High tech support helps a child to add to or replace spoken communication and aid their understanding. It involves selecting messages from a set of possibilities. The child can use these elements alone or in combination in order to communicate a variety of messages.
High tech communication supports can be simple or complex depending on the needs of the individual child.
Simple High Tech Support – Single message communication devices
A single message can be recorded onto these devices for users to be able to make a comment, join in with an activity e.g. song or story.
Examples of devices used in school: BIGMac, Big Point, Super talker 1
When an individual has mastered the use of single communication devices they would then progress to the next stage.
Sequence of Messages
A sequence of messages can be recorded on these devices to complete sentences or songs etc.
Examples of devices: Step by step, Sound shuffle
Multiple message communication devices – 2 + messages.
These devices can be used to communicate needs, as well as, share understanding during learning and teaching.
Examples of devices used in school: italk, super talker, Go talk range 4 – 32+ messages, Quick talker 4 – 20 messages
