Communication Connections: No Limits Method and Tobii Dynavox

Core Values: Communication

When teaching, we all have those times when we question the effectiveness of our lessons. It’s hard to miss those blank stares or inquisitive eyes staring back at us. We tend to wonder, at what point did we lose our students and how can we communicate the content in a different way? Using the No Limits Method® can alleviate these concerns. It provides solutions to help educators, paraprofessionals, and parents to reach and teach students, especially those with learning and speech and language differences. Interested? Well, let’s start with the foundational Core Value: communication.

As teachers, we understand how important communication is with our students, but facilitating communication between verbal and nonverbal students can be challenging. If we can’t communicate effectively, how do we know the message we are trying to convey to our students is actually reaching them?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication

The No Limits Method solution is a software called TD Snap Core. Using this software consistently can tremendously change communication in the classroom. It has produced meaningful content and social connections many believed would never be possible. This software was created by Tobii Dynavox, the leading global provider of eye-tracking-enabled and touch-based augmentative alternative communication (AAC). No matter your students’ cognitive or speech and language differences, modifications for communication are made easy by using this software.

For nonverbal students, this is truly life-changing. From an instructor standpoint, it is a game changer because the teacher can determine students’ comprehension and understanding, gauge their interest, and map their progress. Most importantly, the students are able to be heard, understood, feel valued, and can make choices for themselves. By using TD Snap, teachers can make indescribable connections. These connections increase student engagement and participation during lessons while broadening their potential to grow academically, emotionally, and socially.

TD Snap can also be a helpful assessment tool for your verbal students. For example, students can work on recognition and identification of letters, numbers, objects, etc. Have students verbally answer first. Next, present the device with TD Snap, review the choices again, and prompt them to visually identify their answer. This improves their identification processing along with encouraging engagement throughout the lesson. An added benefit is the encouragement that nonverbal students feel when a verbal peer uses the device as well.

Inspiring Collaboration with the No Limits Method

Many of you may already be using TD Snap or another form of communication adaptation, but some of you may not. Regardless of your fluency, the key is learning to effectively integrate instructional strategies and best practice therapeutic interventions. This is how you will unlock the potential of your students. The No Limits Method exists to provide instructors with resources, tools, and protocols to reach and teach exceptional education students. We seek to inspire collaboration and provide instructors with the knowledge to build deeper connections to unlock brain potential.

As we continue to post blogs, you will read more about our foundational methods, Core Values, resources, and solutions to educate students with disabilities. We will help you in utilizing your everyday resources to expand the success of your teacher toolkit, allowing you to decrease your planning time while increasing your outcomes. We look forward to discussing strategies for classroom management, organization, training assistants, and creating an environment where your students are fully engaged and motivated. Please join us as we work to empower every exceptional education instructor, paraprofessional, and parent to reach and teach their students.

For more tips, tricks, and tools for teaching in and out of the classroom, check out more articles on the Teq Talk blog.

We also offer virtual professional development, training, and remote learning support for educators with OTIS for educators. Explore the technology, tools, and strategies that can spark student success — no matter where teaching or learning are happening.