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Making Communication Boards.
It's never too early to start using augmentative or alternative communication. Even children that go on to develop speech may be supported in doing so by using AAC (Alternative and Augmentative Communication). Children who may have difficulty with language will benefit enormously the earlier they begin.
Conventional wisdom and current thinking in special education is that real objects are a starting point with most young children. This is based on the notion that concrete objects are developmentally more meaningful for very young children. The system used is called "Objects of Reference" and you can find out more by following these links:
http://callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk/downloads/quickguides/aac/objects.pdf
http://www.lindenlodge.wandsworth.sch.uk/objects.htm
http://www.ace-centre.org.uk/index.cfm?pageid=3CDC028A-3048-7290-FE7DEA7A0060EF46
It is our belief that we should move on from objects to pictures or symbols and then to literacy as soon as we can so that the possibility of learning is maximised. We can easily fall into the trap of assuming that someone has more learning difficulty than is in fact the case because they lack the means to communicate. We would certainly begin to make communication boards and books as soon as the child reaches an age when their non disabled peers would be expected to understand pictures (about 12 months). We would also introduce a literacy programme to young people as soon as they are the age when their non disabled peers would engage with literacy (awareness of print can begin as early as 2 or 3 years old). We encourage awareness of print by adding the written word to objects and to pictures or symbols at all times. Sizes in relation to each other can be varied depending on what you want the child to focus on.
In the very early stages I would begin by encouraging children to point to choices of games or snacks. I would not worry about intention although I would try to make boards that the child can access as easily as possible. By this I mean if the child makes a random point to something that is what they are offered. It is only through trial and error that young people learn. So in the early stages make sure what you offer is nice!
A board like this might make a starting point for a young child who has 2 or 3 favourite toys:
Communication boards can be cheaply and quickly produced using Power Point (as the one above was made). Instructions on how to use Power Point are to be found at: http://www.contactcandle.co.uk/using_powerpoint.htm
Here are some tips on board making taken from our 6 day "Communication and Learning for All" course (http://www.contactcandle.co.uk/communication_for_all_course.htm) that we hope will be helpful:
The following board has been made using Power Point and Clip Art.
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