Symbol Communication at Ingfield Manor School

March 2009 Symbols @ IMS [email protected]

Symbol Communication at Ingfield Manor School

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OverviewThe schoolCommunication strategyCommunication BooksIDVStarting Blocks


1. Ingfield Manor School


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


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



There is always a significant proportion of students who require AAC

For a 2007 audit, the school population was divided into the following categories ……


Sp: SpeechPhon: Difficult

to understandDis: Language

disorderDel: Language

delay

Soc: Social communication issues

Si: SigningAAC: Aided

AACPre: Pre-

Intentional

Primary Communication Categories


Communication Categories

0

5

10

15

20

Pre AAC Si SP PHON SOC DEL

Series1

Communication Categories @ IMS November 2007


2. AAC Strategy


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:


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


Resources have been developed piecemeal over the years

Starting with communication books in pre-Boardmaker days

and high tech grids in Pre-Windows days


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


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


3. Communication Books


The first books involved Copy, Cut, Paste, Line Colour and Fill Colour

but nothing to do with Microsoft


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


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


1x2 Book


1x2 Photo Book


2x2 Book

March 2009 Symbols @ IMS [email protected] Book with Yes/No


2x4 Book

March 2009 Symbols @ IMS [email protected] 2x4 Book


4x4 Book


Encoded 4x4 Book


B&W 7x5 book with grid reference numbers


Coloured 7x5 book with grid reference numbers


Each level retains and builds on the vocabulary of its predecessor

Both in terms of topicsand sentence building


At the first 3 levels, topics are the same. Complexity increases according to size of vocabulary


The 1x2 Book has key word vocabulary; but this may be extended by using a ‘flipout sheet’


The 2x2 Book is in essence the same; but more vocabulary is displayed on one page


The 2x4 book introduces some sentence builders

and may warrant a more complex flipout sheet


More topics are introduced in the 4x4 book


As well as more vocabulary and sentence builders


More topics again at 7x5


As well as lots more sentence builders


and an extensive flipout sheet if needed


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


3. IDV (Ingfield Dynamic Vocabularies)


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


Go Steps 1


IDV A


IDV B


IDV C


IDV D


The latest addition is a hybrid of Grid Talk…………….


and Star Talker (both Grid 2 user files from Sensory Software)………..


And IDV for a student who needs a combination of strategies, including Word Banks, Word Prediction and familiar topic pages


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


Workbook for IDV 2

Level B



Workbook for IDV 2

Level C



Workbook for IDV 2

Level D



5. Starting Blocks


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.


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


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 NavigationStep 2: Some NavigationStep 3: Clear and SpeakStep 4: Row Column

PRIMARY TARGETS

Social/ Linguistic


A turn taking grid, to participate in play. Requires only single switch presses


A choice making grid, to take the lead in a singing activity. Requires ability to time switch presses with scanning


Building up complex scanning skills


Starting Blocks Work Books

Documents

Symbol Communication at Ingfield Manor School