More on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

Articles related to Down’s Syndrome



Trinity College London is delighted to announce the launch of industry-first, regulated qualifications for musical learners with learning difficulties across the whole spectrum of abilities and needs.

This is a combination of 3 pieces first published on Speech Sisters’ blog. The Speech Sisters are Brooke and Bridget who have more than 20-years of combined experience a Speech Therapists, working with children who have communication disorders and delays. Learn about imitation and symbolic play with tips from speech therapists.

We learn differently and the identified learning styles are visual, auditory, reading/writing and kinesthetic as developed in 1992 by Neil D. Fleming and Coleen E. Mills. We do have a preferred learning style or a preferred combination of learning style. For younger children and children with special needs, pictures or images is a method of communication.

Our last piece titled Saluting Unsung Herores, put the spotlight on three individuals who are usually the first point of contact into the world of neurodiversity. In this piece, I would like to highlight the practitioners who work closely with neurodiverse individuals through Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech & Language Therapy (SLT), Special Education and creating inclusive spaces for all. These unsung heroes work tirelessly and have chosen this path for the love it.

One of the most useful resources to me are the people who work with neurodiverse individuals everyday. They do this, because they choose to. This piece will highlight practitioners, what they do and their thoughts on stigmas around autism that need to be broken. This is the first of a 2-part series which will wrap up our series of articles themed “Breaking the Stigmas”, in April for Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month.

An augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device, is used to help non-verbal or minimally verbal people communicate. Augmentative means to add on to speech, while alternative means to be used instead of speech.

When I was asked by Project Haans to write a piece about myths related to Down’s syndrome in conjunction with World Down Syndrome Day celebrations on the 21st of March, lines from the Serenity Prayer popped into my mind. This is because one of the most important lessons I have learned as a parent to a child with Down’s syndrome is to have the “serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Sensory play includes activities in the form of play, that activates and stimulates the senses. It usually focuses on touch, sight and hearing are those senses are the most accessible. It is an incredibly useful method for children to learn about the world around them. This article provides some ideas on sensory play activities to do at home.