Low Tech Communication Approaches – Part 2

As I’m sure with all communication devices, there are occasions when it is not always possible or appropriate for E to use it.  For these situations, a low tech alternative that matches her communication style and skills is required.

As I have mentioned before, E is going into P6 after the holidays and so is able to read and write with confidence.  When using her communication device, she now chooses to use the keyboard and predictive text option rather than pre-programmed words.   So without her device, we needed something that would also let her do this and so E and I developed a way of spelling out words using a combination of her signs and my predictive text.  This works well for us but is quite inaccessible if you do not know her well.  To get round this we are currently trialling a low tech replacement created for us by the local communication team FACCT. 

 

Letters and colours

In use

This is a two sided grid with the same information on both sides.  E uses eye gaze to first select a colour box and then letter box.  The letter she wants is the colour just picked.  It is a fantastic quick replacement which makes communication possible when the device is not around.

When E was younger this spelling based option was not appropriate.  To ensure she could communication without her device ,she had a communication passport   This gave some key information about her, explained how she communicated and contained both pictures of her signs with their meaning together with some paper copies of key grids from her communication device.  Again this was developed in conjunction with  FACCT.  To use this, I would mimic the scanning process by pointing first to rows and then the columns within the selected row.

Low Tech Communication Approaches – Part 1

E has been using a computer based communication device for over 5 years now (here we both are discussing the choice of voice on Radio 4) with great success both at school and at home.  However there are a number of factors that mean that the device is not always available or the most appropriate or fastest method of communication. Through the support of the therapy team, ideas from the internet and E’s problem solving and patience we have developed a range of low tech tools and techniques for communication.

Sign Language

E’s fine motor skills are impacted by her cerebral palsy so tradition signing is difficult for her.  What she did though was create her own approximations to traditional signs which once shown , are easy for anyone to understand.  

Before she was able to read or write, this was one of her main forms of communication and she still uses many of them today.  The speech and language team helped create a book of signs for her to show to others.

 Specific Topic Boards

The team who develop the computer based communication were also able to make paper based versions of some screens for specific topics.  They are very restricted in topic but again allow E to communicate with others who may not know her so well.

This is her one for use at mealtimes.  She uses eye gaze (looking) to select the picture she wants.  This has meant that other people can help her to eat safe in the knowledge that they will know what she wants.

The boxes themselves use standard board maker signs.  I would recommend working with therapists to create them in the first instance to maintain that consistency of language and symbol.

I am going to write some further posts on the tools we are using now together with some we are experimenting with.  Please do share any tools or approaches you use.l