Transcript Conversation Books - Review

Clarification Strategies
Augmentative Communication
Services – KidsAbility
Overview of Workshops
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Two sessions:
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2.
Conversation books, Topic boards +
more – Information session
Make and Take session
Clarification Strategies
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Clarification Strategies can:
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Increase successful communication
experiences
Improve social participation
Increase an individual’s range of
conversational topics
Facilitate continued development of
expressive language skills
Clarification Strategies
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Research shows
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There is often an increase in speech with the
introduction of augmentative or alternative
communication
Use of clarification strategies results in no
decrease in speech and significant increase in
communication success and repair
Using clarification strategies results in an
increase in communication effectiveness
What is a conversation book?
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It is a book (any shape or size) that
contains a person’s own news or events.
Like a scrapbook it contains “remnants”
or memorabilia of news and/or events of
home, school, and community events or
activities.
Conversation books showcase the
individual – what they like, what they do
– who they are!
Why would we make and use a
conversation book?
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To spark conversations between
people
To share information
To ask and respond to questions
To support literacy development
To foster participation (in making
the book and sharing the
information)
How can you make one?
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Be on the lookout for “remnants” (i.e. ticket
stubs, a leaf from a walk, a photograph, a
postcard, a newspaper article, a picture from a
catalogue or a flyer, a napkin, a cut out from a
container etc.)
Put the “remnants” into a photo album or paste
them into a notebook
Include a sentence describing the item
Talk about it while making it together
Add new information as often as possible
HAVE FUN!!!!
Conversation Books
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Examples
Video
Contents/vocabulary selection –
handout
Organizing Information
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Doesn’t have to be in chronological
order
Placement of core vocabulary (i.e.
alphabet board, topic board, lists,
strategy information)
Think ahead about next steps when
the book gets full
Use more of the same books
 Transfer information to a larger reference
book
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Keeping the book up to date/useful
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It is recommended that something
be added to the book at least ONE
time per week.
Remember…
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HAVE FUN!!
Keep the topics child focused
Talk about it while making it
Don’t be concerned about how it
looks
Include a quick sentence about the
topic to help support the
conversation
What are topic boards?
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Lists categories about which the
child frequently communicates
Can include activities, interests,
environments
Can include time indicators, ex.
“yesterday”, “today”, “tomorrow”
Can be picture or word based
Can include alphabet and/or
numbers
When is a child ready to use a topic
board?
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Has basic categorization skills
Can use symbols to represent ideas
Respond to communication
partner’s cues that they are not
being understood
Why would you make and use a topic
board?
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To clarify information
To share information
To ask and respond to questions
How would you make one?
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Identify frequently discussed topics,
interests and environments
Determine whether you need sub
topics
Consider symbol set
Consider how much information will
be represented
Consider spacing, colour coding
Topic Boards
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Examples
Video
Contents/vocabulary selection
Other methods used to clarify a
message:
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Theme displays
Picture dictionaries
Alphabet boards
Calendars
Visual reminder page
Partner strategies page
Modeling the use of clarification
strategies
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Communication partners will need
to model the use of these tools
Additional cueing may be needed to
support your child in successfully
using these strategies
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!!
Things to bring for next session…
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Binder/photo album/notebook
Photographs of friends/family/pets
Graphics of favourite
toys/games/activities/movies/books
Remnants from recent activities (i.e. ticket stubs,
pamphlets)
Any materials that you would like to personalize
your child’s book.
Completed topic board template
Completed strategies template
Questions regarding any information discussed
during previous sessions