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Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative

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Vol. 6, No. 4 Summer 1998

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Symbolic Language:
Recycling for Quick Communication

Tracy A. Bombara, M.S., CCC-SLP

Language, regardless of whether it be spoken, written or signed, is comprised of a series of symbols combined together to convey an idea. The degree to which language has been developed in human beings is one of the fundamental skills that sets us apart from other species. And when language is suddenly lost, or does not develop according to the expected patterns, the result can create extreme frustration on the part of the individual, as well as for communication partners.

For many individuals with developmental or acquired disabilities, communication via picture symbols provides a potential solution. Clinical experience has demonstrated that many people with significant communication limitations spontaneously look for symbols or pictures to help express wants and needs. An example would be the experience of a 65-year-old man who was trying to express his preference for a group lunch, but was unable to be understood by those around him due to decreased intelligibility resulting from a stroke. He spontaneously rolled his wheelchair over to a basket of magazines and began leafing through them until he found, in the third magazine he encountered, a picture of a pizza. His actions immediately demonstrated his need and ability to use a picture based communication system.

For those involved in the daily lives of such individuals, using picture symbols may be as easy as cutting out pictures from a magazine and arranging them in a photo album, or as complex as programming symbol combinations into an electronic, voice output communication system. Whatever the means available, the important part is that the individual who uses the pictures has the appropriate ones available when he/she needs them. And this may involve using the materials available at the time.

During cooking activities with individuals having mental retardation, the actual pictures on the packaging can be used to provide choice making opportunities, or to answer questions about which ingredient should be used next. Many cake mixes and microwavable foods already provide pictorial directions, as well as printed ones, which may be enlarged on a copier for quick and easy use. Drawing basic representations on a write on/wipe off board is often sufficient for individuals with developmental disabilities to follow a task with a few steps. Using this method of sequential cuing led to the discovery that adults with mental retardation understand and like to play a modified version of Pictionary using the same types of tools!

With younger children, the play scenes on the boxes that adorn many of today's toy sets can be cut out and used as instant language boards. These scenes quickly and easily provide pictorial access to objects as well as actions, which may be easier for the child to comprehend than an action symbol from an unrelated picture dictionary. These action pictures encourage the vocabulary development of verbs and even adjectives, instead of only nouns, which is so common in very young, communicatively handicapped children. We've always known that in a child's eyes, the best part of any toy is often the box!

For anyone with an acquired communication impairment, picture symbols can serve many functions. They can be enlarged and attached within eye gaze of a person who is only able to use eye gaze indication to convey basic information. Picture based language boards can be small and portable, made out of small pieces of cardboard and a little contact paper. They may be taken just about anywhere, giving an individual personal control in situations outside the home or extended care facility. Picture symbol sequences can be used as an independent aid to provide individuals with memory deficits a means of recalling a daily schedule. Sale flyers from the Sunday paper can be used to choose personal care needs or to make up a Christmas shopping list.

So the next time you are searching for a way to support an individual with a developmental or acquired communication impairment in expression of a thought or idea, take a walk into your kitchen...the answer may be found in the stack of recyclables you have been meaning to take to the recycling center!

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