Honouring Total Communication from our Children

PSA: There's no right or wrong or better or worse way to communicate. 

As an SLP, one of my commitments is to honour *total communication* from the child I'm working with, no matter what that may look or sound like. Just as speaking individuals are not limited to just spoken word, 'total communication' includes things like gestures, facial expressions, body language, texting, writing, vocalizations, etc., and we should be taking it all into account.

In other words, honouring total communications just means that however the child communicates is valid, and we roll with it!

In this reel, I honour whatever way the child prefers to communicate with AAC, whether it's using symbols or the keyboard. Any method with which they can convey their ideas, opinions, requests, statements and desires is encouraged.

Communication is communication.

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by Halle Demchuk, SLP

Paediatric SLP | GLP-Trained Clinician | Owner of HAEPI SLP