Day 5-January 4, 2014

Today was a day of true collaboration! The second day of the professional development retreat was an exciting day of sharing, teaching and learning from each other. The retreat covered many Augmentative and Alternative Communication approaches that will be beneficial for many of the teachers and professionals in Ghana. It was amazing how much we as students also learned from the teachers and how much they learned from each other.

Many AAC approaches were reviewed from previous years including the AAC Market Cards, Narrative Social Stories, and Community Passports. A few new approaches were also introduced: the Five-Finger Story Retell, Talking Mats, and Joint Action Routines. The special education teachers made fabulous, passionate presentations! Teachers shared how they use AAC approaches in their classroom, as well as their challenges.

One of the teachers, Mary Osei, talked about how one of her students went missing after taking the wrong way home. Fortunately, the student had a Communication Passport that denoted emergency information. The student had limited speech, so this was particularly useful.  Many teachers also shared how they were implementing vocational training. Students who may have been previously labeled as incapable were making holiday cards, paper beads, and even fashionable bags.

We also presented on various strategies such as how to incorporate the use of a daily schedule and calendar within the morning routine in the classroom. It was awesome to hear how teachers have been using these in their classrooms. Some added physical movements to their "Days of the Week" song and displayed their own hand drawn daily schedules!

"Make and Take" allowed us to work directly with the teachers in creating the actual approaches for them to take back to their classrooms.   We worked side by side in brainstorming ideas and bringing them to life. We made sure all of our materials would be replicable.  Each teacher also went home with an "AAC Approaches Booklet" that highlighted every approach to be covered throughout the weekend to reference once they leave.

Before dinner and the evening program, a few of us and one of the clinical supervisors completed an assessment and provided strategies for one of the teachers who stammered (stuttered). Earlier in the day, he asked a question during the presentation of "What is Speech Therapy" about treatment for those who stammer because he has had dysfluent speech since he was a child. We asked him assessment questions and developed strategies based on his responses. He started using these strategies and experienced more fluent and clearer speech almost immediately.  In less than 30 minutes we had helped someone who had negative feelings about his speech. The smile on his face is unforgettable.

The evening program including African drumming and dancing by a local, professional troupe. The audience was encouraged to join in.   We ended the night with students, teachers, professionals all on our feet.

- El'licia