$1000 and a Smile

I feel like perhaps I have spent my best $1000 ever:  the cost of the course and gas to and from home to get to it.  I found myself both smiling and shaking my head over things said in today's session.  I only wish I'd had the information 3 years ago when I had a deaf student with CP on my caseload. Things never fully fell into place for him with independent use of technology.   I feel I have learned so much today and can only imagine how much more is going to become part of my "toolbox" as the course continues.

One of my big take aways today was that AT should not be left in the hands of the IT person, but rather in the hands of teachers and those working directly with the student.  In our school, the IT guy makes decisions that greatly impact the learning of my students, doing such things as wiping apps off iPads that he deems are not needed.  I feel now that I know the information to communicate to my admin team that this is not how it works everywhere.  I feel more prepared to support student learning in this way.

The statement "AT is about enhancing performance of individuals with disabilities providing independent access to a task" I feel can be applied directly to a Response to Intervention goal that I will be able to set for my LD caseload students next year.  Becoming familiar with ways to digitize documents so that students can access text independently and be able to output their knowledge should provide independence and confidence.  Plus, I feel they will have fun and be engaged in their learning.  To me, this is very exciting.

The three keys for effective communication (communication partner, common language, joint attention) caused me to reflect on my own teenagers.  Often the best place to talk was in the car while traveling, fulfilling all the requirements for communication success.

Of course there are ways to communicate through many means, including written language, verbal and nonverbal means.  People communicate through physical touch which can vary according to the situation.   When I found out a colleague was hired for a job today, we shared a "high five".  Later in the day, I saw my cousin and we exchanged a hug.  Sometimes a pat on the arm communicates a message. Specific chosen words and tone of language communicate.  Language itself can convey what is important in a culture; in the Inuit culture there are multiple words to describe the quality of snow since it is significant.  Even in text messages (a very popular form of connecting), capital letters can place emphasis on words to raise your voice/yell.   Both text to speech and speech to text are available on many phones and used by the general public.  I have a friend who is not quick at typing, so she always talks to her phone and texts that way.  Another way to communicate is through Social media, which can combine visuals with text to share with others. Communication can be through pictures or through symbols.  In some instances PECS (picture exchange communication system) can be used to communicate.  Advertising combines images with words to bring across a point.    Who would doubt that facial expression, such as the baby above, convey meaning.  Conventional sign language or made up sign language are ways to share.  My deaf student had both his own signs which we learned and used a form of SEE (Signing Exact English).  People communicate through closed captioning or described video to those who benefit from either seeing or hearing what is going on can connect with the message.  Eye contact and body language are also forms of communication.  Depending on a person's comfort level with another person or their culture, there can be variance in personal space and duration that gaze is held. Communication is complex and multifaceted.  Through today's session, I have been more aware of multiple means of achieving communication competence in diverse ways for a multitude of individuals.