Category Archives: learning
The Do’s and Don’ts of Conversing: Speech Device Etiquette brought to you by Awesome in Action
After many, many years and conversations in the community with people unfamiliar with Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Nick and his team have put together a comprehensive guideline for the average Joe (or Joe-ette) to reference. Hope it helps all parties within a conversation!
Here I am teaching preschoolers at T.R. Paul Academy how to use my speech device.
We’ll Start with the Do’s, since they seem more positive:
Do…Hear me. Listen to my words, and ask me to turn up my device or repeat if you do not understand.
Do…Focus on me when I’m talking. My words are important, too.
Do…Realize it is hard to speak in complete thoughts. It takes a lot of work for me to move my arms and find the right word on my speech device
Here I am with my Speech Language Therapist, Linda Everett. I still practice twice a week on my speech device!
Do…Recognize that I use a combination of gestures and words to get my point across.
Do…Understand my care providers are here to help me communicate. I am the one who wants to talk to you.
Do…Talk to me, not about me or above me.
Do…Talk to me like you would anyone else. I have a sense of humor, and I am just like you!
Do...Respect my personal boundaries. I do not need to be touched while you are talking to me. Family members and care providers need to remember this especially!
This is the layout for one of my speeches. I have over 10 speeches programmed into my device. There are 84 keys on my home screen, each which lead to 1 or more pages with even more words. That’s a lot of choices!!
Do…Wait for me to finish talking. Be o.k. with quiet as I look for the correct words.
Do…Minimize distractions, it takes a bit of focus for me to communicate.
And now for the Don’ts….
Don’t….Talk too loud. I have a great sense of hearing, my friends call me “bat ears”
Don’t…Move too fast.I need to look at my speech device and cannot always have eye contact with you. Sometimes I miss gestures or facial expressions that you may need to repeat.
Don’t… try to respond for me because I am taking too long.
Don’t…assume I’m unintelligent and talk down to me just because it takes me awhile to respond.
Don’t… talk above my head. I can hear and I have feelings!
Don’t….ask me to perform. I will say the things I want to say when I want to say them (and deal with the repercussions!)
Here I am conversing with my friend, Alex.
Making Lions with Wolverine Cubs
Awesome in Action family and friends had a great time at the Bean Cycle in Fort Collins last Saturday!
We were very fortunate to be invited by Wolverine Farm Bookstore to host Little Wolverine Story Hour!
Before the event, Nick met two gentleman who brought over their sweet Border Collie to visit.
Nick meets a new friend!
Nick read his book, Helping in Action, while listeners enjoyed yummy snacks and drinks from the Bean Cycle.
Mya and her mom, Michelle, enjoy muffins and drinks!
After the story, participants made a cool lion craft!
Anna and Linda make lion faces after the book reading!
Olivia thinking about color choices
Thalia telling us how it’s done!
Evan Brengle works hard on his lion
Mya concentrating hard!
After the craft, everyone showed off their Completed Masterpieces!!
Linda, my Speech Language Pathologist
Debbie is unsure about her lion!
Nick demonstrating how to hold a lion mask.
Nick also gave the “Wolverine Cubs” a chance to try out a speech device! It’s fun and challenging to try out a new form of communication!
Linda, SLP, was very helpful as she taught Mya how to use a speech device
Why is Nick’s nose in the lion’s eye? We’re not sure either!
Thank you again to Evan Brengle, Wolverine Farm Bookstore Manager, as well as all of the participants of Little Wolverine Story hour! We hope we can join you again soon!
Awesome in Action, Co 