Communication

Until Giulietta was eight years old, she had no reliable means of communication. We didn’t know what she understood. We didn’t know what she wanted to express. She had no tools to tell us. She seemed lost in a world with no connection to the people around her. And yet, her eyes lit up when she heard music. She smiled when we read to her. Her face came alive when she saw instruments. She watched videos transfixed, completely absorbed. Sometimes she would burst out laughing for

Shown here is a standard example of a pre-programmed Proloquo layout. Finding Her Voice: Giulietta’s Journey to AAC Giulietta was diagnosed with verbal apraxia and received extensive speech therapy, including early intervention with the PROMPT method, but made no measurable progress. While her receptive language skills were strong, she was unable to produce verbal speech. At age five, her communication goals transitioned to focus on AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communica

Our focus is to support Benji in expressing his needs during mealtimes by teaching him to use PECS cards for “more” and “all done.” This foundational communication skill empowers him to participate more independently and confidently during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Pairing Cards with Actions When working with Benji during mealtimes, we consistently pair gestures with the corresponding PECS cards to help him make the connection between the cards and their meanings. When Be

To support Giulietta’s communication development, we use structured modelling sessions where a support worker demonstrates how to use the iPad to communicate. These sessions give Giulietta the chance to observe, learn, and practice responding in meaningful ways. Basic Communication Modelling During everyday interactions, we model simple, functional communication without speaking out loud. We either use a separate iPad to communicate with Giulietta or use her iPad to show and

Giulietta is working on expanding her vocabulary on the iPad to include small words, connecting words, and vocabulary related to daily activities. This allows her to create more meaningful sentences across all areas of her life, at home, during social interactions, or in community settings. Identifying Vocabulary Needs A key first step is helping Giulietta recognize the vocabulary that is most meaningful to her. We guide her in locating and identifying these words on her iPad

Giulietta uses her iPad to express her thoughts, needs, and interests, and our goal is to help her use it more independently. By practicing in everyday situations, she can move beyond single words to full sentences, build confidence, and communicate more clearly with the people around her. Becoming Familiar with the iPad Layout Through Practice and Memory Games We start by helping Giulietta become familiar with the layout on her iPad, exploring the different folders she can u

Mealtime is more than just eating, it’s an opportunity for Giulietta to practice meaningful communication and express herself. Giulietta is encouraged to share details about her day, request additional food items, and form full sentences on her iPad. This approach helps Giulietta expand her communication skills, express her needs more clearly, and build independence in real-world interactions. Encouraging Mealtime Conversations Giulietta will be asked to use her iPad to share

Giulietta has a natural curiosity and a genuine love for learning, especially when activities connect to her everyday experiences and favorite things. Giulietta learns best through hands-on, meaningful engagement, so we make a point to incorporate items and routines from around the house into her literacy activities. Whether she’s sorting food items by their beginning sounds, finding letters on packaging, or blending sounds using her favorite snacks, Giulietta is most motivat

Giulietta learning her letters using her laminated cards. Developing Literacy Skills Giulietta’s goal is to develop literacy skills by focusing on letter identification, both uppercase and lowercase, through engaging activities that build on her interests. Her letter identification journey incorporates learning apps, personalized materials, and real-world community experiences. The goal is to build foundational literacy skills while keeping Giulietta engaged, motivated, and e

We make it a priority to embed PECS consistently throughout Benji’s daily routines. By using picture exchange and visual supports across familiar, predictable activities, we help him build understanding and independence in functional communication. Morning Routine Each morning, Benji practices using PECS to find and gather the items he needs for his day. Using picture cards, he locates his backpack, med kit, water bottle, and binder. This routine not only builds consistency a

Benji’s use of PECS is integrated throughout his day, although he is not yet able to reliably initiate exchanges on his own. Supporting Benji’s Communication Journey To support Benji's communication, we provide consistent, predictable opportunities across routines, during meal times, community outings, and structured activities, so he knows when communication is expected and meaningful. We make it a priority to practice picture cards daily. This includes modeling and practici

We use the Picture Exchange (PECS) to help Benji develop expressive communication skills. Our goal is to give Benji a clear and consistent visual system that allows him to make requests, express preferences, and engage meaningfully with others. Benji’s communication journey has been quite different from Giulietta’s, even with the same diagnosis, he experiences more challenges with processing and hand-eye coordination. These factors make it difficult for him to use the iPad ef

We begin by modelling first, showing her how language is used so she can see and hear it in action. After modelling, we give her time to wait and process, allowing her the space she needs to respond without feeling rushed. As her confidence grows, we gradually reduce support by fading prompts so she can take more ownership of her communication. The goal of this process is independence, helping her use language on her own in a meaningful and confident way. Who Should Model? Al

We teach Giulietta how to communicate using Proloquo at home, modelling how to build sentences, ask questions, and express her thoughts using core words. By Creating Predictable Communication Opportunities Through consistent practice and real-life modelling, Giulietta learns how to apply these communication skills independently in other settings. The goal across all activities is to help Giulietta initiate communication on her own and use her device confidently to express her

Giulietta’s learning is shaped by her interests, turning everyday experiences—like trips to the grocery store or mall, time at the library, listening to music, exploring food, and reading books—into engaging, meaningful, and personalized opportunities. Interest-Based Learning Through Real-Life Experiences Giulietta learns best when activities connect to things she already enjoys, so we build her literacy routines around real-life experiences that feel familiar and meaningful

Our approach to supporting communication for Benji and Giulietta is rooted in consistency and real-life practice. Making Communication Meaningful We incorporate core words into daily routines so that communication becomes a natural and meaningful part of everything we do. Whether we are cooking, shopping, reading, or spending time with friends, we look for opportunities to model language in real situations. With Giulietta’s iPad, Benji’s PECS binder, and their laminated phot

Creating an effective communication board begins with truly knowing the person it is designed for. Understanding what they like and dislike, what motivates them, and how they engage with the world allows communication supports to feel meaningful rather than generic. When tools are built around a person’s interests and preferences, they are more likely to be used consistently, support authentic expression, and foster confidence in communication. Gathering Information and Setti