Communication Needs

What type of communication device should I purchase?

I'm a special education teacher I need to buy a communication device for one of my students who has a physical and mental disability and can not speak, but has use of both hands. Does anyone know of a place that lets you try these devices or know of a good brand? Thanks!

Public Comments

1. I'm not sure exactly what they are called, but there are some that work through phones and should work for regular day uses, too. otherwise a simple laptop would work well if the student used the microsoft word program and typed her questions & homework answers. many students with poor writing skills in public schools are opting for that now, too. many teachers like that idea because it leaves less time towards figuring out what the student meant to write and allows for the students to work on proper grammar. just be sure not to let the students take spelling tests on them! Below are some of the websites that i found high ratings on for communication devices. Some work with pictures and others with typing. It should be up to your student to choose which would be best for him/her.
2. Your district should have access to an AT or AAC specialist (assistive technology or augmentative alternative communication specialist) that can help you pick something out. There are really a lot of variables to be considered in terms of how the child is going to use the device, their cognitive level, the current skill level etc. The devices vary from very simple with 1 button device to very complex with multiples pages. Additionally these devices are very expensive so you wouldn't want to get the wrong one. I would definitely consult with a specialist before making a choice. If you don't have access to a specialist sometimes a speech pathologist can also help.