Speech & Language
The difference between speech and language ...
Speech is a term used to describe sounds we make when formulating words. Some students have difficulty producing specific sounds (e.g., they may say "tat" instead of "cat"). Other students may have difficulty producing a sequence of sounds. For example, a student may only use the first sound when attempting to produce a word (e.g., "ma" for "mommy").
Language is a term used when we are working on vocabulary, grammar, and putting words together to make a phrase or sentence. There are two areas of language: receptive language (what we hear and understand from other's speech and gestures) and expressive language (words that we use to create messages others will understand).
AAC: Augmentative & Alternative Communication
Core Boards
Here at Buffum TLC we have a fundamental belief and school culture that recognizes that all students can learn to communicate in increasingly complex ways. We are excited to announce we installed CORE Word communication boards on the play areas to extend communication outside the classroom and across the campus.
Core Word communication is evidence-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Similar to the communication systems inside the classrooms, our Core Boards are designed to use both as a child’s functional communication system for self-help and as a teaching tool to increase mean length of utterance (MLU).
Core Boards are intended for students with challenges who do not yet use speech to communicate and for adults to model language for emerging verbal students with picture prompts.
No prior training or experience with Core Boards-AAC is necessary to get started. Simply point to the word or combine words to create phrases and say the words at the same time.
~ Emily Perez, M.S., CCC-SLP Speech Language Pathologist