Communication Device Library

HFEE supported a grant in the spring of 2023 for the Speech and Language Therapy team in the development of a communication device library to assist nonverbal and minimally verbal students within our district to aid in the development of their speech output and to trial different devices to make their communications as successful as possible.

Four BigMack switches were purchased to aid in beginning level communications. The BigMack button switches communicate single messages such as greetings, jokes and motivating requests. They can easily be moved around rooms and also be used together with other communication switches.

HFEE monies were also used to purchase five of the Communication Builder communication devices. The Communication Builder devices are able to “grow” with the child as their communicative abilities increase. The Communication Builder devices are powerful tools for children beginning to need to speak messages regarding a variety of topics such as circle time, feelings, personal information, social/play interactions and academic knowledge. These devices can help a child communicate from 1 message to 112 total messages!

Since implementing the grant, several students have increased their communicative abilities from communicating single messages to choosing between 8 and even 16 messages per topic. Currently, all of the BigMack and Communication Builder devices are being utilized across the district with students from the Early Childhood program through High School.

Thank you HFEE for supporting our efforts to develop a Communication Device Library!