You've probably seen iPad-type devices that give voice to non-verbal kids and adults. These "talkers" work very well... if you are able to scan a grid of options, mentally isolate what you want, and then touch your selection.
It gets tricky, though, if scanning, choice and touch are challenging for you. My 5-year-old Elsa falls into this camp. Her receptive vocabulary is astonishing. Truly. She can correctly identify family members in pictures. She knows her farm animals. She can select common household objects on request (in a field of two or three). But her expressive vocabulary doesn't match up. Meaning, she can't verbalize what she knows. Awfully frustrating for mom and dad. And most certainly, for Elsa.
Until Elsa's "method of access" solidifies (how she can best makes choices), how do we keep up with her ever-expanding vocabulary and help her communicate? The answer is PODD: A fabulous and (truthfully) kind of cumbersome and time-intensive method of communication. But it's worth the work.
Here are 9 things to know about PODD:
What is PODD? PODD stands for Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display. It's a system that helps you facilitate conversation through dynamic one-on-one interaction.
How do you use it? To use PODD, the child (or person in-need of communications assistance) must be sitting with someone who can model and flip through a book of themed vocabulary sections, and also interpret the selections that the child makes. You can't just hand a child a PODD book and walk away. It is highly interactive. (For this reason, Elsa LOVES PODD time!)
What does PODD look like: I think of PODD as giant "choose your own adventure"-style flip books. Through our wonderful friends at Easter Seals, we have obtained two PODD books: A single-page one (small), and an expanded one with nine options on each page (bigger). Elsa speaks to us through the single-page PODD, and we model speech with the expanded PODD. Here are pics of our small and large PODD books.
How does it work? We start at the beginning of the book and say each option aloud. When Elsa hears or sees what she wants, she indicates "Yes," and we flip to the page that corresponds with her choice. When she doesn't want it, she indicates "No." Through yes-or-no answers, we navigate to what she wants to say.
What constitutes a choice? Elsa's choice making can be subtle. To indicate "Yes," she will either a) touch the page, b) lean toward it, or c) stare at it intently. For "No" she will a) shake her head, or b) look completely away from what's being presented. Elsa's response times are pretty slow, by traditional measures. And both books are vast and full of options. So it takes a lot of patience and focus on Elsa's part, and on Mom and Dad's, to get to what she desires. Sometimes she's really engaged. Other times, she's not in the mood. So it can be a little hit and miss. Here's PODD in action. I would say is indicative of a fairly successful conversation. (Her little sister Lola loves to help.)
How does Elsa let us know she has something to say? Elsa activates the PODD experience by vocalizing (which is either an "ahh" or "uhh" sound, or a yell or cry if something is wrong). Or she can jump-start things by gesturing toward a small button we clip onto her shirt, which is programmed to say "I have something to say." Confession: I am very bad about remembering to put the clip on her shirt, except on school days.
Anitra, how often do you use PODD books day-to-day? Oh, gosh. I try. I really do. But it can be hit or miss. At home, our PODD books are always handy. And both books travel to school with Elsa, and to therapy sessions. But when we leave the house to go to dinner, a social gathering or to church, I often forget. The result: In those instances, Elsa has no expressive language. The guilt that I have upon merely typing this is terrible. What if every time I left the house, someone put tape over my mouth? That is what I do, when I forget her PODD. Ugh. Bad mommy.
Why is PODD worth the work? Elsa's lovely assistive tech therapist at Easter Seals kindly reassures me that PODD can be clumsy and messy, and that's ok. The main key is, just use it. Integrate it into daily living, and constantly model its use. A good example, for me, is my 2-year-old (in the vid above). I don't know how many times I've asked her what color Elmo is. She almost always says purple. But I do it again and again. Because mastery comes from repetition. PODD is based on this very idea.
How can I learn more about PODD? The best way to understand PODD is to watch it in action. Here's an awesome example on the We Speak PODD channel on YouTube. Check it out!