Area 3: Appropriate and accessible communication approaches for learners: choosing, teaching, supporting

• Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust: inclusive communication (External). Information and resources for appropriate and accessible communication approaches with people with learning disabilities. Includes accessible information, communication passports, intensive interaction, objects of reference, a total communication symbol pack, gesture and body language, sensory rooms, and interactive stories.
• CALL Scotland AAC Online Learning Modules (External). Free online learning on  Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Aimed at services, teams or individuals to review their current knowledge and develop best practice, and to ensure positive outcomes for people who use AAC.
• Scottish Sensory Centre: Learning Together (External). Learning Together (2008) is an interactive and person-centred approach to communication for children and adults with complex support needs. It involves movement interaction, personal gesture and Canaan Barrie on body signs.
• Sight Scotland: An introduction to the Canaan Barrie On Body Sign System Canaan Barrie on body signing (External). Guidance from Sight Scotland for On Body Signing including videos demonstrating the signs.
• BATOD: Using objects to promote early communication and language for deafblind children (External). Information to support the learning of the meaning of objects and the communicative function they have by providing careful and consistent support, ensuring plenty of opportunity, and working together to explore co-actively.
• Ian Bell: Body Signing Guidelines for Learners who are Visually Impaired with Additional Complex Needs Working at P1, 2 and 3 in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (External) Leaflet provides key points to think about before introducing on body signs as well as photos with practical examples of body signing.
• Ian Bell: Communication in visually impaired children/visual impairment and autism (External). This website has a range of articles written by a speech and language therapist, on the communication skills of CYPVI. Examples include the impact of VI on early communication, facilitating communication in people with VI and additional needs, assessing communication, expressive and receptive communication, and tactile signing. 
• Paths to Literacy: Tactile Symbols to Support Communication (External). This US website has a range of resources on teaching students with VI including this article showing how using tactile symbols can be used to support the communication and literacy development of children with VI. 

Downloadable Resources 

See Area 3: Communication homepage to discover downloadable resources shared by the sector