Speak for Yourself is a type of AAC program that I have used with many students. Read on to learn more about using Speak for Yourself, and AACs in general, in your classroom!
What is AAC?
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is any type of tool that helps individuals with speech and language difficulties to communicate. AAC can be low-tech, such as a communication board or picture exchange system. Or, it can be high-tech with a dedicated app for communication on a tablet. There are many different AAC apps available. A few well-known examples are Proloquo2Go, TouchChat, and LAMP. My district most often uses the Speak For Yourself (S4Y) program.
All About Speak For Yourself
Speak for Yourself is an AAC app developed by speech-language pathologists. The features of the app include:
-An open/close function that allows for a limited number of words to be made visible. This benefits students who are first learning the app by preventing the overwhelm of a large library.
-The babble feature, which allows users to explore all the words in the app.
-A no duplication feature to prevent the same word form being included in multiple places, making it easier to remember locations.
One of the things I love about S4Y is that it never takes more than two touches to get to a word! If a word is inside a folder, it will be visible right after clicking the folder. If you’re not sure where to find something, the search feature makes it easy to learn the word’s location. It is also easy to add and edit words in the app!
Using the App in the Classroom
There are so many ways to incorporate AAC use in the classroom! If students are not yet proficient with their devices, it is important to create opportunities for practice so they get more comfortable and work towards independent usage. You and the paraprofessionals in your classroom can model language usage on the app throughout the day.
One way I like to incorporate AAC is during whole-group lessons. Another great time to utilize AAC is during playtime and/or natural environment teaching. Students can use their device to practice manding for items and communicating with peers.
In addition to using S4Y during Speech therapy, I encourage Occupational and Physical therapists to become familiar with the app as well. The more opportunities students have for developing language usage, the better! Students should have access to their AAC at all times. A child who uses their voice to communicate cannot have that taken away, so a device should not be removed from a child either. AAC is their voice!
Speak For Yourself/AAC Training for Teachers
I have been fortunate to have the developers of Speak For Yourself provide training and consultation to me and other teachers in school. Watching someone who is adept with any AAC app model usage is invaluable!
Luckily, S4Y offers a host of professional development resources for teachers (and families) on their website. Familiarize yourself witht he app with resources including video tutorials, core word lesson plans, and category charts.
Do your students use AAC in the classroom? What programs do you use? Share your thoughts below so we can learn from each other!
