Presenter: Nadiya Destinyhttp://agapelearning.net

Case Study:Andre

Variables

Dependent Variable Making a choice

Independent Variable Use of Picture Symbols versus using a voice output

communication aide (VOCA)

Alternating Treatment Design Determine which form of augmentative communication

is best for the student

The Participant

Andre 4 year old Mental Retardation Speech and language difficulties Receives 30 minutes of speech therapy each week Receives 30 minutes of occupational therapy each

week Receives 10 hours in a specialized preschool classroom

each week

The Student’s Strengths

Make choices consistentlyAttention span increased from two to four

minutesFollow one-step directionsWonderful imagination that comes through in

his playSort by color and shapeCount verbally to threeIdentify picture symbols and photographsVocalize words following a model (computer,

spoken, etc.)

The Student’s Weaknesses

Babbles, but words are unable to be understood

Fine motor skillsSharing toys

Setting:Otterbein Preschool

Otterbein Preschool Specialized preschool that serves children between

three to five years old Placed after evaluation by the clinic team at Yorkshire

Center All students have a cognitive disorder and a speech

and language disorder Some have fine motor, gross motor, visual, and/or

hearing needs as well Most students live in the York City School District

Setting:Physical Environment

Second floor in a churchClassroom divided into several areas

including: Circle Area Table Play Area Centers (based on current learning unit) Snack Area Sensory Area

Sessions occurred in the snack area, table play area, and centers

Setting:Classroom Staff

Each day the teacher and paraprofessional were in the classroom

Additional support staff included: Speech and Language Pathologist – Mondays Occupational Therapist – Mondays Physical Therapist – Wednesdays Instructional Advisor – Varied Classroom Psychologist – Varied

Second classroom located downstairs

Materials

Chart used to collect dataSentence strip

“I want ________ please.” BoardMaker symbol for available choices

VOCA programmed with available choices DynaMyte Array of up to 25 images

Design

Alternative Treatment Design Dependent Variable

Choicemaking Independent Variable

Use of a communication aid to make choices Use of picture symbols to make choices

Question What is the best method for this student to make clear

choices?

General Procedure:General Description

Data collected for 11 daysTwo sessions

Snack Time One-on-One Time

Three opportunities to make a choice each day33 observable choicesOccurred on different days of the week to ensure

better variabilityFirst Intervention

Picture Symbols – IPSecond Intervention

VOCA - IV

General Procedure:Snack Week 1

Two choices Snack Drink

Snack supervisor “What do you want for snack?” Point to choices and label

Andre pointed to choiceSnack supervisor prompts him to say full

sentence by modeling and pointing Second adult physically prompt to point and speak

General Procedure:One-On-One Session Week 1

Adult Asks – “What would you like to do?” Labels two choices

Andre makes choice between twoAdult models the sentence

General Procedure:Week 2

Use of the VOCA was implementedPointed to his choice on the VOCA Chose images on VOCA to complete the

sentence

Data Collection

Snack Data Form Chart with 15 boxes containing three rows Top row left blank to put the date in Other two rows contained a positive and negative sign

One-on-One Data Collection “Y” for yes “N” for no Index card staple to other forms

Appropriate choices Andre readily accepted his choice Did not push choice away or refuse to participate in the

activitySome anecdotal records were kept on the form or

index card when necessary

Research Question

What is the best method for this student to use to make choices – voca or picture symbols?

Results: Both interventions were successful No difference between the two