AAC Camp: Advancing Adventures in Communicating!
On June 21st, 24 campers and 24 counselors will come together on the NNU campus to socialize, tell jokes, play games and produce works of art. For some of these campers it will be the 1st time they have ever experienced camp. For some it will be the 1st time they have seen another child who talks like they do. For these children, communicating has always been a struggle. Their “voice: has not always been heard”. They rely on technology to communicate their wants and needs. They use “talkers” as their “voice” to express themselves. The technical term for “talkers” is speech generating device or voice output communication aids (VOCAS). These children are often the only one in their school to have such a device. For some they are the only one in their town. Their parents have often fought long and hard to get such a device for their child. Because they are incredibly expensive and insurance is often used to help pay for them. So it is even more important that the child learn to us it, his/her family learn to support it and the educational staff facilitate its use.
AAC camp integrates these areas of need and emphasizes use and learning while also having fun! With a 1:1 ratio between campers and counselors, campers will be able to maximize opportunities to communicate using their talkers. AAC camp is where the pace slows down and people both understand and want to learn more about speech generating devices and the people who use them.
This is our first year on the NNU campus and we have a lot of exciting things planned! Our theme this year is “Science!” Campers and counselors will be “experimenting” all week, culminating with a science fair on Friday. Swimming and rock climbing compliments of Nampa Rec Center, along with arts and crafts and games will make AAC camp a fun-filled week of activities.
Campers need to own a speech generating device and have a need to use it. Counselors must come with energy and enthusiasm to learn more about augmentative communication. If you are interested in finding out more, go to our website: www. Aaccampidaho.org or contact Anne Kuhlmeier at akuhlmeier@elksrehab.org.
Anne Kuhlemeier, MA, CCC-SLP, ATP
Filed under: Pediatrics, Speech-Language Pathology, St. Luke's-Elks Rehab Camps, St. Luke's-Elks Rehab Events