Symbol Communication at Ingfield Manor School March 2009

Symbol Communication at Ingfield Manor School @ March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Overview ØThe school ØCommunication strategy ØCommunication Books ØIDV ØStarting Blocks March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

1. Ingfield Manor School March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Ø Ingfield Manor School is an independent day and residential special school for children with cerebral palsy aged 3 -16. Ø It operates a Conductive Education ethos…… Ø … which presents benefits and challenges for embedding communication strategy March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØI was warned I wouldn’t last 6 weeks at Ingfield because Conductive Education and AAC don’t mix Øbut I’m still there 18 years on March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØThere is always a significant proportion of students who require AAC ØFor a 2007 audit, the school population was divided into the following categories …… March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Primary Communication Categories ØSoc: Social ØSp: Speech communication ØPhon: Difficult issues to understand ØSi: Signing ØDis: Language ØAAC: Aided AAC disorder ØPre: PreØDel: Language Intentional delay March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Communication Categories @ IMS November 2007 March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

2. AAC Strategy March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØThose numbers represent a typical pattern at IMS ØSo an infrastructure to support AAC is necessary ØOver the years, we have developed resources and teaching strategies, currently reflected in the following: March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Early development of intentional communication with objects, pictures and symbols. Understanding of Cause & Effect Progression of Skills Voca Paperbased Communication Level 1: Keywords. Cloze activities. Level 2: Sentence construction. Single pages. Level 3: Creative language projects; navigating pages Starting Blocks Skills Development Turn. Taking Timing Go Steps Choicemaking Simple Scanning Complex Scanning IDV-A Categorising Navigating Keyword Communication skills integration March 2009 Skills Development Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk functional use IDV-B Other vocabs/ IDV combo IDV-C IDV-D

ØResources have been developed piecemeal over the years ØStarting with communication books in pre-Boardmaker days Øand high tech grids in Pre-Windows days March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØWe had no thoughts of integrating low and high tech ØWe had no vision as to where it would lead…. . Ø……. just solutions for individuals ØA reasonably well integrated solution has emerged March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØIf I were starting with the tools, knowledge and experience I have now I would do many things differently……. . Ø………but we do have an embedded strategy that has stood the test of time March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

3. Communication Books March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØThe first books involved Copy, Cut, Paste, Line Colour and Fill Colour Øbut nothing to do with Microsoft March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØMayer Johnson had relatively extensive resources, so we set off down the PCS path ØWe have so many resources that switching symbol sets would be a mammoth undertaking March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØThere are currently 5 basic levels of book ØAlthough several variations at each level appear on a regular basis ØThe books are intended as templates to customise March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

1 x 2 Book March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

1 x 2 Photo Book March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

2 x 2 Book March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk 2 x 2 Book with Yes/No

2 x 4 Book March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

March 2009 Symbols @ IMS Spanish 2 x 4 Book sally. conner@scope. org. uk

4 x 4 Book March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Encoded 4 x 4 Book March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

B&W 7 x 5 book with grid reference numbers March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Coloured 7 x 5 book with grid reference numbers March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØEach level retains and builds on the vocabulary of its predecessor ØBoth in terms of topics Øand sentence building March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

At the first 3 levels, topics are the same. Complexity increases according to size of vocabulary March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

The 1 x 2 Book has key word vocabulary; but this may be extended by using a ‘flipout sheet’ March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

The 2 x 2 Book is in essence the same; but more vocabulary is displayed on one page March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

The 2 x 4 book introduces some sentence builders and may warrant a more complex flipout sheet March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

More topics are introduced in the 4 x 4 book March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

As well as more vocabulary and sentence builders March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

More topics again at 7 x 5 March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

As well as lots more sentence builders March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

and an extensive flipout sheet if needed March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØThere is a 4 year curriculum designed for focused time on vocabulary learning ØDivided into 3 levels ØAnd with session plans for every week March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk Level 1: Keywords. Cloze activities. Level 2: Sentence construction. Single pages. Level 3: Creative language projects; navigating pages

3. IDV (Ingfield Dynamic Vocabularies) March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØIngfield Dynamic Vocabularies (IDV) are high tech communication grids ØDeveloped for children at Ingfield Øspotted and selected for publication in 1994 ØSince then, they have been published on 13 different software platforms March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Go Steps 1 March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

IDV A March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

IDV B March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

IDV C March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

IDV D March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

The latest addition is a hybrid of Grid Talk……………. March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

and Star Talker (both Grid 2 user files from Sensory Software)………. . March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

And IDV for a student who needs a combination of strategies, including Word Banks, Word Prediction and familiar topic pages March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Sensory Software International Ltd. ØEach level of IDV is supported by a workbook ØWhich gives an organised planning and recording structure March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk Sensory Software International Ltd. Workbook for IDV 2 for Workbook Level IDV A 2 Workbook for Level B IDV 2 Workbook Level C for The Ingfield Dynamic Vocabulary designed by Sally Conner IDV 2 at Ingfield Manor School Vocabulary The Ingfield Dynamic designed by Sally Conner Level D at Ingfield Manor School Sensory Software International Ltd. The Ingfield Dynamic Vocabulary designed by Sally Conner at Ingfield Manor School

5. Starting Blocks March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Ø Series of user files comprising over 1000 grids, programmed in the Grid 2* Ø designed to give extensive range of activities and resources Ø for developing competency in using speech output technology Ø if need be, in small steps and over a long period of time. March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

ØIn Starting Blocks, technology is not the primary focus…. . Ø…. . it is the interface for play ØStudents should not be left alone with these grids Øbecause interaction is with people and play materials Ø………not the screen March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

OVERVIEW TRAINING ACTIVITIES ON YOUR MARKS PRIMARY TARGETS GET SET GO Social/ Linguistic Operational/ Linguistic Practised Integration Turn Taking Categorising Choosing Navigating Step 1: No Navigation Step 2: Some Navigation Step 3: Clear and Speak Step 4: Row Column Scanning March 2009 FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

A turn taking grid, to participate in play. Requires only single switch presses March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

A choice making grid, to take the lead in a singing activity. Requires ability to time switch presses with scanning March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Building up complex scanning skills March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk

Starting Blocks Work Books March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally. conner@scope. org. uk