At Fernhill School, our vision is for every student to be able to communicate to their fullest potential and to engage more actively in their learning. Verbal communication is always encouraged however independent communication of the student’s thoughts, needs and wants is the end goal. This can be made possible through the use of robust Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems. AAC can support existing functional speech, or provide an alternative method for communication where there is minimal verbal speech. A robust AAC system is a system that enables a person to communicate for different purposes, contains different types of words (not just nouns), has personalised vocabulary, and access to the alphabet. It can be paper based or technology based.
We want our students to be able to say whatever they want to say, to whoever they want to say it to, whenever they want to say it. We want them to have a voice to be able to get their message across efficiently and effectively so they can engage in a variety of interactions and participate in activities of their choice.
It is a journey to find the right fit and to build each student’s communication skills. Some of our families at Fernhill are already on that journey and have shared their stories in the hope of encouraging other families to find a voice for their children.
