Summer AAC camp can be a catalyst for year-round communication at home and school, whether or not a child has been to camp. Let these tips and ideas – our "Camp-to-Go" menu – be your guide while helpinging children and students using AAC discover the joy of self-expression.
Reach out
Place icebreakers that express curiosity ("Where do you live?, How long did it take you to get here?") and praise ("Did you get new glasses since I saw you last? They're cute!", "I hear you're an excellent swimmer!") on your child's speech communication device. A must for new social situations, such phrases help children to make friends and think beyond themselves whether spoken on arrival at camp or the first day of school.
Let me answer that
Give children a way to respond easily and vividly when asked about their summer experience with an after-camp page that includes past-tense sentence starters such as "I made...," "I saw..." and "My favorite part was..." Filling in the blanks or changing the message (from "I roasted marshmallows" to "We roasted hot dogs," or "My favorite part was sleeping in the cabin" to "My least favorite part was saying goodbye," for example) is a breeze with the slots feature on the V or Vmax or pop-up menus of descriptive vocabulary on older devices.
(Courtesy Jaina Hulbert-Billings, M.A., CCC-SLP – Camp Talkabout)
A star is reborn
Continue the popular camp traditions of skits, talent shows, and full-blown theatrical productions whether your child is performing in a school play or acting out favorite movie scenes with neighborhood buddies.
For a real showstopper, have children using AAC deliver funny lines by carrying posters made of Picture Communication SymbolsTM across the stage.
Technology has the power to bring everyone in on the act. The slow, deliberate pace of synthesized speech, for instance, models good language skills for children who use communication devices and their peers with typical speech.
(Courtesy Linda Bonnar M.A. CCC/SLP-ATP – Camp Communicate)
Don't let it rain on your parade...
Shower caps (like those found in hotel rooms but perhaps rarely used) are meant for more than keeping your hair dry. A snug fit for most communication devices, they offer protection from the elements whether your child is roaming a campground or caught in a downpour near home. And if the cap is clear, he or she may continue using the device in the rain until they find shelter.
(Courtesy Tracy M. Kovach, Ph.D., CCC-SLP – Talking with Technology Camp)
Need help? Just ask
Overnight camp stays, school field trips and nights at home with babysitters are stepping stones to independence for many children. Be sure your kids have vocabulary (on a device, in a picture book or on a manual word board) to convey messages to those assisting them at such times. For example: "Let's stay in the shade," "Help me take my jacket off," "May I have a drink when we get there?" and "Our games and snacks are on the top shelf." Don't forget "Please," "Thank you," and phrases such as "What's your name?" and "So nice to meet you" to ease first encounters between children and unfamiliar caregivers.
Keep in touch
Leaving friends behind after camp isn't easy. One way to lighten the sadness is for campers to become pen pals. Their correspondence may take the form of a handwritten letter prepared with help from a trusted sibling, accompanied by pictures of home and school activities and sent via snail mail. Communication devices with email capabilities, such as the V and Vmax, streamline the process, ensuring steady contact that the augmented communicators initiate themselves.
(Courtesy Linda Bonnar M.A. CCC/SLP-ATP – Camp Communicate)
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