Click on the expander tabs below the image to find unique AAC components (in red) and activities addressing key self-determination skills for students with complex communication needs.
Self-Determination Model
Adapted for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs
Know Yourself and Your Environment
Students learn to:
- Dream
- Know your strengths, weaknesses, needs and preferences
- Know options, supports and expectations
- Decide what is important to you
- Build an awareness of your special collection of AAC tools
- Learn about non-verbal communication and body language
Value Yourself
Students learn to:
- Accept and value yourself
- Use weaknesses to find strengths
- Recognize and respect rights and responsibilities
- Take care of yourself
- Develop and nurture positive relationships
- Learn how to advocate for what you want in your AAC systems
- Learn about the responsibilities for the care and maintenance of your communication systems
Plan
Students learn to:
- Set Goals
- Plan small steps to meet goals
- Anticipate results
- Be creative
- Visually rehearse
- Learn about using certain communication tools for certain purposes
Act
Students learn to:
- Take risks
- Communicate
- Access resources and support
- Negotiate
- Deal with conflict and criticism
- Communicate in different ways to achieve a goal, make a choice and have your opinion heard
Experience Outcomes and Learn
Students learn to:
- Compare outcome to expected outcome
- Compare performance to expected performance
- Realize success
- Make adjustments
- Learn to self-advocate when things do not go as planned
- Learn effective communication skills to maintain supports and social relationships
- Monitor progress towards goals and adjust as needed
