Importance of Supporting Augmentative Communication System at Home and in Community

As a continuation to my previous posts from my blogs so far, we will be continuing the discussion of AT & Math. As any one would might think, supporting the use of the Augmentative Communication Device for students with disabilities is important. However, what they might not have known is that supporting this device outside of the classroom such as at home and in the community is just as important. 

When a child uses their system other places, it reinforces the communication skills learned in school and helps to generalize them to other settings. This can require the expanded consideration of family involvement, issues related to culture, and the identification of places or activities in which the student is active. 

The development of a working relationship between school and home is crucial to the success of augmentative communication. Both of these environments can reflect different and varied communication demands and coordinated efforts can significantly increase the likelihood of effective communication.

Resources:

Dell, A., Newton, D., & Petroff, J. (2012).Assistive Technology in the Classroom:Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with DIsabiltiies. New Jersey: Pearson. (Original work published 2008)