Caring for your AAC systems: Students discuss their AACsystem components and the need to take responsibility for AAC systems.

Purpose

To promote independence and self-advocacy for device care and maintenance. Students first learn about the responsibilities for the care and maintenance of their communication systems. They then learn how to gradually assume those responsibilities themselves.

image of a student in a motorized chair tilting their head and looking at a teacher who is leaning in toward them

Activity

Students learn about their AAC system components and the need for care and maintenance of those components on a regularly scheduled basis. Through guided and independent practice, students generate messages (novel or pre-programmed messages that have been co-constructed) that they can use to indicate the maintenance task that needs to be accomplished. Students demonstrate increased independence and self-advocacy for device troubleshooting, maintenance and care by independently producing the targeted message or action at the appropriate opportunity.

Image of a checklist with the Bridge School logo in the upper left hand corner. Text over image: Device Care and Maintenance Target Skills Checklist. Write date student demonstrates skill independently in the check box next to each item. Date demonstrated independently.
Tell someone, "Please plug my charger in."
Navigate to system settings and check battery power strip.
Navigate to system settings and adjust volume up and down.
Navigate to system settings and shut down device.
Navigate to system settings and change voice.
Ask someone, "Can you plug the cable in so I can go on the internet?"
Tell someone, "Unplug it and plug it back in."
Tell someone, "Can you please clean my device?"
Ask someone, "Can you turn it on?"

Downloads

Device Care and Maintenance Target Skills Checklist [Word doc, 139KB]