How We Support Giulietta’s Independent iPad Use for Requests and Comments

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 use to communicate. This helps her understand where everything is and how Proloquo is organized. We reinforce this familiarity by incorporating memory games using laminated cards, prompting her to find specific words and repeatedly visit each folder. This ongoing practice helps Giulietta build confidence and remember where words are for future independent use.

Personalized Vocabulary

Giulietta’s iPad is customized with vocabulary that reflects her specific needs and interests, including her favourite foods, activities, and ways to express her feelings. We involve her in this process so she understands where each folder is and feels engaged in using the device.

Practicing Comments, Requests, and Real-Life Application

Giulietta is encouraged to use her iPad to make comments or requests in a variety of everyday situations. We prompt her with questions like, “Do you have something to say?” or ask about specific topics to help her express herself. These guided opportunities allow her to practice in structured settings while also applying her skills in real-life contexts, during meals, breaks, or social interactions. By reinforcing the connection between her words and real-world experiences, Giulietta learns that her iPad is not just a tool for practice but a functional device she can rely on to communicate independently throughout the day.

Incorporating Peer Interaction

Finally, we create opportunities for Giulietta to use her iPad to interact with peers during the Yachad Social Hub program, a community-based social group run through Yachad. This weekly social group brings together participants to engage in shared activities such as cooking, eating together, and participating in structured social experiences like the “Cook Your Own Dinner” series, where individuals build independence and social connection in a supportive environment.

Within this setting, Giulietta is encouraged to use her iPad to initiate communication with peers, such as asking questions, making choices, sharing opinions, or requesting items during group activities. These naturally occurring social moments provide meaningful opportunities for her to practice functional communication in a real community context, supporting her ability to initiate interactions independently and develop authentic peer relationships.