Post on 12-Jun-2015
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Symbol Communication at Ingfield Manor School
@
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Overview
The schoolCommunication strategyCommunication BooksIDVStarting Blocks
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
1. Ingfield Manor School
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Ingfield Manor School is an independent day and residential special school for children with cerebral palsy aged 3-16.
It operates a Conductive Education ethos……
… which presents benefits and challenges for embedding communication strategy
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
I was warned I wouldn’t last 6 weeks at Ingfield because Conductive Education and AAC don’t mix
but 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
There is always a significant proportion of students who require AAC
For a 2007 audit, the school population was divided into the following categories ……
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Sp: SpeechPhon: Difficult
to understandDis: Language
disorderDel: Language
delay
Soc: Social communication issues
Si: SigningAAC: Aided
AACPre: Pre-
Intentional
Primary Communication Categories
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Communication Categories
0
5
10
15
20
Pre AAC Si SP PHON SOC DEL
Series1
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
Those numbers represent a typical pattern at IMS
So an infrastructure to support AAC is necessary
Over the years, we have developed resources and teaching strategies, currently reflected in the following:
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Level 1: Keywords. Cloze activities.
Level 3: Creative language projects; navigating pages
Level 2: Sentence construction. Single pages.
Paperbased Communication Starting Blocks
Voca
Progression of Skills
Early development of intentional communication with objects, pictures and symbols. Understanding of Cause & Effect
functional use
skills integration
Skills Development
Skills Development IDV-A
IDV-B
IDV-C
IDV-D
Other vocabs
Go Steps
Other vocabs/ IDV combo
Timing
Simple Scanning
Complex Scanning
TurnTaking
Choicemaking
Categorising
Navigating
Keyword Communication
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Resources have been developed piecemeal over the years
Starting with communication books in pre-Boardmaker days
and high tech grids in Pre-Windows days
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
We had no thoughts of integrating low and high tech
We had no vision as to where it would lead…..
…….just solutions for individuals
A reasonably well integrated solution has emerged
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
If I were starting with the tools, knowledge and experience I have now I would do many things differently……..
………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
The first books involved Copy, Cut, Paste, Line Colour and Fill Colour
but nothing to do with Microsoft
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Mayer Johnson had relatively extensive resources, so we set off down the PCS path
We have so many resources that switching symbol sets would be a mammoth undertaking
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
There are currently 5 basic levels of book
Although several variations at each level appear on a regular basis
The books are intended as templates to customise
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
1x2 Book
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
1x2 Photo Book
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
2x2 Book
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk2x2 Book with Yes/No
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
2x4 Book
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.ukSpanish 2x4 Book
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
4x4 Book
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Encoded 4x4 Book
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
B&W 7x5 book with grid reference numbers
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Coloured 7x5 book with grid reference numbers
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Each level retains and builds on the vocabulary of its predecessor
Both in terms of topicsand 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 1x2 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 2x2 Book is in essence the same; but more vocabulary is displayed on one page
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
The 2x4 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 4x4 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 7x5
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
There is a 4 year curriculum designed for focused time on vocabulary learning
Divided into 3 levelsAnd with session plans for
every week
Level 1: Keywords. Cloze activities.
Level 2: Sentence construction. Single pages.
Level 3: Creative language projects; navigating pages
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
3. IDV (Ingfield Dynamic Vocabularies)
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Ingfield Dynamic Vocabularies (IDV) are high tech communication grids
Developed for children at Ingfieldspotted and selected for
publication in 1994Since 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
Each level of IDV is supported by a workbook
Which gives an organised planning and recording structure
Sensory Software International Ltd.
Workbook for IDV 2
Level A
The Ingfield Dynamic Vocabulary designed by Sally Conner at Ingfield Manor School
Sensory Software International Ltd.
Workbook for IDV 2
Level B
The Ingfield Dynamic Vocabulary designed by Sally Conner at Ingfield Manor School
Sensory Software International Ltd.
Workbook for IDV 2
Level C
The Ingfield Dynamic Vocabulary designed by Sally Conner at Ingfield Manor School
Sensory Software International Ltd.
Workbook for IDV 2
Level D
The Ingfield Dynamic Vocabulary designed by Sally Conner at Ingfield Manor School
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
5. Starting Blocks
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
Series of user files comprising over 1000 grids, programmed in the Grid 2*
designed to give extensive range of activities and resources
for developing competency in using speech output technology
if need be, in small steps and over a long period of time.
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
In Starting Blocks, technology is not the primary focus…..
…..it is the interface for playStudents should not be left
alone with these gridsbecause interaction is with
people and play materials………not the screen
March 2009 Symbols @ IMS sally.conner@scope.org.uk
OVERVIEW TRAINING ACTIVITIES
FUNCTIONAL COMMUNIC-ATION
ON YOUR MARKS
GET SET GO
Operational/ Linguistic
Practised Integration
Turn Taking
Choosing
Categorising
Navigating
Row Column Scanning
Step 1: No Navigation
Step 2: Some Navigation
Step 3: Clear and Speak
Step 4: Row Column
PRIMARY TARGETS
Social/ Linguistic
March 2009 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