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

We place a strong emphasis on personal care for Benji and Giulietta, recognizing that these routines are an important part of their daily independence and overall well-being. While they may need support to complete certain tasks, we also encourage them to take an active role and develop the skills necessary to care for themselves. Our approach balances guidance with opportunities for independence, helping Benji and Giulietta build confidence and competence in everyday routine

Giulietta will independently use her iPad to identify and select appropriate clothing items from her closet. We place a strong value on daily living responsibilities, as they provide meaningful opportunities to build independence, confidence, and practical life skills. Everyday routines allow learning to happen in a natural and purposeful way. To start the day, Giulietta is in charge of choosing her outfit, starting with the top drawer to find socks, underwear, and a bra, the

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? Mo

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 to use her communication skills independently across different environments. Her iPad goes with her wherever she goes and is open and available throughout the day, from mealtimes to dressing and all daily

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

Creating structure, smooth transitions, and predictability. We support Benji and Giulietta in developing independence, predictability, and smooth transitions through structured schedules and routines, while also prioritizing their autonomy. We have weekly schedules and goals that guide our program, but these are not set in stone. Our approach allows Benji and Giulietta to feel in control of their day, make choices, and have input into how activities unfold. As educators, we u

Encouraging and Maintaining Friendships We support Benji and Giulietta in building and maintaining meaningful friendships by creating regular opportunities for positive social experiences. We make sure to set up time for them to see their friends so that these relationships can grow and strengthen. During outings, we help them practice important social skills such as taking turns, sharing, starting conversations, and responding to their peers using their iPad or PECS binder w

Integrating Physical Activities into Daily Routines Benji and Giulietta follow daily routines that include structured physical activities tailored to their individual abilities and interests. These activities are regularly adapted through observation to ensure they remain enjoyable, effective, and supportive of confidence, motivation, and physical fitness. Strength and Balance Gym sessions incorporate bodyweight exercises, free weights, and resistance machines. The focus is o

We encourage Benji and Giulietta to complete daily living tasks as independently as possible while recognizing that they may need our support along the way. Through consistent routines, we incorporate skills such as hygiene, chores, and self-care into their everyday activities. Our goal is to help them build confidence and responsibility. This approach allows Benji and Giulietta to experience success, develop independence, and understand that seeking support when needed is an

Supporting teamwork, planning, and following routines. Benji and Giulietta engage in collaborative meal preparation as a meaningful way to build teamwork, planning, and communication skills. During these activities, they practice important functional life skills while using their iPad or PECS binder to make a meal together. Meal preparation provides daily opportunities to make choices, follow directions, and take pride in contributing to a shared meal. Our goal is for Benji a

We make grocery shopping a fun, engaging, and educational for Benji and Giulietta, with a focus on building leadership, independence, and practical life skills. Grocery shopping is a meaningful real world activity that provides ongoing opportunities for Benji and Giulietta to build independence, communication, and life skills. By involving them in the process from planning to checkout, we intentionally turn a routine task into a shared learning experience. Each step encourage