This device had been customized for a student of mine.   I chose four things that are motivating to him and had the picture symbols made by the speech-department.  The last picture on the right is of his 'box-of-links.'  A. loved his 'links' and I used them as a reward for him.  The recorded voice on this device, as it should be on all devices if possible, was of a child of the same age, gender and race as the non-verbal child.  Picture symbols may be too abstract for some students and real photographs should be used.  Before a child can use a device such as this he must have the ability to match pictures.

This Four-Choice Device is easy to individualize.  It is not difficult to record the messages and the pictures symbols can be exchanged easily.  When customizing a communication device for a student it is very important to take into consideration the child's interests and what is motivating for him.  Unless the choices are meaningful to him, he is unlikely to use it.

 

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