February 2022 Grant Recipients

Severe communication disorders make it difficult for many students to fully participate in the classroom and in all environments of their educational experience (lunchrooms, playgrounds, specials). Diagnoses that are primarily communication based, such as childhood apraxia of speech, as well as diagnoses that have communication impairment as a component (such as downs syndrome and Angelman syndrome) require assistive technology to help students voices be heard. In our school, our need for communication devices has outstripped our supply. We have relied on the assistive technology library in Boise and on permanent acquisition of devices in coordination with families and through Medicaid funding, but we still find ourselves in need. We are requesting funds to buy a communication device (an iPad with communication apps) to be used by students at school to help them be understood by their teachers, paraprofessionals and other staff, as well as peers.