Welcome to my "Ask Me Anything" blog post series!
I answer lots of questions on my social media channels, and it makes sense to share this information (anonymously!) in case it is useful for others, too.
"What should I do when a child constantly clicks a word on their AAC tablet device that they find funny? At first, It was great to see them enjoying it, however, it has become clear that they are just finding the word funny and not trying to communicate."
At first, learners won't use their AAC devices to communicate but to play with their newly found voice. It might also be that this child is stimming. There are in-app settings to support moving away from this by turning off the ability to press a button twice within a given time frame, however, this should be used as a last resort as it is similar to putting a hand over their mouth. Instead, I use low-tech versions myself to model use and use it in highly motivating situations. The key is to model the behaviour that you'd like to see 🙌
Offering a child an iPad and expecting them to talk, is a bit like offering a child a piano and expecting them to play it perfectly, it takes time and modelling.
I hope this helps! If you have any other questions, let me know.
*I am not a doctor or medical professional, so for some questions, you might want to contact your GP, the National Autistic Society, or the NHS.
KEY SEARCH TERMS: ask me anything autism behaviour calming music classroom dysregulation FAQ overwhelm question repetition SEN sensory sensory learner teaching assistant para paraprofessional special education needs disability disabled teacher PMLD EYFS primary school SENCO occupational therapy therapist speech and language pathologist pathology AAC repetitive stimming communication