| Communication photographs |
Individual photographs, Direct select to point to or handle photographs, Eye gaze when mounted on clear plastic eye-gaze tool |
Includes individual photographs of child's familiar receptive vocabulary and novel links to objects in environment to build communicative intent |
Select appropriate number and size of photographs for individual child, Position photograph in front of object to link symbol to object |
Digital photographs of actual items, people actions, places, and feelings of children's environment |
| Communication book |
Photograph book, Clear pages, Velcro backing on photographs, Adult assists in selecting photographs |
Photograph communication aids in photograph album format or individual photographs with digital camera |
Provide photographs to support making the transition to symbolic language |
Digital camera, Color printer, Inexpensive photograph album with soft photographic on each page to store photographs of child's relevant vocabulary |
| Visual scene |
Large photograph of familiar environment, Access with pointing or eye gaze, Individual vocabulary on small, laminated squares with Velcro backing |
Depicts relevant actions, people, and interactions as context to build vocabulary beyond nouns |
Introduce photograph prior to activity, Preview what the child will see, do, and experience |
Digital photograph printed in page size, Page protector or laminated |
| Communication icons with printed label |
Individual icons on single cards/laminated, Direct select to point or handle, Eye gaze when mounted on clear plastic with Velcro backing |
Represents objects, people, and other vocabulary in higher level of symbolic representation |
Review after activity to create a story; Cover elements that are relevant for child - who, what, where, how, why, and feelings |
Small photographs mounted on sticky-back foam and covered with contact paper or laminated, Velcro backing on photographs, Boardmaker Plus from DynaVox ($300), Overboard from Gus, Inc. ($200), Symbol Stix from Symbol Stix ($100 yearly subscription) |
| Activity board |
Various sizes and number of photographs/icons on board, Direct access, eye gaze, or partner-assisted scanning |
Show steps of activities in sequence with core words in same place on repeated boards, Color code for core activity or "finger" vocabulary |
Adult uses aided language stimulation (ALS) to highlight words, waits for child's response to support comprehension and expressive language |
Unity Symbols from Prentice Romich ($50), Poetry Boards from Talk to Me Technologies ($70), Boardmaker Software |
| Storyboard/song board |
Various sizes and number of photographs/icons on board to show key concepts in song or story, Direct access, eye gaze, or partner-assisted scanning |
Photograph/picture icon display with concepts/words from song or story |
Adult highlights words in song or story using ALS to support comprehension and expressive language |
Teacher-made materials, Making Language Visible CD from Creative Communicating ($50) |
| Clock scanning communicators |
Switch scanning with clock face and choice of objects, photographs, and icons, Scanning access with switch activation |
Provides visual display of communication choices on clear plastic clock face, Icons/objects can be changed, Method for assessment and learning step scanning |
Place selected object/photographs/icons on clock face as appropriate for individual child's needs and selected activity |
Clock communicators available from Enablemart ($115-$130) |