The Importance of Communication
Storyboard Text
- dhdh
- Imagine communicating by poking out words on a laminated piece of paper?
- Do not leave my voice on the shelf!
- What would you do if you were trapped inside yourself?
- How do you communicate your ideas in the classroom?
- My friend Maya communicates through a variety of sign approximations, sounds, and gestures and learned about Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. Maya was using a communication board but she needed access to more words so her mother made a Word Book. She can flip through over 100 pictures to find the exact words that she wants to communincae with.
- According to American Speech-Language -Hearing Association (ASHA), AAC is used by people who cannot rely on their speech. AAC incorporates the individual's full communication abilities and may include any existing speech or vocalizations, gestures, manual signs, and aided communication. Another example in the videos was the iPads. The iPads had an easy touch and swipe screens with special designed instruction.
- The women from Pittsburgh had a cerebral palsy . She could not talk with her natural voice. She was asked a series of questions with yes and no responses. She shook her head, nod, and raised her eye brows to answer questions. She expressed it was physically exhausting. When she was in school the biggest goal was to walk but she wanted to work on communicating. She was waiting to be heard. The women expressed the importance of communication.
- Chris Klein, expressed there were a lot of struggling times but not being able to communicate was one of them. He used to play video games with his feet, That was so impressive! He explained that communication is the foundation for relationship building. If there is a lack of communication than the relationship will die. He expressed, I would be nowhere if I didn't have the tools to communicate. Chris used his first device at age 6 and this allowed him to be mainstream starting in third grade. Chris travels all around the world sharing his story!
- Josh was communicating by poking one letter at a time on plastic paper. He was upset because no one could understand him. At school he was unable to participate in the activities. When Josh needed something desperately he would participate in charades. This was an issue and recently Josh has had a huge transformation where he is communicating using an Apple iPad as his voice and he is reborn! Josh's mom downloaded a language app and added pictures, videos, and symbols that allow him to convey his feelings, what he wants, and what he watches on TV. Josh's therapist talks about when she first gave Josh the iPad the things that have been bottled up inside him was beginning to pour out! He is part of this community and she expresses that communication is the essence of being human.
- I learned that in the Creative Growth Center people from all over came to express themselves in art form. In their work they show their inspiration and what makes them feel good inside. Jackie took us on a tour and showed us about a ceramic class, wood craft, and sewing station. Tom Di Mara, expresses Art is a great equalizer that transcends language, that transcends culture, that transcends disability. Creative Growth is about artistic expression as a form of self-empowerment, as a form of aesthetic development, as a form of saying, This is who I am in the world.
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