I love the summer. I love the warm air and the hazy morning fog that dissipates as the sun burns through to begin a new day. I look forward to late nights outside, long beach days, coffee on my porch, a less intense work schedule, fireflies, reading novels, flip flops, barbecues, al fresco patios opening at restaurants, long, relaxed conversations with friends and family, and most of all, unhurried time with my children.
Summer is also a time when I focus on personal and professional projects. The cabinets need painting, our website needs a makeover, app updates and testing are ongoing, my closet has suffered the consequences of a busy year, and we would like to schedule more Happy Hours like the one in New York on June 27th.
Many of the schools in our area have Extended School Year (ESY) services to “prevent regression.” If you’re a professional, this is a very flexible time of the year, and great time to focus on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) around fun activities. No one is upset if the child makes progress during ESY.
If you’re a parent, it’s likely that your child will be spending more time at home. Summer is the perfect time to take a relaxed, but active approach to introduce or expand AAC use.
Here are five ways that you can incorporate AAC into your day in 30 minutes or less:
1. While you’re eating breakfast or having a snack after school or camp, go over the plans for the rest of the day using the device to model key words.
Example: You can say, “TODAY, we are going to GO to TARGET, and then SEE GRANDMA.” (modeling the words in caps on the device). Then, give your child a choice when possible and model the options. So you might say, “Do you want to SWIM or GO to the PLAYGROUND?” As you do this, your child will begin to learn where vocabulary is located and may even start to tell you what he would like to do without waiting for your model.
2. If your child has siblings (or neighbors) who are home enjoying their summer, enlist their help to learn the device and challenge them to use it with your child. Children pick up technology with incredible ease, and sibling/peer rivalry may have your child with complex communication needs (CCN) grabbing the iPad from the other child to show off her own skills.
3. Model language when you’re relaxing with your child. AAC does not have to be used seated at a “work table.”
Example: Lay back in the hammock or sit on the porch swing and model “relax,” “hear birds,” “Look! Squirrel!” “I need more lemonade,” “I’m tired,” “pretty flowers,” “trees blowing,” “should we barbecue?” “Hot out today,” or “swing a little” (and do it). There are no demands on the child, but leave the words open that you’ve modeled and leave the device available. The more often you expose him/her to the language, the more familiar it will become. If the child initiates something, respond to whatever he/she says. There are no wrong words, and pairing the device with a relaxing situation and attitude gives the child the message that communication is part of leisure. It’s enjoyable and social, and it is certainly NOT a task.
4. Before you go to bed, reflect on your day with your child.
Example: “We WENT to the POOL and ATE HOT DOGS. Tell me something about today.” Give him time to look at the device and respond to anything he says. If you don’t think it had anything to do with the day, (he says “pizza,” but you didn’t have pizza), respond however you would if he was verbal. So, you might say, “Maybe we can get PIZZA TOMORROW” or “I know you LIKE PIZZA.”
5. Keep the device available, dedicated to communication, and respond if the child uses it.
My experience-based theory is that children begin to initiate AAC use when they are able to convey more information using the device than they can in other ways.
Example: I was working with a little girl on the autism spectrum. She was using her device consistently throughout her school day, but she would take it home and her mom said it just sat on the table all evening. One evening the little girl pointed out the window and her mom said, “We’re not going outside.” The little girl went to her device and said, “Go outside. Grandpa black car.” The mom looked outside and saw Grandpa pulling up in his big black car (the little girl loved to take rides in it). Of course, they went outside. If the device is accessible, you give your child the opportunity to use it…anytime she wants to tell you something.
If you skip a day, don’t stress. It’s summer. There are 104 days of summer vacation. Go easy on yourself and start again tomorrow.
So, what’s holding you back? You can do this. Take it slow. Use the search feature in Speak for Yourself to make modeling fast and easy and you’ll start to remember where words are located.
When asked the question in September, “What did you do over summer vacation?” we would love for your child to respond “go swimming, go Target, play, barbecue, eat ice cream, eat hot dogs…” And by the way, in case you haven’t noticed, I can speak for myself.
Leave a Reply