Modeling, or the use of Aided Language Stimulation, has been shown over and over to be a critical element in the acquisition of augmented language and device competence.  Teachers and Speech Language Pathologists need access to the same tools and equipment that students are using, in order to reap the greatest benefit from their modeling.  Currently, BSD provides electronic communication tools to over 100 students throughout the district, but does not have the means to provide their teachers and Speech Language Pathologists with equivalent tools and materials in order to model language and device use for these students.

Through your generosity, teachers and speech language pathologists in special education classrooms that serve children who rely of these electronic devices will be better able to take full advantage of this modeling strategy to help their student’s develop strong communication skills. 

Funds awarded will be used to purchase licenses of the most widely used augmentative and alternative communication applications to be distributed to teachers and SLPs who work in the district’s elementary special education programs serving the highest numbers of students who use augmentative communication devices.  Special Education will provide the dedicated iPads on which these applications will be loaded.  These “Modeling” devices will be loaned to teachers and SLPs who are assigned to these programs each school year.  As staff move assignments, the Modeling Devices will be collected and re-distributed to where they are needed most.

The following school sites currently house special education programs and are where a high number of students who use augmentative communication devices are enrolled:

Beaver Acres Elementary      - 3 teachers   1 Speech Pathologist    28 students

Hazeldale Elementary           - 2 teachers    1 Speech Pathologist    17 students

Kinneman Elementary            - 2 teachers   1 Speech Pathologist    17 students

McKinley Elementary             - 2 teachers   1 Speech Pathologist    18 students

Raleigh Park Elementary        - 1 teacher    1 Speech Pathologist       7 students

Scholls Heights                       - 2 teachers   1 Speech Pathologist     21 students

Sexton Mountain Elementary - 3 teachers  1 Speech Pathologist    29 students

Terra Linda Elementary           - 2 teachers  1 Speech Pathologist    19 students

William Walker Elementary    - 3 teachers   1 Speech Pathologist    26 students