Grade: Early Childhood - 5th grade

Staff Names: Abigail Vaughan, M.S., CCC-SLP, Lakshmi Eggapan, M.S., CCC-SLP (Campus SLP Team)

Description and purpose of grant: We would like to obtain and install communication boards on the campus playgrounds. These boards would be permanent installations to increase the inclusivity and accessibility of communication during play. The Valley Ranch Elementary campus serves a unique and diverse population of learners with communication skills across a broad spectrum including non-speaking learners, learners with language impairments, as well as a significant number of bi-/multi-lingual learners at varying stages of language acquisition and exposure. Communication boards are a form of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) that utilize visuals/pictures alongside vocabulary to allow use by individuals of all different abilities. By installing large-format, permanent boards on the playgrounds, this would allow access to every learner on the campus, including those in and out of special education encouraging inclusive play and expanding communication access to more settings. 

Implementation of this project directly aligns with the mission and core values ot the Coppell Independent School District. As a district, our mission is to collaboratively create profound learning experiences for each individual child while nurturing meaningful relationships and make a positive impact on our world. Providing access to communication boards on our playgrounds provides appropriate resources for children to access language and communication at the varying skill levels of each different child and provides the tools they need to engage and form meaningful peer relationships during play. For children who might not directly need the additional support of a communication board to express themselves, consistent access and exposure to AAC increases their knowledge and understanding of their peers and global citizens with differing abilities and strengths. This encourages compassion, empathy, and understanding.

The Valley Ranch campus is a Lighthouse School that prioritizes an educational model that nurtures the development of well-rounded, highly effective individuals. This program emphasizes the 7 habits that are the foundation of highly effective people. The implementation of this proposal directly supports the development of several of these target skills including Habit 4: Think Win-Win, Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, and Habit 6: Synergize. Habit 4 emphasizes that everyone can win, encourages fairness and consideration of other people's successes. Providing inclusive communication accessibility allows those who may have difficulty to find success communicating with peers and adults on the playground! Habit 5 encourages empathy and respect to those who may be different than oneself which are skills that can flourish when provided with more opportunities to play and form relationships with peers who may have different ability levels and support needs. Finally, Habit 6 stresses the importance and benefit of collaboration, cooperation, and celebrating differences! These boards would help to bridge differences and gaps between learners who may find it difficult to engage with each other otherwise. 

Integrating AAC and providing access to all learners during their free-play time supports the development of peer relationships, self-advocacy, accessibility, and inclusivity; all of which are integral parts of supporting the growth of well-rounded citizens. 

Implementation process: One of the greatest features of this proposal is its potential longevity. These boards are permanent installations that could benefit students at Valley Ranch Elementary for decades to come. Once installed, the SLP team would like to provide introductory lessons to current learners to explain the purpose and use of the boards and demonstrate how they can be beneficial during recess!

Items you plan to purchase with grant money:

• (2) Smarty Symbols Weather-Proof Plastic Preschool Playground Communication Boards: Durable, evidence-based communication board containing vocabulary specific to school playground settings and outdoor play ($3269)

In the event my grant is not fully funded, this is minimum amount I would need to get started on this project: $1635 (one board)