In this week’s blog, learn how to model and encourage the use of communication boards to increase communication and build meaningful relationships.
Continue readingHow To Encourage The Use of Communication Boards
How To Make Sure Inclusive Playgrounds Have What They Need
Inclusive playgrounds create an environment of acceptance for all children. When designing a playground it is important to include the key elements.
Continue readingFollowing Your Schedule: How to get Back on Track
Holidays can be a time when the normal routine is disrupted. It’s time to get back on track and follow your daily routine.
Continue readingHow to Get a Playground Communication Board for Your Local Playground
Imagine this: the sun shining, laughter echoing, and kids of all abilities playing together on the playground. Wouldn’t that be incredible? YOU can make this happen! Introducing a special communication board to your community playground, ensures that every child, regardless of their communication abilities, can join in the fun.
**Why a Playground Communication Board?**
Some of our friends need a little extra help talking. A communication board on the playground opens up a world of play and connection for everyone. It’s not just a board; it’s a bridge that connects hearts and creates lasting friendships.
**How Can You Help?**
We believe in the power of community! By making a commitment to provide a playground communication board to your local playground, you become a superhero in making the playground inclusive and accessible for all. Here are 5 easy steps for how you can be a part of this exciting journey:
**Make a plan:**
Ask yourself (and your committee) these questions as this project takes shape:
- What playground would benefit from communication boards?
- What languages are predominantly spoken in your community?
- How would the communication boards best be installed (ie: free standing in a frame, attached to a fence, attached to a piece of equipment, secured to a side of a building, etc.)
**Research Your Options**
When looking for a company to provide the communication signs, you want to ask the following questions:
- Has a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist developed the vocabulary?
- Can the communication sign be 100% customized if need be at a reasonable price?
- Is the overall price reasonable?
- Is communication with a REAL PERSON easy, efficient and effective?
- Does the company stand behind the quality of their communication signs?
Everyone likes to be part of a great idea that helps everyone in the community.
- Research different funding opportunities in your community.
- Get creative and host a mini-fundraiser in your neighborhood, school, or workplace. Bake sales, garage sales, or even a fun-themed event can make a big impact.
- Reach Out to Local Businesses – local businesses love supporting community projects. Approach them and see if they would be interested in sponsoring our playground communication board.
**Making it all come together**
Once your vision is set, you’ve made your selection and the funding is in place, it is important that the production of the communication sign is fast and accurate:
- Ensure you receive a draft copy of the artwork/layout prior to production.
- Share your agency’s and/or funding source’s logo to be included on the communication sign
- Expect frequent and clear communication
**Celebrate**
When your playground communication board arrives, plan for a playground part to unveil this great accomplishment. Celebrate the fact that you have made a firm statement in your community that:
- Inclusivity Matters: Every child deserves the chance to play and communicate on the playground.
- Building Friendships is Important: The communication board isn’t just a tool; it’s a bridge to new friendships and shared adventures.
- Community Unity Matters: Together, you helped to create a community that embraces and supports every child’s unique abilities.
Bonus tip:
**Stay Connected:**
Record your journey on social media with regular updates, stories of triumph, and a behind-the-scenes look at how your contributions are making a real difference.
Join us in creating a playground that speaks the language of joy, friendship, and inclusivity. Together, we’re building bridges that last a lifetime!
Days Before Christmas
‘Twas days before Christmas
And all thru the place,
Anticipation was brewing
Behaviors a disgrace.
Young and old are excited
Let’s celebrate – oh Joy!
Use your expected social skills
For every girl and boy.
With gifts a plenty
Don’t forget the magic word,
For friends and family,
“Thank you” must be heard.
All the smells and sounds
For many is bliss,
Yet other lament
“I can do without this!”
Have a plan in place
Creating comfort abound,
Makes for a season
Of happiness all ‘round.
Happy Holidays to all
The message to you each,
Tidings of joy to everyone
From Lakeshore Speech!
Sensory-Friendly Thanksgiving
Celebrating Thanksgiving with a child with Autism may require some preparations ahead of time and on the special day to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
Continue readingCommunication Boards by the Pool
Pool communication boards can make it easier for everyone to have a good time in the pool, especially people with communication differences.
Continue readingLearning to be Social
The calendar doesn’t lie. How is it we are only 10 days away from Valentine’s Day!? With all the attention on sharing love and kindness on that day (as well as every day), we need to take a moment to pause and take into account the skills that bring people closer are really hard to learn.
Some loved ones pick up on social cues and nuances without issue and others require a very clear explanation. As parents, taking the time to frame acceptable and unacceptable behaviors for your family’s values is crucial. Society dictates a number of ‘unwritten’ rules, which makes learning these skills even more difficult for some. Providing a safe environment to discuss and process these ‘unwritten’ rules is important at every age of development. The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) provide a nice resource for families focused on this area of speech and language.
Your friendly speech-language pathologist would be happy to help you and your family with any questions or concerns you may have related to social communication, social skills, or social pragmatics. Please feel free to give Kelly a call at 440-471-7190 to set up an appointment.
Yours in Speech,
Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.
Friday Night Lights, Coming Soon!
It’s almost impossible to believe that August has come and will be leaving in a few days! Time flies when you’re running at land speed records in a million different directions. First day of school pictures have been taken and posted, ‘normal’ routine has started, and “Friday Night Lights” will soon be starting! Those “Friday Night Lights” can help build language as well as social skills more than you have thought.
“Friday Night Lights” harkens memories of high school football, marching band, and hanging out on the bleachers with your friends. Add adulthood and a family and “Friday Night Lights” might not conjure up the same warm feelings as it once had. Running to the restrooms, purchasing way too much from the concession stand and listening to complaints of being bored or the seats are too hard…..ah yes, “Friday Night Lights”. Preparing your family for these evenings can only make those “Lights” shine brighter.
Just like the football team, cheerleaders and marching band, your family ‘team’ needs to practice for the big night as well. How do spectators practice? Read on.
Go to practice games and rehearsals. Chances are the local middle and high school teams and marching bands are practicing daily. Take advantage of these less formal settings to PRACTICE sitting on the bleachers. Take note of any issues related to the bleachers (seats are too hard, sitting up high is scary, being able to see through to the ground is scary) to find the areas that are most comfortable for you and your family. Visit the restrooms. Locate the changing area if needed. Bring your family members in to the restrooms to become familiar with these surrounds so there won’t be any issues when there are larger crowds. Experience the sounds of the practices to decrease being alarmed during a game. The whistles on the field, the marching band playing the fight song, the cheerleaders cheers, all of these sounds are new and can be very upsetting. Help your family anticipate these sounds.
Learn the lingo. If a family member is non-verbal, create signs that have simple messages – Go Team – to get them to be part of the fun. Practice simple messages for family members with limited language – Go! – Fight! – Win! A football game is language rich. Choose one or two words that will have the most meaning and practice at home and at practice games.
Recognizance. Get the low down on your local “Friday Night Lights” game by making it a date night or going alone. Take note of how crowded certain sections of the bleachers become. When the marching band plays (typically there’s a pre-game and of course the half-time show). Where the cheerleaders stand. If there is a mascot. And maybe the most important piece, what is offered at the concession stand. These pieces of information will help you to better plan and anticipate your family’s needs during the game.
Concession stand mania. So much of the game is about the food and rightfully so. Make a plan for how your family will make purchases. Make that plan very clear to everyone to avoid melt-downs at the stadium. Create a snack board of the items at the concession stand (You have this information because you went to the game alone before.). Not only does a snack board provide a visual cue for everyone, put gives non-verbal members of the family a way to communicate their choice without play the ‘yes/no’ or ‘point and cry’ game.
Set a time limit, initially. At the onset of the season, you may need to make it very clear when or how long your family ‘team’ will be attending the event. You want to leave the game on a high note. Setting this parameter may avoid a melt-down when it is time to leave. Give a concrete time that may or may not necessarily be associated with the clock. Because of your recognizance trip, you have the information you need. Give warnings prior to departure time (“After this song, we are leaving.” “When the cheerleaders finish we are walking to the car.”). Expand the amount of time you spend at each game you attend, if only by 10 minutes.
Don’t forget, this is fun! Time together is the biggest victory of all! Enjoy!
Yours in Speech,
Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC
Prior Planning Goes the Distance!
Changes in schedules and routines are completely expected if not expected. As we approach the July 4th holiday, evaluating the changes in schedules and routines – PROACTIVELY – will provide for a much more enjoyable holiday experience for everyone!
Last year, one of the blog posts was dedicated specifically to preparing for the July 4th holiday. We invite you to revisits that post as the information continues to be ever important. These proactive steps do not end with just the holiday. As you are devising your summer plans, it is helpful to be aware of the resources within different venues and activities that are designed to meet the needs of individuals with special needs.
If you are visiting the Cleveland MetroParks Zoo, you should be aware of these services available to you and your loved ones.
Going to an Indian’s game at Progressive Field? Check out these resources and these and these.
Headed to the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse? You are going to want to be aware of this information.
And if your summer plans take you to Cedar Point, you definitely are going to want to read this information.
In general, before you head off to any vacation or stay-cation destination, check with the facility to inquire of what materials and resources are available onsite to address the needs of individuals with special needs.
Yours in Speech,
Lakeshore Speech Therapy, LLC.