TNP and Tippytalk: Communication for All

As I seek ways to keep Nora in touch with her community in this time of social distancing, I’m struck by just how challenging it is to do when you have a communication-impacting disability. I’m sure many of you are having similar struggles with your children, which can make you and your child feel especially isolated and overwhelmed in this already distant and challenging time.

Nora uses a Novachat device to share her wants and needs at home.

 
 

If your child is an AAC user, you understand the support and patience and physical proximity required to engage in conversation with AAC support--especially for an emerging AAC user. Nora struggles to engage via video chat because of the distance created by the screen, the lack of perceptible nuance in video communication, and also because of general time constraints and the chaos of facilitation with multiple listeners or inexperienced (impatient) listeners. The result is that we often feel Nora is left out of video gatherings, that we choose to speak for her or to limit her communication choices for simplicity’s sake, or that she chooses disruptive or negative behaviors during video engagements simply to make her voice heard efficiently. This isn’t fun for anyone, least of all Nora, so we’ve been searching for a new, more appropriate virtual communication tool.

That’s why I’m so excited that thanks to a grant from The Arc of Illinois and the Council for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities, beginning on June 15th, The Nora Project will be launching a six-week program for 25 students with communication disabilities. Teaming up with the innovators at TippyTalk, we’ve created a program that will allow your child to send text messages to peers, family members, and anyone else their heart desires! TippyTalk is a picture-based application for any phone or computer device that allows your child to craft messages in their own time, under optimal circumstances, and to send those messages via text so that folks can read them and respond. Responses return to your device via audio file or emojis and the conversation can continue! It’s a tool created by a father so that he could text with his daughter. In other words--it’s a “by parents, for parents” solution, and you don’t have to be an SLP to make it work! And best of all, the possibilities for communication are truly endless.

 
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In the first week, we’ll provide materials to teach you and your child how to use TippyTalk, and in the weeks that follow, we’ll be providing lessons and communication challenges to encourage your child to engage with peers, teachers and family members using the app. At the end of the course, all 25 students will be able to use the app for the rest of their lives--we’ve purchased lifetime licenses for this inaugural class of Nora Project TippyTalkers! The course will be taught by our Inclusion Specialist, Dr. Janie Avant, and Janie will work with every participant and their parents to optimize their experience.

If this sounds like a program you’re interested in, please enroll using the link here. [You do not have to be a current Nora Project participant to enroll.] Janie will be in touch soon regarding next steps. If this program is successful, we hope to incorporate TippyTalk into all of our curriculums. Your engagement in this pilot is critical to our success as we seek out innovative ways to facilitate inclusion in the Covid-era!

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