Low-Tech Assistive Technology for Deafness:
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. 1.Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
- Cost: About $36.00 plus (amazon.com)
- Description: This small PECS communication book is a 7 1/4" x 6 1/4", 6 ring binder that is perfect for students who use 1" x 1" pictures to communicate or who have a smaller vocabulary of larger pictures. It is made of thick poly plastic material that is smooth to the touch, yet extremely durable. Back of the book is longer to accommodate sentence strips. The book includes velcro strips.
- PECS was developed in 1985 as a unique augmentative/alternative communication intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related developmental disabilities. It is an approach that teaches early communication skills using pictures. Students are taught to exchange pictures for something they want. The system goes on to teach discrimination of pictures and how to put them together in sentences. In more advanced phases, individuals are taught to answer questions and comments.
- Pros: (1) enables individuals who are nonverbal to express their thoughts, wants, and feelings. (2) Requires interaction with other people. (3) Starts with requesting, not labeling or commenting.
- Cons: (1)Training must be in place before implementing, which can be costly. (2)PECS must be used consistently and daily in order for it to be successful. (3) May become limiting as an individual becomes more advanced in his/her communication abilities.
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2. Basic Signing Flash Cards
- Cost: $12.95
- Description: Basic signing flash cards are boxed sets of 100 color cards designed to teach basic signs to children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Three sets are available, each depicting the sign for a specific word. The beginning signing primer set includes signs and vocabulary for colors, days, months, weather, and family members. Both set A and B of the basic signing vocabulary decks include simple vocabulary words with their associated signs. Cards have a dimension being 4 x 6 inches. Aside from learning the basic signs, these flash cards can also help deaf individuals communicate with hearing individuals while they can also learn the signs themselves.
- Pros: (1) Inexpensive. (2) Teaches sign language to both hearing and deaf individuals.
- Cons: (1) Limited. Therefore more cards would need to be added as vocabulary and sign language abilities increase.
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3. Paper and Pencil
- Cost: $10 and less
- Description: Hearing impairment may place limitations on receiving sounds or fulfilling our hearing senses. However, individuals with hearing impairment still have the ability to read text. Using a paper and pencil to supplement the communication process may be necessary if sign language is not established or understood or in a noisy environment, it may be easier to write and read than compete with the noise level.
- Pros: (1) Reinforces Writing and reading abilities (2) Inexpensive (3) Simple.
- Cons: (1) Not conducive to lengthy conversations.