Communication Technology: A Tool for Students to Access Learning

As a Special Education teacher I have seen countless times when students exhibit a negative behavior due to them not being able to communicate their needs. In the space that I teach in, 2 out of 5 students are non-verbal. The best way for our students who struggle to communicate in a classroom setting is through technology.

[Photo Courtesy of AssistiveWare]

A popular app that can be used for students who struggle to communicate, is called Proloquo2go by AssistiveWare. This app allows learners to communicate with symbols or pictures. When the user presses a symbol,it says the word or phrase that is programmed for that specific learner. This allows the learner to develop language skills and express themselves. The above picture shows you an exact visual of what the student could see. This app is just one example of how students can use communication through technology.

Proloquo2go is strictly a communication app, so when in use on the device, it does not allow the user to navigate the whole device. You can only operate the symbols while you are in the app and it does not coexist within the device. There are devices that do let you control the whole device called, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. They not only have the features that Proloquo2go can offer, but also has facial tracking to be able to be able to let students interact with the device without physical touch. Some may remember the device Stephen Hawking used to communicate and it is a variation of that.

Assistive technology such as, Proloquo2go has had profound impacts in the lives of the students who use it, as well as the school community that surrounds them. Allowing the user access to society by being able to communicate needs, when they may not have been able to do so before. but giving students a way to express themselves. When students are able to do that with the communication tool, we may see a decrease in negative behaviors and increase in independence and confidence. Welcoming this technology into the classroom will make a more inclusive environment for the students.