Tag: Autism

How to Advocate for Communication Boards: Community Engagement Guide

We are aware and understand the profound impact that communication boards can have in creating inclusive, accessible environments for all children. This comprehensive guide will provide the strategies and insights needed to advocate effectively for the installation of communication boards in your local municipalities.

New School Year: A Guide for a Smooth Start

Preparing for a new school year can be both exciting and overwhelming. With a bit of planning and some practical tips, we can make this transition smoother and more enjoyable for both you and your child.

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How to Create Sentences: A Beginners Guide for AAC

student pointing to playground communication board

Communication boards are essential tools in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) used to support individuals with speech and language differences. For those unfamiliar with AAC, creating sentences using core words on a communication board might seem daunting.

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How to Communicate When Your Conversation Partner Uses a Communication Board

Therapist modeling how to use a playground communication board to student.

Effective communication is essential for connecting with others, sharing ideas, and building relationships. For individuals using speech-generated devices (SGDs) or communication boards, interaction can be a bit different.

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Revealing The Impact Of Communication Boards In Lowell, MA

July marks Parks and Recreation Month, a time to celebrate the vibrant public spaces. We turn our focus on Lowell, Massachusetts, where an innovative approach to inclusivity has made a significant positive impact on the community.

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How To Create Genuine Connections:Powerful Impact of Communication Boards

young man with cochlear implant pointing to a message on a playground communication board.

Playground communication boards have emerged as a powerful solution to bridge the gap and facilitate meaningful relationships, especially for individuals with communication challenges.

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How To Help Navigate Emotions: Emotional Balance Communication Boards

Introduction:

As parents, caregivers, teachers, therapists, humans, we strive to help children navigate the complex world of emotions. Emotions are a fundamental part of our daily lives, influencing how we think, feel, and behave. For children, understanding and managing emotions can be especially challenging. Understanding and managing these feelings are crucial for their well-being. Learning how to effectively and clearly express emotions can be challenging for children and adults alike. A powerful tool that can assist in this process is emotional balance communication boards. These boards not only assist with effective communication but provide clear options for dealing with these big emotions.

Understanding Emotional Balance/Regulation:

Being able to clearly explain to adults and children alike how being emotionally balanced or regulated involves recognizing and managing one’s emotions in a healthy and constructive way.

Organizing and naming emotions:

Giving children and adults the exact words to name specific emotions is extremely powerful. When emotions run high (or low) having the tools to either give a child a voice by using a communication board or provide a visual reminder is imperative.

Grouping emotions is a common way to organize a communication board specific for emotional balance/regulation. For example:

Sad, Tired, Sick, Bored: Low states of alertness and down feelings.
Happy, Calm, Focused: The optimal state for learning and socializing.
Frustrated, Anxious, Nervous: Elevated states of alertness and intense feelings.
Angry, Terrified, Jealous: Extremely heightened states of alertness and intense feelings.

Providing visual reminders

Once an emotion is communicated, providing options to support the child or adult as they manage validates their feelings and teaches life long skills for maintaining emotional balance.

For each group of emotions identified above are specific techniques that are easy to incorporate in any situation. For example:

Sad, Tired, Sick, Bored: eating or drinking something, asking for a break, talking to a trusted person
Happy, Calm, Focused: ready to work, ready to learn, listen for instructions
Frustrated, Anxious, Nervous: counting to 10, taking deep breaths, asking for a break
Angry, Terrified, Jealous: asking for space, taking a walk, getting a drink of water

Benefits to Children and Adults

Increased Independence: Using emotional balance communication boards empower children and adults to express their emotions independently, leading to increased confidence and self-esteem.
Improved Emotional Literacy: Consistent use of emotional balance communication boards can improve an individual’s emotional literacy, helping them better understand and manage their feelings.
Empathy and Understanding: Using emotional balance communication boards promotes empathy and understanding by encouraging children and adults to recognize and respect others’ emotions.

Tips for Use

Daily Check-ins- Use the emotional balance communication board for daily check-ins
Practice Techniques and Strategies: practice the strategies that can help children move from one emotional group to another (e.g., deep breathing for moving from heightened state to calm state).
Encourage Open Communication: Create a safe space for individuals to discuss their emotions and ask for help when needed

Conclusion:

In conclusion, incorporating emotional balance communication boards can be a powerful way to help children and adults identify, understand, and regulate their emotions. By using this framework, parents and caregivers can support individuals in developing essential emotional skills and techniques that will benefit them throughout their lives.

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How To Look at Access: Increase Playground Accessibility For Everyone

Access to playgrounds in more than physical. This week’s blog focuses on access for everyone.

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Daylight Saving Time: How to Helping Children Adjust

Tips to help children adjust to the time change.

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Speech Therapy: How To Get Caregivers And Grandparents Involved

Grandparents working with child on an activity

Speech therapy is not just about what happens in the therapy room—it’s also about practicing skills at home. Involving caregivers and grandparents in home carryover can greatly increase a child’s progress.

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