Communication Module. Technology in the Classroom, Applications and Strategies for the Education of Children with Severe Disabilities
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 384 148 EC 303 781 AUTHOR Blackstone, Sarah W. TITLE Communication Module. Technology in the Classroom, Applications and Strategies for the Education of Children with Severe Disabilities. INSTITUTION American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Rockville, MD. SPONS AGENCY Special Education Programs (ED/OSERS), Washington, DC. REPORT NO ISBN-0-910329-70-2 PUB DATE Sep 92 CONTRACT H086U90018 NOTE 174p. AVAILABLE FROM Fulfillment Operations, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852 ($45, $4.90 postage and handling). PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Use Teaching Guides (For Teacher) (052) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Assistive Devices (for Disabled); *Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Behavior Rating Scales; *Classroom Techniques; *Communication Aids (for Disabled); *Communication Skills; Early Childhood Education; Integrated Curriculum; Intervention; Needs Assessment; Program Development; Program Implementation; *Severe Disabilities; Skill Development; Student Evaluation; *Technology ABSTRACT This training module is part of a series that provides a basic introduction to using assistive technology with young children (ages 2 to 7) who have severe disabilities in more than one area of development. This module focuses on technology that gives children another way to communicate when speaking is difficult or impossible. The module presents a four-phase intervention process built around a child's educational curriculum. The focus is toward helping the child achieve functional skills in all areas of life, including home, school, and community. The module begins with an introduction outlining the role of technology and members of the technology team and then provides an overview of communication, including the benefits of augmentative communication. The four phases are then presented: assessment and evaluation of effectivenass; program development and communication system implementation; expansion; and independence and growth. Within the discussion of each phase of intervention are descriptions of helpful tools, techniques, and strategies. Sample action and participation plans are also included to demonstrate how a child can be moved forward in his or her use of assistive technology. Appendixes provide an assistive technology resource list, examples of high technology devices, graphic symbol sets and systems, an interaction profile, a communication skill inventory, a communication assessment protocol, other inventories and rating scales, and a list of resources on devices and implementation strategies. A videotape, entitled "Assistive Technology: We Can Do It!," was developed to accompany this module and related modules (Contains 23 references.)(JDD) 4.10q,L,VOlg Technology in the Classroom Applications and Strategies for the Education of Children with Severe Disabilities Communication Module U DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Irnotowernnt EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 0 This document has been reproduced as raceway from the person Or OffillnflhOft onginfilinp rt Minor chenties rev. been made to whprcrile reproduction Quality Points of slew01Opini On* stated in thel doCir rnnt do not nate:Manly repelent official OERI MelonOfpolcy a BEST COPY AVAILABLE Communication Module Technology in the Classroom Applications and Strategies for the Education of Children with Severe Disabilities by Sarah W. Blackstone edited by Nancy T. Harlan Deborah M. Bruskin Aix ,N SPEECI+LANGUC7E- Hwmic AssoaArioN September 1992 3 COMMUNICATION MODULE Our apologies to Charity Rowland and Philip Schweigert of the OregonResearch Institute for omission of credit to them for the pictures appearingon pages 16, 18, 55, and 60. We are most appreciative of theirkind contribution. The project was supported in part by grant numberH086U90018from the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Depart- ment of Education, Washington, DC. The contents do not necessarily representthe policies or opinions of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or the U.S. Department of Education. Technology in the Classroom: Applications and Strategies for the Education of Childrenwith Severe Disabilities, Communica- tion Module is published by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.Order forms may be obtained by calling or writing to: Fulffillment Operations American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 10801Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland20852 (301) 897-5700,Ext.218 0 1992 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 10801 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland20E52 Printed in the United States ISBN 0-910329-70-2 Dedicated to the families, teachers, and service providers who are untiring in their efforts to help young children with severe disabilitiesreach their full potential. The purpose of this module is to give you information about assistive technology that will be helpful to you and your child or the children you serve. Therefore, make it work for you. Read only what you want to know now; read the rest later when it is pertinent to your needs. Preface With the advent of assistive technology, a new worldopened up for children with severe disabilities. They now would be able to moveabout, communicate, and learn, often alongside their able-bodied peers. However,making this technology available to these children and teaching them how to use it was not,and is not, an easy task. How do you go aboutinforming educators and related service providers about the intricacies, challenges, and benefits associatedwith using technology? How do you help them to become comfortable using assistivedevices as tools that can enhance, rather than interferewith, their daily teaching and other responsibili- ties? Technology in the Classroom: Applications and Strategies for theEducation of Children with Severe Disabilities, a 3-year project funded in part bythe U.S. Department of Education, tries to address these questions. The AmericanSpeech-Language- Hearing Association (ASHA) designed this project todevelop, field-test, and evaluate the effectiveness of self-instructional materials thatwould improve the knowledge and skills of families, teachers, and related servicepersonnel so that they could use assistive technology effectively in theeducational programs of young children with severedisabilities. Development of these materials involved the collaborative effort of many individuals who contributedsignificantly to the final products. Authors. These materials were authored by clinicians andteachers who have many years of experience in thefield of assistive technology. Sarah W. Blackstone, E. Lucinda Cassatt- James, Elaine Tref ler, and CarolFlexer all have seen young children struggle to walk, talk, learn, and listen before mostof the assistive tech- nologies available today existed. They know today'stechnology because their input helped to develop it. It was their vision and creativity thatguided the direction of this project. Their respect for children, their skills indetermining children's needs, and the depth of their knowledge regarding strategies to usein meeting those GI needs have been demonstrated in the content of the projectmaterials, along with their ability to share this knowledge in a clear andunderstandable manner. We all are indebted to these women fortheir long-term dedication to, and advocacy for, children with disabilities. Site Coordinators. Two field tests were concluded duringthe course of the project to help us determine whether the projectmaterials were actually useful in provid- 110 ing families, teachers, and related service providerswith strategies for a incorporating assistive technologies into the educational programsof young chil- dren. A local field test was conducted in MontgomeryCounty, Maryland; we are grateful to Tom O'Toole, Sandra Lebowitz, and NancyGould for helping us to conduct this field test and for facilitating a smoothworking relationship with public school personnel. The second field test, which wasconducted at the national level, was made possible by the willingness and graciousefforts of Peggy Locke in Minnesota, Richard Lytton in Rhode Island, JudyMontgomery in California, and Gail Van Tatenhove in Florida. Not only did theylocate the field-test sites and V t; Technology in the Classroom- Communication Module participants, but with their knowledgeable input they facilitated the fine-tuning of field-test evaluation instruments to better suit potential field-test participants. They also provided valuable input into the structuring of project materials. Their enthu- siasm for the project, their care in completing tedious tasks, and their collective sense of humor all contributed enormously to the successful completion of the project. External Advisors and Peer Reviewers. So many individuals gave freely of their time and energy to review the project materials, each contributing to the preparation of a better product. With heartfelt thanks we acknowledge Mary Brady, Linda Burkhart, Philippa Campbell, Cynthia Compton, Susan Elting, Don Goldberg, David Hawkins, Susan Hough, Mary Blake Huer, Bill Lee, Janice Light, Bill Lynn, Noel Matkin, Shirley Mc Naughton, Beth Mineo, Marion Panyan, Kathy Post, Susan Quinlisk-Gill, Eileen Raab, Mark Ross, Janis Speck, and Lana Warren. Internal Advisors. This group (Stan Dublinske, Kathryn Nickell, Cassandra Peters- Johnson, Diane Paul-Brown, Helen Pollack, and Jo Williams) supported the project throughout all of its phases and provided insightful suggestions, for which we are extremely