AAC and Life Change

It is difficult for children with cerebral palsy to express their likes and dislikes. Many children have stopped trying to communicate because their caregivers do not understand them.

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) has changed all this; it has given the children a voice.

Common methods of AAC include sign language, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), and voice generation equipment.

In our in-orphanage projects, rehabilitation therapists and counselors have integrated various resources and materials to develop training programs suitable for the children. The results have been excellent. Can you imagine how a child must feel when for the first time they are able to communicate and be understood?

Depending on the different stages of the children's development, they are divided into two groups and participate in specialized classrooms on a regular basis.

Progress in using AAC

— Expressing my preferences —

With the help of AAC "Do you want" training, Rina's world has begun to open.

Rina (A six year old girl) is practicing expressing her desires. We chose honey as the object in the problem to be solved. Rina is a child who loves to eat so the question of whether or not she wanted to eat honey aroused her interest.

Using a “voice button” to represent "Yes" she is asked, "Do you want to eat honey?" Before starting we explained to her that if she wanted to eat what was shown her, she should press the button. Rina quickly learned how to communicate “yes.” The honey was a good motivator.

Then we introduced the second stage and added another “voice button,” which stands for "No.”

Some questions we asked:

Do you want to smell the perfume?

Do you want to eat chocolate sauce?

Do you want to play with toys?

She learned very quickly to express her desires.

Before learning to use the AAC device, Rina was not easy to understand. She couldn’t express herself orally, and when she realized others could not understand her she gave up. It was difficult to know what she was thinking or what emotions she was feeling.

With the help of AAC training, she opened herself to the outside world through this small button. Not only did she press the button to express "yes" and "no", but she was also willing to begin trying to make sounds. Although her voice was very weak, she obviously felt that now she could make herself understood. This was very exciting to see. We finally solved a problem in knowing how much she understood. It turns out that she understands quite a lot!

Through use of an AAC device each child has achieved the ability to express his thoughts and preferences. The children performed very well, and they soon learned to respond to the questions of their nannies.

— Communication and interaction —

The AAC device provides a bridge for communication between children and their nannies and increases the chances of getting to know each other. Our hope is the children can finally open their hearts and express the "secrets" accumulated there.

Here are a few stories of how the children began to communicate with their nannies and peers with the help of AAC communication tools.

Asked to point out which things are man-made and which things are natural. Emerson was able to point out that trees, birds, and leaves are natural and that cars are man-made.

When Silas understood that the AAC device could be used to communicate, expressing his feelings and what he wanted to do, he immediately used the device to tell us that he likes to "play games" and would ask the teacher to "help.” Being able to communication makes him feel very happy!

Liam did not understand when his nanny asked him to sit down and do activities together.  He always ran around and wouldn’t sit. His nanny used the picture symbol "Please sit on the floor" to communicate with him, and he immediately sat down. He was even able to repeat the phrase "sit on the floor.” Voice and visual symbols helped him complete the action and learn to say it.

It was time for lunch one day, but Lydia and Emerson’s nanny was still busy. Emerson pointed to Lydia, and then to the "hunger" picture in the communication book. Lydia understood what he meant. He was asking, "Lydia, are you hungry?"

——What could be more fulfilling than seeing the effects of training?

Although the children are lacking in certain abilities due to physical and developmental obstacles, and they cannot express themselves well, using these tools they have the opportunity to express themselves. Their self-esteem improved because now they can make themselves understood.

We look forward to seeing how far they can go as they practice.