to ask fellow Jedi teachers/friends to remember my little rebel alliance when having a pre-Christmas clear out.
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