Adapt, Accommodate, Integrate ACC In the Curriculum

Grace O. Williams, M.Ed., CCC SLP Augmentative Communication Services 921 Tilghman Forest Dr.

N. Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 843-280-5976 [email protected]

Communication Time Is All The Time And Thus : For the AAC user and the primary caregiver, it is a 24/7 endeavor. For the teacher & educational assistant, it is an all day, every day requirement.

For related service specialists, it is an each and every session priority.

Typical School Day

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58% to academic

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23% to non-academic-music, art, PE

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19% to non-instructional activities transitions, class business

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Overall=30% of time in teacher-led settings and 70% in seat work.

Supports for Functional Use of AAC

Adaptation

involves the development of devices or methods designed specifically to assist persons with disabilities to perform daily tasks. It is something specifically created which is not normally used by other people .

Supports for Functional Use of AAC

Accommodation

is a change or an adjustment in routine, method, or approach, which may be used by people with or without disabilities. Whenever possible it is desirable to make accommodations that will assist students in compensating for skills they lack before using adaptations .

Supports for Functional Use of AAC

Integration

is coordinating and combining diverse parts into a harmonious whole. These definitions are ones we have adopted based on our review of the research and our clinical experience.

Four Communication Purposes in Classrooms

 Conversation/interaction  Academic participation  Language/literacy learning  Wants and needs

AAC System Limitations

 Inadequate or limited vocabulary  Undeveloped access  Equipment breakdown  Aging equipment  Transition from one system to another  Time intensive maintenance  Environmental obstacles

Classroom Modifications & Instructional Strategies

 Worksheets and other Written activities  Reading, Textbooks, Handouts and Articles  Lectures  Daily Organization and Study Strategies  Handwriting Accommodations  Mathematics calculation/concepts  Long Term Projects, Reports, Homework  Discussions

Seven Critical Components of Early Literacy Instruction

 1. Allocated time for daily, highly focused literacy instruction  2.Consistent routines for teaching big ideas of early literacy   3. Explicit instruction for new letter names and sounds 4. . Daily “scaffolded” or assisted, practice with auditory phoneme detection, segmenting and blending

Seven Critical Components of Early Literacy Instruction

 5. Immediate corrective feedback  6. Daily application of new knowledge at the phoneme and letter-sound levels across multiple and varied literacy contexts.

 7. Daily review

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CHARACTERISTICS OF BOOKS FOR EMERGENT READERS

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Interest and Appeal Developmentally Appropriate Themes and Topics

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Predictability

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Teacher Enthusiasm

Early Emergent Level

 Pictures are used to predict the words  There is precise matching of key parts of illustrations to individual words  One word sentences are introduced in a repetitive sequence  Repetition, rhyme and rhythm are widely used  One, or very few incidents and one or two characters are introduced  Pictures signal change in text

Emergent Level

 Key word captions become simple sentences.

 Challenges are placed at the end of a sentence.

 Illustrations and text still match exactly and move in a left-to-right sequence.

Early Reading Level

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Stories are more complex and sentences are longer

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Repetition is still a feature, although there are now two words, or more, changed in the text.

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Text and pictures are not as directly related.

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Text itself is becoming important. For example: text is often printed on the left-hand side, rather than as a straightforward caption to the picture.

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Dialogue is shown in a variety of ways (e.g., bold print for responses, bubbles to indicate speech).

Increasingly wider vocabulary is introduced

Independent Book Interactions

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Browsing

A student rapidly flips through pages of a book which requires the least amount of sustained attention 

Silent Study

A student looking at the illustrations in book 

Pretend Reading

Mock reading of a book alone, with a partner or in a group 

Conventional

Standard reading with recognition of words and sentences

Writing

Takes one to three years for typically developing children to figure our how to use tools for writing.

What do we expect from children with disabilities?

Drawing, Scribbling, Writing Development

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Drawing

Using a picture for the entire composition or embedding pictures with other forms of writing 

Scribble-Wavy

A continuous or pointed line form (with or without breaks) without definitions of letters 

Scribble-line

Letter-like similar to scribble wavy but some of the forms that have features of letters 

Letter-like Units

Closely related to letter-like scribble but they resemble printed letters

Providing Access to Writing

Provide a Variety of Things to Write With and On

 rubber stamps  sponge stamps  tennis ball pens  t-bar grasp  blow pens  magnetic boards  foam shapes and Velcro sensitive surface  magna doodle  wipe clean slates  battery operated toys  computer software

Selecting Software

 Determine the goal that will be targeted  Identify learning style of the users  Determine teaching style of trainer  Identify types of setting(s)  Know type of technical support available  Assure software is compatible with system  Select software with an identified purpose

Types of Software

For Learners

 Dill and Practice  Tutorial  Simulations and strategy Games  Exploration but not games

For Trainers

 Authoring Programs  Data and Information Management  Tutorial

Guidelines for Software

 Opened ended to permit experiencing  Easily integrated into curriculum with guidelines for doing  Prerequisite skills should be identified  Learner characteristics should be indicated  Graphics, sound and animation should be high quality without distraction  Immediate positive feedback or reinforcement provided  Coaching for guidance or effective direction for incorrect responses  There should not be a long delay in providing feedback

Guidelines for Software

 Small increments of difficulty between levels  Text should use size and color and screen location that make words clear  Graphics should be easily recognizable  On screen instructions must be simple, clear and concise  Incorrect commands should not shut down the system  Users should never get stuck  Software should support independent use by learners

Selecting Software for Specific Learners

 Should related to learner’s life (real life situations)  Subject must be enjoyable  Topic must be of interest to person and the skill level  Text & audio should be at appropriate level  Graphics and text should be age appropriate  Users should understand commands and the input devices that are available for use

Boardmaker

Mayer Johnson graphic database of 4500 symbols in clipart form of Picture Communication Symbols. Program allows symbols to be reduced or enlarged to any size. The built-in drawing program permits creation of custom communication boards and materials. A large number of premade grids of communication devices and overlays are included.

Intellitools Classroom Suite

A fully integrated package of the Intellipics Studio 3, IntelliMathics 3 and IntelliTalk 3 A single larger program which features: a unified graphic interface and shared tools, including answer checking with record and report creation, Word Prediction, whole protected work environment and universal access.

Buildibility

An authoring program by Don Johnston for use by both teachers and students.

This easy to use program employs a Click-to Create toolbar that lets students build a page without using menus. Can combine animated drawings, graphics, text, speech and sounds to create original multi-media stories. BuildAbility's exclusive Drawmation™ let students create images that are built in front of their eyes .

Writing With Symbols

A word/picture processing program by MayerJohnson that allows the individual to type words and have the option of having picture symbols (Picture Communication Symbols) quickly pop in with each word. Can be used by teachers and parents to make picture materials, for writing with pictures by person who are not text ready and for talking word processing by text users.

Picture It

Slater Software that adds picture symbols to text.

Tool can adapt classroom materials or make communication boards. Over 3,750 high-resolution pictures. Builds literacy and language skills in clients with mild to severe physical, cognitive and speech delays, ESL, hearing impairments, etc.

Multiple features for customizing your documents to fit individual needs.

PixReader

A Slater Software program that provides a multisensory reading experience-combining text with picture symbols and spoken output in a synchronized, sequential, word-by-word format. Requires full version of Picture It.

PixWriter

A writing tool by Slater Software that includes on-screen buttons, 1,850 full pictures, text, and speech.

Co:Writer SOLO

A

talking word prediction program by Don Johnston which can be used to enable students to express their thoughts in writing with less frustration. This powerful writing intervention includes FlexSpell™ and eWord Bank- to give students the tools they need to construct quality, content rich sentences. Emerging writers can use FlexSpell to write the words they want, even if they can only spell them phonetically. Developing writers get immediate grammar support to improve the quality of their work. Co:Writer makes it possible for students to practice the art of writing every day.

Balanced Literacy

IntelliTools reading program that provides a complete year of literacy instruction at a K-2 grade skill level. There are 9 units built around a theme based anchor book featuring animal stories. Phonics activities help students master essential decoding skills. Guided writing and comprehension reinforce understanding and strengthen vocabulary.

Start to Finish Books

A collection of supplemental high-interest, low vocabulary stories by Don Johnston for students who are two or more grades behind in reading. There are three formats—"talking" computer book, paperback book and audiocassette providing different levels of reading intervention and support for independent reading. Gold level is grade 2/3 readibility and blue level contains 4/5 readibility.

DraftBuilder

A writing program and organizational tool by Don Johnston for use with a switch, on-screen keyboard or alternate keyboard. Aids students who require assistance to manipulate reference materials and take notes or who are frustrated, reluctant writers. It has built-in speech and a talking spell checker. Teacher made and standard templates help students write in different genres, and the bibliographer features helps students use standard research formats when working on research papers.

Kidspiration

A writing program by Inspiration that helps students K-3 see, organize, and develop their ideas. Using the proven principles of visual learning, young readers and writers build confidence in organizing information, understanding concepts and expressing their thoughts.

Math as a Total Subject

Numbers Measurement Calendars Counting Time Size Shapes Patterns Money All these concepts are language rich and support functional communication

Mathpad & Plus

By Intellitools, students can perform basic math directly on the computer!

Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division possible using a switch, Intellikeys keyboard, or mouse Checks problems and adds a check (correct) or dash (incorrect) on the problem list after students completes problem Mathpad Plus permits students to perform 3 rd to 8 th grade mathFractions, decimals, numerical and word problems

Science and Social Studies

 Language rich  Sensory laden possibilities  Increasing choice  Development of world around them  Opportunities for engaging typical peers  Increasing choice taking occasions

PE, gym, Outside play, hall travel, Field trips

 Special challenges-environment conducive to more spontaneous language, less programmed  Emergency and personal information needed when outside school in the community