Durable Visual Communication Cards Empowering Unique Learners
Durable Picture Cards that
Communicate Effective Words
About Us
Empowering Special Needs Communication
BEING ABLE, was established in 2024. As a mother and homeschool teacher of two of my children on the autism spectrum, I've learned that Visual Communication Cards can help individuals with special needs effectively communicate their wants and needs. This leads to improved communication with parents, family, friends, teachers, and therapists, and a reduction in maladaptive behaviors. BEING ABLE, empowering unique learners! Building a brighter future for the special needs community with language impairments such as Autistics, kids and adults with Apraxia, ADHD, CP, & Down Syndrome.
Conditions
Learn about AAC and Who benefits most from it?
What is AAC?
AAC means all of the ways that someone communicates besides talking. People of all ages can use AAC if they have trouble with speech or language skills. Augmentative means to add to someone’s speech. Alternative means to be used instead of speech. Some people use AAC throughout their life.
There are different types of AAC. Low tech include:
- gestures and facial expressions
- drawing
- writing
- pointing letters
- pointing and exchanging picture cards
Who benefits most from AAC?
Children or adults with a language impairment can benefit from AAC. A person may use different types of AAC because there are many ways that we all communicate besides talking. An AAC system means all of the tools of this type that a person uses. Some of the following conditions prevent individuals to express meaning to others, to have difficulty with sounds, such as substitution, omission, distortion, or addition, or with rhyming, deleting sounds or syllables, segmenting, and blending.
There are many conditions, including Autism, Aphasia, ADHD, CP, Down syndrome and more, that can benefit from assistive communication.
Autism
Is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave.
People with Autism often have:
- Difficulty with communication and interaction with other people
- Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors
- Symptoms that affect their ability to function in school, work, and other areas of life
Language difficulties associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder might include speaking in a flat tone or repeating words or phrases, known as echolalia. People with autism may also have a speech delay, meaning they may use childlike language even as adults, or they may not have developed speech at all.
Aphasia
Is a language disorder that makes it difficult to understand, read, write, and speak. It's caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control language, usually on the left side. Aphasia can make it hard to communicate wants and needs, which can lead to embarrassment, isolation, frustration, and depression. There's no cure for aphasia, but treatment can help improve language skills. Speech-language therapy can be beneficial for many patients.
ADHD
Is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention (not being able to keep focus), hyperactivity (excess movement that is not fitting to the setting) and impulsivity (hasty acts that occur in the moment without thought). ADHD is considered a chronic and debilitating disorder and is known to impact the individual in many aspects of their life including academic and professional achievements, interpersonal relationships, and daily functioning (Harpin, 2005). Children who have been diagnosed with ADHD exhibit significant deficiencies in their language skills across various aspects such as expressive, receptive, and pragmatic language modalities, resulting in overall language difficulties.
Cerebral palsy
Is a group of neurological disorders that affect a person's ability to move, maintain balance, and posture. It's caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that occurs before, during, or after birth. The damage is not reversible and the disabilities that result are permanent.
Some symptoms are: exaggerated reflexes, floppy or rigid limbs, involuntary motions, delays in reaching developmental milestones, weak arms or legs, fidgety, jerky or clumsy movements, walking on tiptoes, swallowing problems, speaking problems, vision problems, and learning disabilities. CP is the most common motor disability in childhood and the leading cause of childhood disabilities in the U.S. It affects approximately three out of every 1,000 live births.
Down Symdrome
Is a genetic disorder caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Typically, humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, but in Down syndrome, there is an extra chromosome 21, resulting in 47 chromosomes instead of 46. This extra chromosome alters the development of the brain and body, leading to characteristic physical features, intellectual disabilities, and other health challenges. Despite considerable individual variability, individuals with Down syndrome have a characteristic profile of language and communication strengths and difficulties. Receptive language is typically stronger than expressive language, with phonology, syntax, and some aspects of pragmatics presenting particular developmental challenges.
References:
- National Institute of Mental Health
- American Psychiatric Association
- National Library of Medicine
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
- Mayo Clinic