What is Programmatic Speech?

Programmatic Speech in our Kindergarten through 2nd grade 6:1:2 and 8:1:2 classrooms is designed to support a diverse range of communication needs, including students who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), those who are developing spoken language, and children with motor speech disorders. This approach integrates multiple speech and language strategies to promote effective communication for all learners.

For AAC users, the program focuses on building foundational language skills alongside the use of communication devices or systems, helping students combine symbols, gestures, or technology with emerging speech. For students who are speaking or developing speech, targeted activities support articulation, phonological awareness, and expressive language growth to enhance clarity and confidence. For children with motor speech disorders, individualized techniques address motor planning and control to improve speech production while also incorporating AAC as a complementary tool when needed.

Overall, Programmatic Speech fosters a flexible, inclusive environment that encourages language development, speech intelligibility, and meaningful communication, empowering each child to communicate effectively in ways that best suit their abilities and needs.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) offers powerful support for children who have difficulty speaking. A customizable, symbol-based communication app helps users express themselves quickly and clearly through a combination of pictures, text, and speech output. Such apps feature user-friendly interfaces with wide vocabularies that can be tailored to each child's language level and interests, promoting vocabulary growth and sentence building. They support core and fringe vocabulary, enabling children to communicate everyday needs, ask questions, and participate in social interactions. With features like word prediction, natural-sounding voices, and easy navigation, these AAC tools empower users to develop language skills, increase independence, and engage confidently with others.

In the classroom, AAC can be integrated by encouraging students to use the system during group activities, storytime, and transitions to express choices and share ideas. Teachers and peers can model its use by incorporating symbols and phrases into daily routines and conversations, fostering natural communication opportunities. Additionally, communication partners can support vocabulary expansion by adding new words related to current lessons and classroom events. Using AAC as both a communication tool and a learning resource helps create an inclusive environment where all students can participate and thrive.