Expand iPad Communication Vocabulary for Different Environments — Home, School, Community

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, ensuring she becomes familiar with where each word is found. We also design a variety of activities to help her understand what each word represents, connecting language to real objects, actions, and concepts.

Practicing Sentence Creation

Once she has learned the vocabulary, Giulietta practices forming sentences. She is encouraged to describe what she sees or wants, such as “I want pickle in salad” or “I want to go to mall.” One particular activity we do involves placing a few items she likes on the table and creating sentences about them. For example, if we have pickle, syrup, and ketchup and she chooses the ketchup, we might create sentences such as “Ketchup is good” or “I like ketchup on hotdog.” We focus on practicing sentences she is likely to use in real-life situations, so that at lunchtime or other daily activities, she can effectively communicate her needs and preferences with us. These guided activities allow her to connect individual words into meaningful experiences.

Applying Vocabulary in Real-Life Situations

To make communication practical and meaningful, Giulietta is encouraged to use her vocabulary in everyday settings such as mealtimes, work sessions, or outings in the community. By prompting her to use words in context, for example saying, “we need to go in car” or “we go upstairs,” she learns how language connects to real-life actions and builds confidence in expressing herself. Using words this way helps her understand that her communication matters and can influence what happens around her.

Giulietta especially enjoys trips to the grocery store, where she gets to find some of her favorite items. She takes pride in locating things like ketchup, spinach, juice, and hotdogs. These outings give her a chance to use her vocabulary in meaningful ways. She is not just naming words, she is asking for items, making choices, and participating in the shopping process. By practicing language in situations that matter to her, communication becomes fun and relevant. Over time, these experiences help Giulietta feel more confident and connected to the world around her.