Engineering the Classroomfor Communication

Susan Drysdale, M.Ed., M.A., CCC-SLP

2007-2008 School Year

CAIU MDS ClassCamp Hill HS

Susan Way, M. Special Ed., teacher

Dedicated to the STAFF & STUDENTS who made this possible

Engineering the Classroom

• Involves…– delineating, prioritizing, & preparing classroom

environments to facilitate language development, communication & literacy

– providing access to materials & technology including AAC devices & AT equipment for all students

– using teaching techniques/strategies• Aided language stimulation• least-to-most prompting• choice making

• Engineered classrooms…– are especially beneficial for nonverbal students &/or

students with multiple disabilities; verbal students can also benefit

– require considerable planning to design & create

What Are Some of the Needs?

Beginning of the Year

Needs Assessment Tool

• Teacher completed• Identified

– class needs– staff needs

• 2 areas of focus selected– provide students means to

improve comprehension of structured learning/work activities/tasks

– Teacher/staff learn/use no-tech communication strategies & materials (e.g., schedules, picture communication systems, boards/overlays)

Engineering the Classroom for CURRENT needs…

What Would We Provide?

• Visually-based materials– Communication boards– Communication books– Sentence starters flip chart

• Aided language stimulation technique• Access to technology including

– AAC devices– AT equipment– Computer

• Organization & flexibility of physical space

Mid-Year Milestones

On-site Training

AAC to Gain Attention

AAC for Peer Interaction

Using Excel for Spelling

Communication Board to Aid

Expressive Language

Number Board to Aid Comprehension

Communication Book to Aid

Expressive Language

End of the Year

Communication Boardto Aid

Expressive Language

AAC Device to Aid Comprehension

Sentence Starters Flip Chart to Aid Comprehension

Peer Photos to Aid Comprehension

AAC Device to Communicate Needs

Using Intellikeys to Access Excel for Spelling

AAC to SupportGroup Activity

Communication Boardto Aid

Expressive Language

AAC Device to Aid Comprehension

Needs Assessment Revisited

Teacher Completed in May, 2008

What Were Student Gains?

• Provided with… – means to participate &

communicate– access to materials &

technology equipment

• Improved language skills– receptive language– expressive language

• Increased peer/staff social communication interactions

• Enhanced self-esteem

How Did the Staff Benefit?

• Learned how to… – prepare/use visually-based materials

• communication boards & displays• communication books• sentence starters flip chart• digital photos/graphics

– provide some group activities for all or most students to participate & communicate

– use …• AAC devices/AT equipment• Aided language stimulation technique

• Improved organization, flexibility, & creative use of limited physical space

What Do We Know?• On-site training is essential & applied immediately

– software– AAC devices– AT equipment– computer access– design & preparation of materials

• Consultation with staff must be ongoing• Preparation takes planning well in advance• Time & effort needed to engineer the classroom• Students…

– are more focused– better able to participate & communicate– have more opportunities to interact with staff & peers

Plans for 2008-2009

• Needs assessment completed early in September– Identify 2-3 areas of focus– Schedule regular on-site trainings based on staff needs

• Design & prepare materials far in advance of planned activities/tasks

• Purchase/create electronic materials accessible to all students– Books/adapted books– Games & puzzles– Activities (e.g., art, music, reading, math)

• Organize & share materials

CAIU Professional Staff

Susan Drysdale, SLPJean Mulligan, Vision SpecialistSusan Way, MDS Teacher

Alecia Staley, B.A., TSSKeystone Human Services

Other Professional Staff

Kathy BrechbeilMary BuchananMarie Lewis

Paraprofessional Staff

John AhernLaura DeArment (transferred 01/25/08)

William DudleyGlenn FullerPhillip HenryJustin LingenfelterHarry SpilkerQuentin Tyler

CAIU Students

andCamp Hill HS students who provided

support to CAIU students

Now we can begin Engineering the Classroom

for FUTURE needs…