Bits and Bites of Blog: Day 1 : Seeing her mind 'wakeup' and having our eyes open.

The Old Man and The Starfish

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Day 1 : Seeing her mind 'wakeup' and having our eyes open.

What a great way to begin a class on Assistive Technology, seeing the ways in which it can truly open up the world for an individual. Susie Rubin used communication through a different means to bring us into her world. This was once a world that was very isolating, a world which made her feel like a non person but has turned around. Giving Susie a voice through assistive technology, allows her to let the world know what she was truly capable of achieving. The video really opens up your eyes to never assume the competence of someone based on appearance or the challenges an individual faces. We must try our best to provide access to the tasks we often take for granted, to consider what stands in the way for particular individuals finding something that could be used in order for achievement.

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EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Communication is any act by which one person gives to or
receives from another person information about that person's needs, desires, perceptions, knowledge or affective states this may be intentional or unintentional, may involve conventional or unconventional signals, may take linguistic or nonlinguistic forms, and may occur through spoken or other modes.
Think of the power of a photograph, a personal item, a kiss, a look, etc. I am beginning to understand several modes of communication. First, in becoming a new mom and having to read the cues of an infant. Secondly, in quickly having to understand the message sent through particular body language with several of my students in the Learning Center.

Although all communicate in some way, the effectiveness and efficiency of this communication vary with a number of individual and environmental factors.
It is very important to consider the following when communicating:

• The goal of the communication interaction

• The focus of interaction

• The duration of interaction

• Content of interaction

• Predictability

• Rate of communication

• Scope of communication (wide,

limited etc.)

• Number of communication

partners

• Familiarity of partners

All of these factors are very important and will determine how the communication will occur if at all. For some of my students, familiarity of the partners is crucial. If the partner is unknown, a 'verbal' conversation will not occur. For others, the communication is to express a piece of information and for those students it is quite difficult to communicate unless there is a clear purpose.

Equally important are the communication partners. They are the recipients of the message(s). An effective communication partner attends to the content of the message, indicates interest in the message /information being conveyed and responds within appropriate time limits in the appropriate manner

I often have this conversation with my students as some need a reminder that conversations a two sided and that is important that a conversation should interest both parties if it is to be continued. A 'long winded' one sided conversation about a topic only one is interested in may lead to avoidance in the future.

The importance of a response is also something that many take for granted. Not all individual understand the importance of responding or showing interest in the individual speaking.

Use of communication devices and/or different communication techniques requires an experienced communication partner to reply or engage in the conversation appropriately. If the individual one is hoping to communicate with does not understand the mode, the conversation will not occur.

Bits and Bites of Blog