HomeTalk: a Family Assessment
HomeTalk, a Family Assessment of Children who are Deafblind was developed by myself and Philip Schweigert with the help of following team of parents and professionals: John Harris, Nancy Hartshorne...
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Collection Families Sharing Information on Their AAC Journeys
Date Created: 5/5/2019
Posts: 11
Here on the Communication Matrix Forum we have been fortunate to have several Collections Hosted by parents of children with complex communication needs (CCN). Out on the web, there are many more. This collection is an attempt bring those together.
Kelly is a self-employed consultant and trainer in assistive & educational technology. She started out her working career as a teaching assistant, and has worked as a special education teacher, instructional media specialist, and as a assistive technology consultant at the school, state and university program levels. She works as a consultant to programs, schools & families in implementing assistive technologies for communication and literacy. Kelly also presents nationally, teaches university and online courses and also works with a variety of assistive technology companies in the industry. She has her BS in Special Education from Millersville University in Pennsylvania & her MS in Educational Technology with an emphasis in Rehabilitation/Special Education Technology from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. She has pursued continuing education & research in Urban Education & Adult Learning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and is a PODD Certified presenter. You can find her at www.kellyfonner.com In addition to her professional affiliation with people with complex communication needs, Kelly has people in her personal life that use and have used assistive technologies and this has molded and shaped her career and presentations over time. She firmly believes that information about this field is at its greatest value when represented from all perspectives and this has brought her whole-heartedly to the Communication Matrix Community of Practice.
Home Talk, an assessment created with families for families
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Hold My Words Facebook page & personal blog www.kimrankin.com follow the journey of a young boy with complex communication and medical needs.
Hold My Words
A family of all boys who are grown and on their own journeys, continues to grow their family by adopting a young boy with complex medical and communication needs. This is the very shortened story behi...
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We Speak PODD has been one of the most influential Facebook pages & YouTube Channels in AAC Implementation
We Speak PODD
We Speak PODD has been one of the most influential family Facebook & YouTube Channels in the field of AAC. Karen and Adam Owen's documentation of their family's journey of learning the PODD (Pragmatic...
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Sharing a family's learning & communication journey
Learning with Curren - A Complex Communication Journey
Learning with Curren - A Complex Communication Journey is a Facebook Page maintained by Curren's mother Nerissa Ramsey. Nerissa also writes on a blog http://nerissaramsey.weebly.com/ The Facebook p...
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Videos are an invaluable source of information
Harper's Hope: A parents view of the Power of Early Intervention
The Desired Results Access Project has posted a new view about a family and their reflections of their daughters birth and the services that they have received through early intervention providers. ...
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Sisters sharing a bond & our experiences may lead to career choices
Beautiful Brown Eyes- Sensory Impairments in Children with Multiple Disabilities
And so the song goes- "Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes. Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes, Beautiful, beautiful brown eyes, I'll never love blue eyes again." He cradled her in his arms, singin...
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A rainbow wouldn't be a rainbow if it was missing one single color...
Joy Outside the Box
As both a Facebook Page and a Blog, this family shares their journey through life with as Mom describes "Goofy-goof of a mama to two neurodiverse kiddos with very different needs. They're both pretty ...
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Video is an invaluable way to follow your child's progress & so much fun!
A Young Girl's Journey with CDKL5 Disorder
On this YouTube Channel you will find over 20 videos that Zoe's family has collected to map out her journey since the signs of her diagnosis started during infancy. There are several early videos from...
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A Parent Learns so much through their Child
Schyler's Big Box of Words
Father becomes author after researching AAC options for his daughter, their journey is tracked in several places on the internet. Facebook, YouTube, Amazon and a Blog. Many know their story from their...
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Emmy is a Star follows a child's AAC, motor & most importantly friendship development through video
Emmy is a Star!
Emmy is a Star is a Facebook Personal Blog and YouTube Channel that follows along with the many activities of Emmy. Described in their words as "Emmy went without oxygen at birth. The result was a tr...
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Lesley Skahan is on a mission to create a Community of Symbol users around her son
Mason's Milestones
Lesley Skahan is Mom to 3 Boys, one who has complex communication and health needs, a Home Schooling parent, and a woman on a mission to share what she and her family are learning about building a com...
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Many teachers require their college students in communication disorders or child development classes to complete a Communication Matrix online. Please have your students use the Test Drive site for this purpose. You may ask them to print out the Profile and Communication Skills List as proof of their work.
Statement A
My child doesn't seem to have real control over his body yet.
The only way I know that he wants something is because he fusses or whines when he's unhappy or uncomfortable, and he smiles, makes noises or calms down when he's happy and comfortable. Does this statement describe your child?
Statement B
My child has control over her own behaviors, but she doesn't use them to try to communicate to me.
She doesn't come to me to let me know what she wants, but it's easy for me to figure out, because she tries to do things for herself. She knows what she wants, and her behavior shows me what she wants. If she runs out of something to eat, she will just try to get more, rather than trying to get me to give her more.
Does this statement describe your child?
Statement C
My child clearly tries to communicate his needs to me through gestures, sounds or language.
He knows how to get me to do something for him. He uses some of the kinds of behaviors below to communicate:
- Gestures such as pointing, shaking his head, tugging at my arm or looking back and forth between me and what he wants
- Sounds such as squealing to show you he wants something or fussing when he doesn't want something
- Language or symbolic forms of communication such as speech, written words, Braille, picture symbols, 3-dimensional symbols or sign language
Does this statement describe your child?
How to score your child
Each question you will see is related to a certain message that your child might be able to express using a variety of behaviors. Read the question and decide whether your child is able to express the message described using any of the listed behaviors. If the answer is YES, then you must also decide whether your child has mastered the use of each behavior or whether it is still at an emerging stage. Check either the mastered or emerging box next to any behaviors your child uses to express the message. Use the following definitions to decide whether a behavior is mastered or emerging
Mastered
– Does this independently most of the time when the opportunity arises
– Does this in a number of di erent contexts, and with di erent people
Emerging
– Does this inconsistently
–
Only does this when prompted or encouraged to do so. Only does this in one or two contexts or with one person.
Tips on Communication Devices
Each question you will see is related to a certain message that your child might be able to express using a variety of behaviors. Read the question and decide whether your child is able to express the message described using any of the listed behaviors. If the answer is YES, then you must also decide whether your child has mastered the use of each behavior or whether it is still at an emerging stage. Check either the mastered or emerging box next to any behaviors your child uses to express the message. Use the following definitions to decide whether a behavior is mastered or emerging