COMMACK SCHOOLS

Wood Park completed a week of special activities to increase the understanding and highlight the importance of AAC devices.

An augmentative and alternative communication device is a tablet or laptop that helps someone with a speech or language impairment to communicate.

On Tuesday, Wood Park’s Jess Panos, Trish Hall and Reilly Iles joined Janelle Bellotti’s buddy class to explain what an AAC device is and how it is used for communication.

Then, on Friday afternoon, Bellotti’s class returned the favor and visited Iles’ class’ room for “Talker Fishing.”

Students formed two groups — one fishing for words to say using AAC, and the other fishing for questions to answer with AAC. The activity proved a fun, age-appropriate way for students to practice and learn about AAC communication.