Let the Games Begin!

Why do we play games?We like to learn new skills and test ourselves

against others.We can enjoy being with people without the

need to keep a conversation going.We can build relationships with people with

whom we have little in common.We learn more when we are having fun.

Why use games for AAC intervention?Games provide scripts for social interaction. Participants have repeated, predictable opportunities to

practice target language.Games offer a safe environment in which to model and

practice a variety of language functions:Self advocacyEncouraging and supporting othersCheatingBluffingComplainingGloating, braggingFriendly teasingGood manners

What do you want to play?A GOOD AAC GAME IS:Full of many kinds of communication

opportunities!Challenging for all participants,Accessible for all participants,Related to IEP objectivesFUN!!

Advantages of popular gamesThey teach a schema that students can apply

at home, with peers. Everyone plays BINGO, Hangman, guessing

games, barrier games and card games throughout the life span.

They provide exposure to popular culture “what everyone else is doing” (playing, watching).E.g., Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, Deal or

No DealIt’s easier to adapt a good game then it is to

invent one!

Some things to consider:Physical Access

Make it biggerPut handles on itStabilize it (with putty or Velcro)Make it 3-D

Playability: AAC users need more time.Sensory / Cognitive Access

Real objects may easier for some playersto see and interpret

Less is more—reduce clutter! Make the game more relevant, understandable, to

players with limited world knowledge.

This… Vs. This…

Accessing “Kill the Clown”For choosing letters match

the modality to the student’s spelling ability and physical access.

•For making comments, asking questions, use each student’s typical mode of communication.•Help the players succeed by ordering the letters by frequency of use and excluding letters like “x.”

This… vs. This…

This… vs. This…

Pick a card!In games, there is often a special procedure for taking a turn: drawing a card, moving a piece, rolling dice etc. Make these accessible.

Roll the dice!

Spin the spinner!

Speaking Dynamically Pro (Mayer-Johnson Co.)

Spin the spinner!

By Canfield & LockeAll Turn It SpinnerAbleNet, Inc.

Dedicated devices can randomize!

PASS software for Vantage Lite, Prentke Romich Co.

Activity—Make a game.Choose a mass market game or a traditional game and

adapt it for your students with severe speech and physical impairments.

Or invent your own game!Explain the rules, object and procedure for playing.Include in your game protocol everything you will need to

access the physical, visual and communicative aspects of the game—What kind of language do you want to model?What are your language /communication goals?What AAC teaching “tools” can you use?

If possible, play your game.Make a catapult (optional) to use in this or future games.

Make a “Game Plan”Name of the game: “Kill the Clown” (based on “Hangman”) Materials: A clown or stuffed animal (use a turkey at Thanksgiving)

Tall wooden blocks, a greeting card, small blocksA list of letters in order of frequency of use. A white board, dry erase marker and eraser

  Object: Players take turns choosing letters and try to guess the target word before all the blocks fall and kill the clown.

The first person / team to guess correctly is the winner. The winner gets to choose the next word. What to do on your turn:

Use your (or your partner’s) AAC system to choose a letter, guess a word, and take a guess.   Communication & academic objectives/opportunities:

Practice spelling and reading core wordsPractice matching core wordsTake non-obligatory conversational turns (i.e., make comments relevant to the game)Pay attention to peer answers and guessesGain attention appropriately to guess the target word

Physical & Sensory adaptations:Real objects are easier for some students to see. Bringing the white board around to the players makes it easier to read the words and keep track of what has been guessed. Students can signal that they are ready to make a guess by gesturing or activating a Step-by-Step Communicator.

Adaptations for relevance and playability:Limiting targets to the core words makes the game more relevant to AAC users and their objectives.When students want to use longer words, use a stiffer card so more blocks can be supported.Limiting words to the core vocabulary on users’ communication systems makes it easier to guess.

Want to make a catapult? They have 100’s of uses! Can you think of a new one?