Bring yourself – no speech allowed

Bring your mobile phone to communicate

Bring a gold coin

Prizes to be won!

There were two activities associated with the Silent Morning tea. The first was a communication quiz and the second was a Silent Bingo game. The quiz was sent via inter-office email. There were 10 multiple choice or true/false questions. People could fill the quiz in on-line or print a hard copy. The answers to the questions were also written on butcher’s paper and stuck on the walls. The bingo game had to be completed at the morning tea – without using speech. We provided alphabet boards, morning tea theme boards, and picture based and literacy based electronic communication devices. People could also use the text function on their mobile phone if they wished to. There were also a number of single message ECD’s programmed with the word “Bingo”. The bingo included questions such as “write the name of someone in the room who…catches public transport to work”. It was a great ice-breaker and a way to get to know fellow staff members. The winner of the quiz and the first person to complete their bingo sheet were each given a prize.
About 30 staff from the organisation attended the event. It was run during a half hour morning tea break. One participant remembered it as the “best event” from last year and encouraged her colleagues to come. It is now likely to become an annual event on the Scope social calendar.
Templates for the activities were sent to all the regional communication services in the network so they could replicate the event. A number of the speech pathologists in the Communication Access Network took up the idea and silent morning teas have now been held at many venues across Victoria.

Canada

AAC AWARENESS 2009
“Many Methods, One Goal:  To Communicate”

In celebration of October’s AAC Awareness, clinics across the country were busy hosting events to promote AAC Awareness, demonstrating and showcasing the many modalities of communication. It sounds like a great time was had by all! 

John McGivney Children’s Centre, Augmentative Communication Clinic (submitted by Toni Southern)
The centre’s school children first participated in a Halloween Story Reading led by a PWUAAC.  Following this, staff and clients were invited back to the clinic for a ‘voiceless’ open house.  A number of alternative forms of communication were provided to the visitors in order to interact with each other as voice was not permitted.  Amongst the feedback, one of the teachers hopes to include a "voiceless" time slot into her class' daily routines. The clinic hopes to make this an annual tradition.

McMaster Children’s Hospital, Technology Access Clinic (submitted by Shelley Deegan)
Six PWUAAC (3 adults, 3 children) were invited to participate in the event.  The Clinical Leader
for TAC, the Portfolio Manager and the Medical Director were also invited, and used devices
o communicate.    

The event was held in the main lobby of the hospital with local Dynavox and Aroga reps available to demonstrate some new devices.  The event attracted medical students, residents, physiotherapy students and others attending hospital appointments that day. 

The management team gained a new appreciation of the effort it takes to use devices.  The medical director gained insight into how she can help her
pediatric patients prepare for the transition to adulthood.  There was a new level of “awareness” by the hospital staff about AAC, the many methods that people use to communicate and how much our AAC services are appreciated by our clients.

 Thames Valley Children’s Centre (submitted by Jan Kraft)
A special lunch called “Talking With Our Mouths Full” was held at a local restaurant.  A total of 8 PWUAAC and 17 caregivers, friends, parents, and therapists participated.  People who generally use spoken words to communicate had the opportunity to use devices and communication boards instead.  One mom said that her son (a PWUAAC) gets very excited whenever he sees others communicating in a similar way to him. It is hoped that this will be an annual AAC Awareness Month celebration!  A reporter from the London Free Press also interviewed one PWUAAC and then stayed for lunch!

Kingston Augmentative Communication Service (submitted by Lynn Guindon)
An event called “Take the Time to Listen” was hosted for Queens University Masters students, their Professor and other health care professionals.  The event included a presentation by a young woman who has spastic quadriplegia, uses a powered wheelchair and uses a Dynavox V to communicate.  She shared her life story working with assistive technology, and took the students through the equipment involved in her life and the struggles that a person using AAC experiences. 

The event enabled the students and professionals to interact with and experience communicating with a person who has significant physical disabilities, is non verbal and requires technology to communicate.  There was opportunity to ask questions as well as to explore speech generating devices.  Information about the Assistive Devices Program in Ontario was also shared.   The presentation was videotaped to use for future educational sessions.

Ottawa Children's Treatment Centre, Clinic for Augmentative Communication (submitted by Susan Mendelsohn)
A workshop called "Let's All Read Together" was provided as part of the annual "Sowing the Seeds of Literacy - Harvesting Readers and Writers" conference in Renfrew County. The workshop focused on how to include children with limited speech in group story time, and how to use both communication displays and technology to allow all children to participate and to learn. Early childhood educators, integration counselors, parents, EAs and kindergarten teachers participated.

In addition, a role-playing session for EA's at Centennial School in Ottawa was held to help them better understand the challenges of using AAC to express a wide range of ideas. Participants were asked to use a core vocabulary display to both convey and clarify messages. The EA's learned that there are many ways to get your message across, but it takes a lot of patience and creativity.

Bloorview Kids Rehab, Communication and Writing Aids Service (submitted by Laurel Robinson)
An event called “AAC World” provided over 100 participants (OT’s, PT’s, S-LP’s, teachers, medical staff, parents, siblings and students) with hands-on AAC experiences.  Participants were provided with communication displays as a 'no-voice' policy was in effect.

Various forms of AAC were showcased at stations such as a bank which used eye gaze, an employment office which used a high-tech device and a coffee shop which used gestures and sign language to order a beverage. 

Participants tested their skills at AAC Cranium by answering AAC facts or spelling using a letter board.  At the library, participants chose a story from a choice board, and listened to it through voice output.  A museum reviewed the history of AAC dating back to the 1960’s and showcased early stages of technology.

As well, an article called “Katie Finds Her Voice” was published on the Bloorview website, and a second article from an interview with the Canadian Press called “Device Opens Up World of Speech for Special Needs Kids” was sent nation wide (recently published in the Guelph Mercury).

Egypt

It started on 19th of Oct to 13 th Nov, for this week , it was very successful start, the participants had workshop to making the AAC materials with tangible symbols as the first workshop and more to come, i had wonderful photos for them woking activily , with good communication among the group and hope to send to you photos as they come out.
They were sitting on the floor to do the low tech materials as schedules, communication boards, breakfast book, board for the needs .....etc. You will see it soon.

As we finish this course , i suggested to have AAC network among all the group as they come from different places to follow up what they did in their work with AAC, what problems they face, what success they have and then we will have small journal with our news , this is starting dream but they wee so excieted about it , one suggested why do not i have a center of my own for AAC , they will support me to have it , at least it is a good start for now.

India

Event 3:  Mumbai

This event was celebrated in Mumbi at Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai on 04th November 2009.  This was organized by the staff of the Department of Speech Language Pathology and Undergraduate and Post graduate students trainees doing Audiology and Speeck Language Pathology courses.

Primarily this day was declared "Open Day" for creating AAC awareness among the general public, professionals and parents.

On this event, different types of Low tech and high tech AAC systems were displayed and explained to the visitors.  During this event awareness was created about how the toys and different gadgets and material available in the open market can be utilized as low tech devices as learning material and teaching material.

This was well attended and appreciated.

Malta

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Club launch

October 30, 2009
Luqa

There are people for whom speech is not a valid form of communication. Several factors may affect the ability to speak. While this is a very frustrating circumstance, there are several ways in which communication may be achieved via alternative methods or augmentation of existing communicative abilities. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) describes methods of communication which reinforces any residual communication ability and also provides alternatives when speech is not an efficient mode of communication. These can include sign language and gestures, systems based on symbols, simple communication devices or complex electronic devices. In short, no matter what method is used, the goal is effective communication.

On Friday the Speech-Language Department launched the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) club at the Department for Social Welfare Standards. The club seeks to provide all AAC users with a forum for discussion as well as the opportunity to interact with other AAC users, both locally and internationally. The Hon. Dr Joseph Cassar, parliamentary Secretary of Health introduced the club and stated that he “was pleased to hear that the Speech and Language Department are a providing an opportunity for AAC users, their parents and carers to interact with each other.”   

Dr Cassar, together with Dr Rita Micallef, Manager of the Speech-Language Department, presented the awards to the winners of the AAC creative competition, which was open to all school-aged children. The competition was supported by ESL Gross market who sponsored the competition with their brand Creatives. They also presented all competition entrants with preference cards. The preference card entitles them to a discount when purchasing items from ESL Gross markets. During the launch Dr Rita Micallef, introduced the services provided by the department and described the fundamental role of the Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) in AAC. Dr Micallef said that, “the SLPs role is to assess the individual’s communication skills, design an intervention programme and assist the individual in the choice of the system. The SLP also monitors the development of the individual’s communication needs to ensure the system’s ongoing effectiveness”. During the launch Ms Veronica Montanaro, a speech and language pathologist, gave an introduction to AAC and provided an overview of the AAC club. One parent said “I am excited that my child is able to interact with other children using their AAC devices. This will provide an opportunity for more effective communication.” Following the launch, parents, carers and AAC users were able to register for the club. Any other AAC users can register with the club by contacting the Speech-Language Department on speechlanguage@gov.mt or on 21230822.

Open day at ACTU –
the leading national unit in Malta and Gozo which supports individuals with communication difficulties.

To enlarge the picture click on the picture!

Imagine you want to tell a story, voice your wishes, request food or drink, or simply want to whisper ‘I love you’ to your loved one. Can you imagine the feeling when you want to say so much and are unable because you cannot talk? This is a common reality with a number of individuals who have communication difficulties. October 2009 marks AAC International Awareness Month. The Access to Communication and Technology Unit (ACTU) at Student Services Department, is the leading national unit which gives support to parents, educators, and allied professionals in the use and implementation of assistive technology strategies.

On the 28th October, H.E. The President of Malta Dr. George Abela and his wife visited The Access to Communication and Technology Unit (ACTU). The President was accompanied by the Honourable Minister Dolores Cristina and the Director General DES Ms. Micheline Sciberras.

Hundreds of people attended to the event organised by ACTU. Information was provided to educators, families, AAC users and allied professionals giving suggestions on how to create effective communication opportunities. A Resource Pack was sent to all schools to encourage discussion on multimodal communication in the classroom.  Exemplars of a range of aided and unaided systems, switch adapted toys, curricular activity corners, high tech aids and a vast range of hardware and software were tried.

The Unit has extended the service to offer comprehensive assessments, support and intervention to individuals in order to express themselves as independently as possible. The new trans-disciplinary team includes Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists and a Learning Support Assistant. This team is providing a service to individuals of all ages via an open referral system for parents, educators and allied professions.

For further details on how to access ACTU services please contact ACTU team by email on marica.s.gatt@gov.mt, web: http://www.actu.inclusivecurriculum.com; on Facebook: Friends of ACTU or telephone numbers 21228349/50