Hills Christian Community School (HCCS) is a mainstream R-12 school in the Adelaide Hills. There are two AAC users currently in Year 6 (their final year of primary school) who have attended the school since ELC, and will complete their secondary schooling at the school also. One student uses some spoken language, and a PODD communication book and device to augment her speech. The other student has cerebral palsy and CVI, and uses a PODD communication book as his primary mode of communication.
HCCS have been incredibly committed to supporting the use of AAC for these students, and in turn have created awareness in the school environment and broader community. The school have committed to professional development for educators and have ensured that extends beyond just the classroom teacher and main SSOs; for example, all the primary specialist teachers and all primary school SSOs have participated in PODD training. Some educators have also accessed the AGOSCI National Tour Events (e.g. the events presented by Fiona Beauchamp and Linda Burkhart). From the beginning, the school have been supportive of peer training sessions, and in Grade 4, the school requested ‘PODD Squad’ training across an entire term for the whole Grade 4 cohort, to ensure all of the students can interact with their peers.
There have been countless benefits to the inclusive approach that HCCS has adopted in embracing the use of AAC for these students. Firstly, the language and literacy development of the students who use AAC has blossomed. Both students have progressed with their use of AAC (e.g. moving up a ‘PODD language level’, learning to use a communication device via switch access). This development is a direct result of the way educators have embedded AAC into everyday activities at school. Furthermore, the students who use AAC are beloved members of a school community, have established meaningful friendships and are accessing the curriculum alongside their same-age peers. The students are included in all school activities and excursions, including the recent Year 6 school camp to Canberra. The photo below shows the delight of one student as the Governor General (in the foreground) answers the question he asked with his PODD book.
Image shows HCCS student who used his PODD book to ask a question to the Governor General on school camp in Canberra.
The use of AAC has had broader benefits for the entire Grade 6 cohort. The Grade 6 cohort is a kind, inclusive and respectful group, and as they grow up, they will go into the world as adults who understand that people can communicate in different ways, and who know how to communicate respectfully with someone who uses AAC. The below example shows a small group of students presenting the ‘Where’s Spot?’ book that they created in German class. As they had an AAC user in their group, they independently requested to include “PODD language” in their book too (see second photo). It is this type of inclusive mindset that has benefited the AAC students at the school, and is a credit to the role modelling of the educators at the school.
Images of German / AAC ‘Where’s Spot’ book created by a group of students.
Through their inclusive mindset and embracing the students who use AAC, HCCS have also raised awareness of AAC in the school and broader community. For example, the school Facebook page includes event recounts written by the students who use AAC, and references the fact that the recount is co-constructed by the student and his SSO.
During the “PODD Squad” lessons, the students also brainstormed the vocabulary that they wanted to be included on some playground communication boards (one for basketball and one for the playground). The school used the proceeds of a ‘casual clothes day’ fundraiser to fund the production and installation of these communication boards. This story was also featured in the local paper, which again raised awareness of AAC in the local community.
The school have purchased the software that they need to support these students (including Boardmaker, Clicker and Mind Express) and produce the communication supports that are available for all students. For example, the classroom visual schedule for all students is produced in PCS symbols, and when a new ‘race track’ was created, the school created a ‘rules board’ with PCS symbols. HCCS have really adopted the mindset that the use of AAC benefits everyone, and that they want to create a school environment that embraces all modes of communication.
Please note – all photos used on this page are publicly available on the HCCS’ Facebook page.