What's New?
To select any page, click on the image in the appropriate section.
AAC Interchange Issues
January 2023
A guide to some of the issues faced by AAC Speakers.
A guide to some of the issues faced by AAC Speakers.
Discovering Discovery
August 2022
Learn the Discovery Minspeak Application Program. A step by step guide.
Learn the Discovery Minspeak Application Program. A step by step guide.
Abuse in Special Education
April 2022
Abuse is occurring in our Special Education Establishments. All are guilty. It has to stop! Check out this page. It may surprise you! Contribute to the research!
Abuse is occurring in our Special Education Establishments. All are guilty. It has to stop! Check out this page. It may surprise you! Contribute to the research!
Metamorphosis : My full article from the Communication Matters Journal
March 2022
I wrote an article on communication for the Communication Matters Journal which was extremely edited because of their rules. I have put the full article here
I wrote an article on communication for the Communication Matters Journal which was extremely edited because of their rules. I have put the full article here
4T Help & advice for those working with / caring for Individuals with Special Needs
November 2021
4T offers free help and advice for people who work with or care for Individuals Experiencing Special Educational Needs. 4T comprises a team of seven experienced Teachers and Therapists providing an advisory service to anyone seeking assistance with issues arising from the education or care of an individual experiencing learning difficulties and or physical disabilities. Click on the image to visit the 4T page. Simply complete the form provided on the 4T page to request the team's advice.
4T offers free help and advice for people who work with or care for Individuals Experiencing Special Educational Needs. 4T comprises a team of seven experienced Teachers and Therapists providing an advisory service to anyone seeking assistance with issues arising from the education or care of an individual experiencing learning difficulties and or physical disabilities. Click on the image to visit the 4T page. Simply complete the form provided on the 4T page to request the team's advice.
Good Practice in the care of people who are bed-bound
July 2021
This page contains a copy of a paper I wrote recently on my experiences as a POD (Person Of Disability) following a stroke. I comment on my experience in receiving care both in hospital and after, at home over nearly a year and suggest my concept of good practice. A view from the inside; from one person in receipt of care A review of standards in the caring professions. I became a POD overnight, quite literally. The stroke left me with a left hemiplegia, paralysed down one side of my body and dependent on others for virtually all of my needs. I became an IRON POD. (Individual Reliant on Others for Needs). This page is complete. I may add more as my experience continues. This page was last updated on 23rd July 2021.
Please click on the image above to advance to this page.
This page contains a copy of a paper I wrote recently on my experiences as a POD (Person Of Disability) following a stroke. I comment on my experience in receiving care both in hospital and after, at home over nearly a year and suggest my concept of good practice. A view from the inside; from one person in receipt of care A review of standards in the caring professions. I became a POD overnight, quite literally. The stroke left me with a left hemiplegia, paralysed down one side of my body and dependent on others for virtually all of my needs. I became an IRON POD. (Individual Reliant on Others for Needs). This page is complete. I may add more as my experience continues. This page was last updated on 23rd July 2021.
Please click on the image above to advance to this page.
Iconic Pop Quiz
July 2021
Are you a pop music master? Can you decode symbols? These symbolic quiz pages will have you scratching your head. Test your knowledge. Fun for all! It's an iconic symbol quiz that's a real brain teaser! Try it now.
Please click on the image left to advance to this page.
Are you a pop music master? Can you decode symbols? These symbolic quiz pages will have you scratching your head. Test your knowledge. Fun for all! It's an iconic symbol quiz that's a real brain teaser! Try it now.
Please click on the image left to advance to this page.
101 meaningful ideas for Post-16 PMLD practice and provision
Currently Under Development
October 2017
This page is currently under development. While you are free to go there and browse, please recognise that items on the page may be missing, incomplete, may alter, and even may be deleted.
Please click on the image left to advance to this page.
October 2017
This page is currently under development. While you are free to go there and browse, please recognise that items on the page may be missing, incomplete, may alter, and even may be deleted.
Please click on the image left to advance to this page.
Sensory Stories for Special Settings
November 2015
TalkSense developed this page together with Melanie Bullivant a Special Needs Teacher currently studying for her Masters Degree. Filled with practical ideas for working with Sensory Stories in the Special Education classroom, we hope it will be a useful resource for those working with Learners Experiencing PMLD.
Preventing Poor and Promoting Positive Practice in Special Education
Page In Development
May 2015
It may be some time before I have finished researching this area and adding to this page for it to be considered as completed sufficiently to recommend a visit. However, as always, you are welcome to go there and see the bare bones of this page as it develops.
If you still wish to visit this page, click on the image left.
May 2015
It may be some time before I have finished researching this area and adding to this page for it to be considered as completed sufficiently to recommend a visit. However, as always, you are welcome to go there and see the bare bones of this page as it develops.
If you still wish to visit this page, click on the image left.
Contingency Awareness: The theory, practice, and assessment of Cause and Effect
APRIL 2014
In Development but some things already there
This Talksense webpage looks at the theory and practice behind the assessment and development of contingency awareness in those experiencing significant learning learning difficulties. This aspect of skill development is one of the most significant milestones in the education of such Learners and needs to be understood by all those involved in their education.
Please Note that this page is currently in the early stages of development and while you are free to look at what is already there it will grow and change significantly over time.
Choice Pickings
OCTOBER 2013
This page is devoted to an exploration of the concept of the provision of choice for Individuals Experiencing Learning Difficulties (IELD). While few would argue that the notion of giving IELD as much choice in (and thus more control over) their life is a bad thing, every form of practice in this area cannot be considered as good. Indeed, as this page will attempt to show, some of what is proffered as choice making activity in our educational establishments (and beyond) might be considered questionable practice.
Is the provision of choice a good thing? Can there be too much choice? How should choice be provided? How can you be certain that an Individual has made a choice? What are the benefits of providing a choice? What does a Learner understand from the choice making activity? These and other questions are addressed on this page.
This page is devoted to an exploration of the concept of the provision of choice for Individuals Experiencing Learning Difficulties (IELD). While few would argue that the notion of giving IELD as much choice in (and thus more control over) their life is a bad thing, every form of practice in this area cannot be considered as good. Indeed, as this page will attempt to show, some of what is proffered as choice making activity in our educational establishments (and beyond) might be considered questionable practice.
Is the provision of choice a good thing? Can there be too much choice? How should choice be provided? How can you be certain that an Individual has made a choice? What are the benefits of providing a choice? What does a Learner understand from the choice making activity? These and other questions are addressed on this page.
History for Individuals experiencing PMLD
JULY 2013
In Development but nearly complete
I have often thought that what takes place in many schools to address the concept of history is anything but! Not that such lesson are not creative, staff intensive, pupil inclusive, fun for the Learners and brilliantly presented: it's just that I am not sure what the individual is getting from them: I do not think it's an awareness of the World war or the impact of the Romans on Britain. For me history for the Individual experiencing PMLD requires an alternative approach at least in addition to those fun toga wearing sessions discussed above!
If you would like to find out more, why not click on the history book symbol to the left and be transported to a page containing (presently) ten suggestions for approaching this topic.
In Development but nearly complete
I have often thought that what takes place in many schools to address the concept of history is anything but! Not that such lesson are not creative, staff intensive, pupil inclusive, fun for the Learners and brilliantly presented: it's just that I am not sure what the individual is getting from them: I do not think it's an awareness of the World war or the impact of the Romans on Britain. For me history for the Individual experiencing PMLD requires an alternative approach at least in addition to those fun toga wearing sessions discussed above!
If you would like to find out more, why not click on the history book symbol to the left and be transported to a page containing (presently) ten suggestions for approaching this topic.
Fundamentals of AAC
JANUARY 2013
This page contains Fifteen Fundamentals of AAC - the basis of a new talk/presentation by Talksense. Are there just fifteen fundamentals of AAC? Probably, there are more but we have to start somewhere: Talksense is aiming to increase the page to Fifty Fundamentals over time! The present set are those that Talksense believes are the most important: you might disagree. If you do then there is an option at the bottom of the page to let us know!
Click on the symbol left to move to this page.
This page contains Fifteen Fundamentals of AAC - the basis of a new talk/presentation by Talksense. Are there just fifteen fundamentals of AAC? Probably, there are more but we have to start somewhere: Talksense is aiming to increase the page to Fifty Fundamentals over time! The present set are those that Talksense believes are the most important: you might disagree. If you do then there is an option at the bottom of the page to let us know!
Click on the symbol left to move to this page.
101 ideas for working with simple AAC electronic systems
October 2012
There are over 101 ideas on this page for working with AAC systems that are simple including the new iPad applications.Hopefully, there will be something here to inspire you. The page is continually being updated so keep checking back to see if there are new items.
Click on the symbol left to move to the page.
Loss and Communication
September 2012
How do we help individuals experiencing Learning Difficulties cope with loss?
Loss is not just the death of someone close, there are many forms of loss.
Can we shield people from such events? What is good practice?
This page concerns ideas for good practice in this difficult area.
What Symbols?
July 2011
What symbols are out there? How many sets?
Click on the symbol left to find out!
101 ideas for Literacy and AAC
May 2011
How do you teach literacy alongside AAC?
Click on the symbol left for some helpful hints and ideas.
Creating Active eNvironments: C.A.N.
January 2011
What is an Active Environment?
What does an Active Environment look like?
For answers to these questions and more ...
...move to the Active Environments page!
Simply click on the symbol left.
Creating Communication Systems: A step by step guide
November 2010
Click on the symbol left to move to the 'Creating Communication Systems' pages. Some pages still in development
Music page Added
Giveaway Symbols: Free symbos for non-commercial use
August 2010
Click on the symbol (right) to move to the give-away symbols page for the current range of symbols that are available organised in categories. A set of free symbols for non-commercial usage which cover a wide range of topics especially important dates in the calendar. More and more symbols will be added.
Recently added sets include (click on the item to go directly to that page):
- Prepositions (August 2015)
- Verb Symbols (over 1,200 symbols in this set) (August 2015)
- Curriculum and Time-Table Symbols (September 2014)
- Clothing (July 2014)
- Drinks: Making Tea (February 2014)
- Drinks (October 2013)
- Cheese Foods (October 2013)
- Egg Foods (October 21013)
- Apple Foods (October 2013)
- Soups in Food Category (October 2013)
- Holiday Symbols
- American Independence Day Symbols
- Potato foods
