Flexible Communication

Students and children can communicate their needs in a variety of ways: through their words, body language, or through a communication device or adaptive tool. If you’re teaching a student how to use a particular method of communication, it can be tempting to only want the child to use that tool.?

It’s understandable to want to reinforce the sole use of a new communication tool such as an adaptive device. However, limiting the student from using any means of communication in a given moment can lead to a great deal of frustration for you and your student!?

If your student is nodding their head to respond to a question instead of indicating “yes” or “no” on their device, rather than forcing the use of the device, acknowledge their communication, but model their response on the device as well.?

To use an example: you ask your student if they would like a snack. Instead of using their device or communication book, they nod their head “yes”. You could say, “Yes, you do want a snack.” and use their supplemental communication tool to answer “yes” as well, showing them how you do it.?

This can continue to reinforce the communication style you are teaching the student while minimizing the potential for frustration by remaining flexible until they are more comfortable using the new communication style.?

#specialeducation #inclusionmatters #accessibility