Dre D the SLP

When working with students with devices, students in self contained classrooms, emerging communicators, etc., you’ve probably heard something along the lines of, “They can speak, they just don’t! They don’t want to open up! They are lazy!”

Despite all the help and tips you give, this phrase on the post is what may help communication partners of the kid understand a little better. When I first saw it it was a reality check even for me.

Sure, he can speak, but under what condition? Even if they are making the choice not to, have you thought about why?

🛑 Are they only speaking after you tell them what to say? (prompt dependent/forced imitation)
🛑 Are they saying what they want to communicate or just what you think they should?
🛑 Is speaking something that takes a lot of energy for them?
🛑 Is speaking anxiety inducing?

When we need to tell someone something, get our point across, etc. the EASIEST way we can do that is through speaking, so if they aren’t doing so it’s because IT IS HARD. The behaviors you see are probably a lack of being able to
communicate what they need to and want to, and especially for our friends that have become prompt dependent, it will take TIME. Not allowing them the choice to have authentic communication, or reducing their access to AAC only makes it harder.

This doesn’t mean they aren’t challenged, and sure if the child has a speech sound disorder, or apraxia, we could work on both, but it’s ultimately THEIR choice over what is easiest for them.

If speaking ends up being that: GREAT, but if it’s not, and no one taught them to independently communicate in any other way, that is dangerous and incredibly heartbreaking.

If they truly could say whatever they wanted to, and they were just “lazy” then I promise you, they would not speech, and a good chance there would be less “behaviors” or wouldn’t need to be in a self contained classroom 🤷🏻‍♀️

my birthday is my favorite holiday 😅
so this Dre month (september) for my birthday I want to give a gift to YOU 🥳

✨ link in bio to my store ✨

download leveled vocabulary boards and interactive pieces in color or black and white 🎉

this means you can print quickly before therapy (idk about y’all but my schools only have b/w printers I can print to without a wait like for a print shop), color as you read, highlight core words, and even turn this back to school classic book into a craft!!! 🫶🏻

Sometimes speech group is like the first picture and sometimes speech group is like the second 🤷🏻‍♀️

And probably mostly like the second if we’re being honest 😂

Either way we’re learning and having fun! 🥰🫶🏻