Do
Explore the following strategies to enhance effective communication. Watch the videos to learn about communication supports and use the tools and resources to assist with implementation.
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Supporting Receptive Communication
Discover powerful techniques that can assist youth to comprehend information and messages from other people.
Video: Supporting Receptive Communication
The audio in this video describes all relevant visual information. Audio description is not needed for this video.
What is Audio Description (AD)?
When AD is enabled, descriptive language narrates what is on the screen. To learn more, visit our accessibility webpage.
Video Player Help
Kaltura Video Hosting: This website uses Kaltura, a video hosting company, to serve video content. If you are having difficulty viewing videos on this site, it may mean that your location (e.g., school district, organization) is blocking or filtering the Kaltura website. Please contact your IT personnel to resolve this issue.
Accessibility: We strive to make this website accessible for all users, including people with disabilities. We test and modify this website for optimal usability. If you have any accessibility questions or find any pages on our website that pose accessibility barriers, please contact support@ocali.org.
Captions / Transcript
After hitting play you can access an interactive transcript for this video by selecting the Show Transcript icon
in the top right corner of the video when you select play.You can turn on captions by selecting the Enable Captions icon
in the bottom right corner. Captions can also be turned on by selecting the Settings icon
, where you can also set your caption preferences.When available, you can use Spanish subtitles for this video by selecting Settings
and choosing Spanish in the Captions drop down menu. -
Supporting Communication: Gaining Attention and Choice Making
Explore important supports that can help youth communicate more effectively with other people.
Video: Supporting Communication: Gaining Attention and Choice Making
The audio in this video describes all relevant visual information. Audio description is not needed for this video.
What is Audio Description (AD)?
When AD is enabled, descriptive language narrates what is on the screen. To learn more, visit our accessibility webpage.
Video Player Help
Kaltura Video Hosting: This website uses Kaltura, a video hosting company, to serve video content. If you are having difficulty viewing videos on this site, it may mean that your location (e.g., school district, organization) is blocking or filtering the Kaltura website. Please contact your IT personnel to resolve this issue.
Accessibility: We strive to make this website accessible for all users, including people with disabilities. We test and modify this website for optimal usability. If you have any accessibility questions or find any pages on our website that pose accessibility barriers, please contact support@ocali.org.
Captions / Transcript
After hitting play you can access an interactive transcript for this video by selecting the Show Transcript icon
in the top right corner of the video when you select play.You can turn on captions by selecting the Enable Captions icon
in the bottom right corner. Captions can also be turned on by selecting the Settings icon, where you can also set your caption preferences.When available, you can use Spanish subtitles for this video by selecting Settings
and choosing Spanish in the Captions drop down menu. -
Supporting Communication with Visual Supports
Learn about a variety of visual supports designed to address a broad range of communication needs.
Video: Supporting Communication with Visual Supports
The audio in this video describes all relevant visual information. Audio description is not needed for this video.
What is Audio Description (AD)?
When AD is enabled, descriptive language narrates what is on the screen. To learn more, visit our accessibility webpage.
Video Player Help
Kaltura Video Hosting: This website uses Kaltura, a video hosting company, to serve video content. If you are having difficulty viewing videos on this site, it may mean that your location (e.g., school district, organization) is blocking or filtering the Kaltura website. Please contact your IT personnel to resolve this issue.
Accessibility: We strive to make this website accessible for all users, including people with disabilities. We test and modify this website for optimal usability. If you have any accessibility questions or find any pages on our website that pose accessibility barriers, please contact support@ocali.org.
Captions / Transcript
After hitting play you can access an interactive transcript for this video by selecting the Show Transcript icon
in the top right corner of the video when you select play.You can turn on captions by selecting the Enable Captions icon
in the bottom right corner. Captions can also be turned on by selecting the Settings icon, where you can also set your caption preferences.When available, you can use Spanish subtitles for this video by selecting Settings
and choosing Spanish in the Captions drop down menu.
Activities
What You Can Do to Support Communication.
Review these 5 tips on actions you can take to support the communication process. Which tips do you already use? Which will you implement today to improve the communication process?
Reduce the sounds in the environment and limit the conversations surrounding the youth.
Too many words can be confusing. Choose your words carefully and use those that provide the most clarity.
Slow down and take a breath! Make a statement, ask a question, or give directions and wait quietly for at least 10 seconds before repeating or adding new information.
Use the same word to reference an activity, item, and person. Using different words can confuse and become a barrier to communication.
A picture is worth 1000 words! Add a picture, object, gesture, or other visual when speaking to help communicate the message or clarify the question.
OCALI Lending Library Assistive Technology Resources
Did you know:
- Assistive technology (AT) is any device, equipment, or product system used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capacity of individuals with disabilities.
- AAC or Augmentative and Alternative Communication is assistive technology used to supplement or replace spoken language for individuals with communication challenges.
- The OCALI Lending Library offers a variety of AT and AAC devices for loan free to anyone 18 years and older in Ohio.
- The OCALI Lending Library has over 200 AT products that can be viewed and checked out online.
Downloads
Tips for Choice Making
Providing choice making opportunities is a powerful strategy and can be used with all youth. The tips included in this resource can assist in creating successful choice making interactions in any environment.
Download Tips for Choice Making
Visual Supports Checklist
Visual supports are one of the most frequently recommended strategies to support youth with complex needs. Use this checklist to review the supports available for a youth and to identify opportunities to enhance your toolkit of visual supports.
Download Visual Supports Checklist
How You Can Support Communication
Communication involves being able to express needs, wants, and feelings, as well as the ability to understand messages and information from the communicating partner. Teams that support youth with complex needs can use the strategies in this resource to learn how their own voice and actions can support effective communication in all environments.
Download How You Can Support Communication