C4A Academy is a program of instructional videos to teach nonspeakers how to type, free of charge. When we say “type,” we include pointing to letters on stencils, sensory boards, and letterboards, as well as pressing them on a keyboard or tablet. In every case, it would be preferable to have a live expert providing the coaching and training, but we know that is not always financially or logistically possible. C4A Academy also includes written lessons you will need to implement the program, a Facebook group, case studies, supplies, and other resources like “Ask an Expert” that will help you on your journey. We will expand our library of videos over time and want your feedback so we can constantly improve. The mission is communication for ALL!
A note on language translation
We are actively working to make as much of our content available in as many languages as possible.
In the meantime, you can watch our videos with translated subtitles. Here’s how:
- On any YouTube video, click on the CC (Subtitles / closed captions) button on the bottom right menu. This will turn on subtitles in English.
- To translate the subtitles, click on the gear button (next to the CC button) on the bottom right video menu.
- Click on Subtitles/CC.
- Select Auto-translate, then your choice of language. Subtitles in your language should then appear on the bottom of the video.
Elizabeth’s Welcome
Elizabeth shares her C4A Academy mission and vision with you.
Background Videos
If you are familiar with the terms and devices for teaching a nonspeaker to type to communicate, then you can skip these Background videos and go to the Instructional videos below.
Academy Overview:
Elizabeth and Dan discuss terms and how devices, questions and coaching interact in these videos.
Communication Devices:
Elizabeth and Dan discuss the progression of communication devices from 3 stencils to 26 letter stencil to letterboard to keyboard.
Instructional Videos
Getting Started:
- A motor disorder, not a cognitive one
- Capable learners
- Dysregulation
- Spelling & typing
- Dyspraxia defined
- Dyspraxia & the eyes
- Communication Partner (CP) coaching
Coaching, Lessons & Stencils:
- Types of coaching
- Like learning to dance
- Board (stencil) placement
- What you need to begin
- Lessons & keywords
- Why start with 3 stencils?
- Stencils with fewer letters
Lesson on 3 Stencils for a Young Typer:
- Coach a “spell” word
- Answer a question
- Reset stencil for each letter
- Hold stencils on lap
- Copying answers?
- Color-coded question types
Parent Coached on 3 Stencils:
- Parent coached for a “spell” word
- Coaching summary
- Board (stencil) placement
- Coaching levels
- Not rushing
- Parent coached asking a question
- Coach first, then board (stencil) down
Common Challenges for Early Typers:
- Double letters
- Eye skips
- Random letter poking
- Hand-over-hand coaching
- Lesson demonstration
- Coaching for success
- Coaching through dysregulation
The Cognitive-Motor Seesaw:
- Types of questions
- Color-coded based on level
- Cognitive–Motor Seesaw
- Cognitive = question level
- Motor = device level
- Device–Question–Coaching Interaction
- CP explores interaction to maximize typer’s success
Coaching the 26 Letter Stencil:
- Transition to 26 letter stencil
- Coaching level increases
- Simple semi-open question
- No coaching, at first
- Expanding the utterance
- From words to phrases and sentences
- Cognitive–Motor seesaw revisited
- Move up on one side and down on other
More on Transitions – Finger Point & Big Stencil:
- Transition to finger point
- Transition to 26-letter stencil
- Breakdown of three transition steps
Coaching on the 26 Letter Stencil:
- Review the three steps for the transition
- Getting to difficult letters
- The most important thing
Regulation:
- Dysregulation
- Down regulation & Clocks
- Sensory items
- Obsessions
- Most regulating thing
More on Semi-Open Questions:
- Cognitive-Motor Seesaw for Semi-open questions
- Following the typer’s lead
- Semi-open drills
From Simple to Complex Semi-Opens:
- Simple vs Complex Semi-opens
- Expanding the utterance
- When eyes get stuck
- Follow the typer until it doesn’t make sense
C4A Academy Questions:
- It’s not my child?
- My child can read?
- My child can type! Why start on three stencils?
- What can I expect?
Watching for Magic to Happen:
- Making Semi-opens from Knowns
- Prepare to be surprised
- Don’t miss the moment
Complex Semi-Open Questions:
- The path to Complex Semi-opens
- Check with the typer
- How to use the X to correct
Transition to the Letter Board:
- When to use a sensory board
- Punctuation on the letter board
- Using the letter board
- Complex motor challenges
Advanced Coaching Techniques:
- Chanting
- Singing
- Early tapping protocol
- All the way!
- Changing tone
Open Communication:
- First level of open communication
- Second level of open communication
More on Open Communication:
- Third level of open communication
- Fourth level of open communication
- Review of open communication levels
Tips for Communication Partners
Things to remember before you start
- Have your boards on your lap.
- Have your pencil and pad for your transcript on the table, along with your lesson.
- You are sitting at a 90 degree angle from your nonspeaker, on their right side.
- Your nonspeaker is far enough away from the table so that the board comfortably fits in front of them without them having to move their head down to see the bottom of the board.
Starting your practice session
- Remember to start with a strong: GO or GET IT for each word to prevent freezing
- Remember your hierarchy of coaching (from most invasive to least invasive):
- Hand over hand – USE ONLY WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND DROP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
- Auditory cues – tap on the side of the board where the letter is – again, drop as soon as possible!
- Hand gesture – remember to use a flat hand
- Verbal direction coaching – see below
- General verbal coaching – see below
- No coaching
Coaching
- Verbal direction coaching:
-
- Move left/right/up/down
- Upstairs/Downstairs
- Top shelf/bottom shelf
- Left/right
- Next door to the left/right
- Get its neighbor
- In the middle
- Shift left/right/up/down
- General verbal coaching:
-
- Look for it
- Find it
- Move your eyes
- Eyes on it
- Look! Look! Look!
- Shift your eyes
- Keep scanning
- Move! Move! Move!
Other things to remember
- Be aware of proper board placement: in front of the nonspeaker’s dominant hand so that when the index finger moves forward, with the arm bent at a 90 degree angle, the finger hits the middle of the board.
- Never (NEVER) move the board once it is in place
- Keep up your “patter” – your voice should not be quiet
- Do not say “great job!” etc. after every letter. It breaks the flow.
- Never say “no” – remember that if a nonspeaker misses a letter, it’s your fault. You didn’t coach well enough. Do an eye reset, and up your coaching level as needed.
- HAVE FUN! This is an exciting journey you and your nonspeaker are embarking on. Get pumped!