Low Tech Communication Tools
Being able to communicate is essential to success in school and in the work place according to Dell, Newton, and Petroff. Being understood is also critically important. There are two areas of communication; augmentative communication and hearing assistive technology.
Augmentative Communication helps students who cannot speak.
Hearing Assistive Technology helps students who cannot hear.
For students who cannot hear sometimes they have their own personal interpreter. Also, these students are usually very good at lip reading.
For students who cannot speak there are multiple ways of communication:
Augmentative Communication helps students who cannot speak.
Hearing Assistive Technology helps students who cannot hear.
For students who cannot hear sometimes they have their own personal interpreter. Also, these students are usually very good at lip reading.
For students who cannot speak there are multiple ways of communication:
- A Communication Board is a tool where the student can point to picture representations of what they want, need, or would like to say. Communication boards can be adapted to fit the needs of the student and his/her environment. They can have different boards for different situations based on daily routines and needs.
- A communication board can be bought here. Or if you would like you can make your own and individualize and customize it as much as you would like.
![Picture](/uploads/2/0/4/8/20483886/7029324.jpg)
PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) is another tool that can be used to communicate. PECS requires the person to give a visual representation of what they want to the person they are trying to communicate with. As they progress through the system the student learns to create sentences and have more complex communication.
References:
Dell, A. G., Newton, D. A., & Petroff, J. G. (2008). Assistive technology in the classroom: Enhancing the school experiences of students with disabilities. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.
Retrieved June 25, 2013, from http://www.wati.org/content/supports/free/pdf/Ch3-Communication.pdf
A Clear Picture: The Use and Benefits of PECS [Video file]. (2013, June 25). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bzli1iC_w8
communication board - Google Search. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2013, from https://www.google.com/search?q=communication+board&client=firefox&hs=MH1&rls=com.yahoo:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=v0zKUfGAKeP54APR4IG4DQ&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=649#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=KSNN4q8GUvyYOM%3A%3BP8rZVFW7kqcggM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.hmponline.com%252Fimages%252Fproducts%252FbigGraphic%252F622742.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.hmponline.com%252F622742.jsp%253Fpath%253D-1%25257C1180%2526id%253D15392%3B384%3B250
Dell, A. G., Newton, D. A., & Petroff, J. G. (2008). Assistive technology in the classroom: Enhancing the school experiences of students with disabilities. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.
Retrieved June 25, 2013, from http://www.wati.org/content/supports/free/pdf/Ch3-Communication.pdf
A Clear Picture: The Use and Benefits of PECS [Video file]. (2013, June 25). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bzli1iC_w8
communication board - Google Search. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2013, from https://www.google.com/search?q=communication+board&client=firefox&hs=MH1&rls=com.yahoo:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=v0zKUfGAKeP54APR4IG4DQ&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1280&bih=649#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=KSNN4q8GUvyYOM%3A%3BP8rZVFW7kqcggM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.hmponline.com%252Fimages%252Fproducts%252FbigGraphic%252F622742.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.hmponline.com%252F622742.jsp%253Fpath%253D-1%25257C1180%2526id%253D15392%3B384%3B250