This newsletter from Danbury Speech provides information about augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and assistive technology in classrooms. It announces upcoming events, including the start of the school year and due dates for homework folders. It encourages teachers to learn how to use new technologies like Promethean boards and iPads and to collaborate on creative ways to incorporate the technologies into lessons. Articles in the newsletter discuss overcoming obstacles to using assistive technology for communication in inclusive classrooms and providing opportunities for students using AAC devices to successfully communicate.

1. Danbury Speech Newsletter Issue:1 Fall 2011
Danbury Speech
Newsletter
Welcome to the first issue of Danbury Speech’s seasonal
newsletter! This newsletter will contain helpful information
related to Augmentative & Alternative Communication and
technology in the Classroom.
Announcements
September
19, 11
Speech Begins
December
15.2011
Interested in submitting a
writing piece for the next
Issue? Danbury Speech
would love to publish
what you have to say! If
you have any tips or
helpful hints you have
found useful feel free to
share!
October
31.2011
Speech Homework
folders will be due at
the end of the month
with their signed
parent participation
slips
“ Making effective communication, a human right, accessible and
achievable for all.” – American Speech-Language Hearing Association
he start of the new school
year has brought some great
changes to our Elementary School.
With technology being more
heavily incorporated in the
classroom, we have seen the new
Promethean and Ipad technologies
and the potential that they hold.
The boards can provide a more
intuitive learning experience for
students fostering increased
participation. In order to harness
the full capabilities of these boards
we must spend time to understand
how they work.
We owe it to ourselves and
to our students to familiarize
ourselves with the technology that
is available and to be able to use in
in a manner that is efficient and
effective. I would like to
encourage those with Promethean
boards to stay connected with each
other and collaborate on creative
ways to use the boards. We would
also like to extend our services if
there is anything that we can help
with. We look forward to a great
year!
- Danbury Speech

2. 2
Assistive Technology:
Inclusion: First steps in over coming the obstacles of Assistive
Technology for Communication in the Classroom.
Assistive technology for communication in regular classroom
settings challenges both the AAC user and school personnel. Successful
planning and implementation in an inclusive classroom is a team effort
that involves all personal from the teacher to the occupational
therapist, physical therapist, speech-language pathologist and all other
support personnel involved with the student.
In order to ensure that the student has the communication tools
needed in the classroom, several factors must be taken into
consideration.
1. Assess the communications style and opportunities within the
classroom to develop the vocabulary the student will need to
participate.
2. Assess the teacher and aide’s instructional language patterns.
E.g. What types of questions are asked? What types of
directions are given? What amount of processing and response
time is provided? Are opportunities for participation presented
in ways that allow the student to prepare responses without
causing the group to wait?
3. What are the vocabulary demands required of the student with
respect to the curriculum? E.g. Asking simple yes/no
questions, WH-questions that increase the vocabulary demand.
Open-ended discussion questions that demand the student to
generate language structure quickly and efficiently.
“AssistiveTechnology”VirginiaTrainingandTechnicalAssistanceCenter,VirginiaDept.ofEducation.
09162011.http://www.ttac.odu.edu/articles/assistiv2.html.
AAC in the Classroom
For users the following are key
points for their inclusion
1. Provide several
opportunities throughout
the day to experience
successful communication
interaction
2. Include repetition of
communication-focused
interaction integrated into
the daily routine.
3. Involve peer models in
classroom activities,
which benefits both
students with and without
communication
disabilities.
Promethean Planet Blog:
Active Educator Survival Guide
Experienced Teacher Adrienne Phillips writes
about her woes using the interactive whiteboard and
how she was able to adapt her curriculum and
successfully incorporate her interactive whiteboard to fit
her teaching style in the classroom. A basic survival
guide that anyone using a white board must read!
Phillips 5 part series will leave you feeling with a whole
new appreciation for the amazing board in your
classroom. Watch out for the link to Phillips Series in
your CUSD email inbox!
Ipad’s are a great way to involve student
participation in your classroom. With the use of
an Ipad you can have students interact with the
lessons you’ve created to use on your
Promethean Board.