Fun Ways to Incorporate Language

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Fun Ways to Incorporate Language

Good morning BC users ☀️
 
Woke up this morning thinking of the variety of people joining this new group, and their needs. We have members not yet using the app, to haven’t used it in awhile and want to start back, to using it regularly either as a permanent or temporary solution. My guess is we have a range of discplines – teachers, therapists, parents, caregivers. Our spread is wide and we love it!
 
Decided to go with a video today that is on our new YouTube Channel. We posted this channel and some of its playlists in response to requests to see users in action, ideas for literacy & intervention, and tutorials. The app was created by speaking to a need and our outreach is the same, created for you by your requests.
 
So, again, let us know your  questions, post needs, post “what vocabulary should I include in a _____ board”, anything!
 
I’m a 21 year SLP with an AAC focus, AAC specialist, run a private speech clinic, SPED teacher background, was a 1:1 caregiver with the Autism Society for 6 years, and I have an older sister and 2 adult nephews with VeloCardioFacial Syndrome – and schizophrenia. And I am the 6th of 7 kids. I understand the complexity. And we created this app and this product to be here for you. From the front line to the front line 🎁
 
This video is about STARTING OUT. It shows our vibe and the fun nature of the app. It’s meant to stimulate the back and forth ping pong that interaction should be. That back and forth discourse stimulates language by entrancing connection. Our brains are meant for connection and if we keep it fun and light, we can use that as a springboard for learning, teaching, and growth!
 
➡️ btw the end of the video shows $2.99 as a sale price – it’s not a sale price – we changed our business model for 2022 – $2.99 is the permanent price of each app + schools get half off of that when buying 20 or more copies.
 
~Danielle
FUN WAYS TO INCORPORATE LANGUAGE:   Fun ways to incorporate language, language learning, and speech practice while building connections for communication, increasing learning opportunities.

Increased opportunities + Increased vocabulary = GROWTH. 

Use BRIDGE Communication Builder app to help a loved one with Dementia

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Use BRIDGE Communication Builder app to support a loved one with Dementia

Welcome! We really have so much to say here and I‘m not sure where to start, so we are going to focus on showing you ideas and boards and how we build within the app. Creative ways to use the app. Chime in, share, ask questions. We build new things daily for a huge variety of purposes – all ages, all levels of functioning, all locations or places of services. I use the Builder app myself for a pretty cool calendar, planner, journal, sleep tracker, and food/weight tracking system all in one! We love to build!

Here’s a board we made last night in a variety of colors and phases. It’s meant for a loved one who has dementia – ideally the family will program remotely for her needs and reminders, plus a view of the things that drive and motivate her…photos of family!

Personally enjoying using emojis in my title and group names.

Post or ask any questions along the way!

~Danielle
BRIDGE Communication app. Sample board for loved one with dementia.
BRIDGE Communication app. Memory care/scheduling/organizing board for loved one with dementia.
BRIDGE Communication app. Memory care/scheduling/organizing board for loved one with dementia.
BRIDGE Communication AAC app. Senior using board for memory care, scheduling, organization. Dementia, Alzheimer's.

What is AAC?

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What is AAC?

Simply put, augmentative and alternative communication means all of the ways that someone communicates besides talking (https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/).

Communication is the sending, receiving, and/or exchanging of information.  Effective communicators need to be able to both send and receive information.  Effectively and efficiently.

AAC supports communication and learners’ needs. Everyday.

Communication supports and their goals and purpose vary based on need.  Learners also vary their styles based on need.  Without communication, we cannot learn.  Communication is vital to learning.  Supporting communication is vital to efficiently intaking and retaining information.  Multimodal learning using various auditory, visual, and tactile means strengthens synapses.  Stronger synapses increase memory.  Longer-term memory produces greater retention of skills.  And retention of skills supports knowledge.

Supporting communication supports knowledge. It’s a common need for communication supports to not overwhelm the visual field.  To not create stress responses.  To not create labor between the communication partners.  These communication supports are accepted and craved by individuals.  If an individual is craving supports, they remain engaged with those supports.  And engagement is the foundation for development.  Of any kind.

Communication supports should be versatile, “strongly formed or constructed” (Merriam-Websters definition of robust), involve the varied parts of speech and ability to expand language, and have access to varied amounts of pre-programmed significant high frequency vocabulary.  We find that giving access to engaging and concise communication supports that people want to use helps them want to learn more, which provides practice opportunities.

Lessons.

Development of speech and language is predictable.  But emersion through engagement, whether it’s language emersion or emersion into yoga or cooking or gardening or skiing, stimulates growth and development of skills.  Any skills.  Focus where you are and grow.

In conclusion:

Using communication supports to BRIDGE teachers and learners of all kinds will also support connection.  Supporting connections, however you can or choose to do it, reduces stress and anxiety.  Connections increase chemical reactions in the brain that allow communication to naturally occur.  Conversely, stress will produce chemical reactions in the brain that block communication and connection, as well as speech and language learning.  Use what low stress resources work for you!  There is no wrong way to keep learning.  Life lessons.  Helping others helps others.  Pass it on.

See ya next time!

~Danielle