What is it?
Creating communication opportunities means intentionally designing classroom routines and activities so learners have frequent, meaningful reasons to communicate throughout the day. Communication is more than answering questions or requesting preferred items; it includes commenting, asking questions, sharing ideas, directing others, protesting, joking, connecting socially, and expressing opinions. Opportunities can be embedded naturally into instruction, play, routines, transitions, and social interactions.
How to use it?
Look across the school day for times when learners can actively contribute rather than simply follow directions or respond to adult questions. Offer meaningful choices, invite opinions and comments, create collaborative activities, and leave space for learners to initiate interactions. Make appropriate communication supports, including AAC, available across settings and allow enough time for learners to formulate and express their messages. Avoid creating situations in which a learner must communicate in a particular way to access something they already have a right to access.
Why use it?
Communication develops through meaningful interaction with other people. Learners need opportunities to communicate for many purposes, with different partners, and in different environments, not just during therapy or structured communication activities. Building communication opportunities into everyday classroom experiences supports language development, autonomy, relationships, self-advocacy, and fuller participation in the classroom community.
