How do I know when to introduce a symbolic communication system to a child?
It is important not to introduce a symbolic level of communication with a child who is functioning at level one or two (see communication chart of page 6). The child, at this level, is not ready to communicate with symbols. The child first must have intentional communication with another person. When the child arrives at the “intent to communicate” stage – that he or she is showing that he or she has the groundwork for introducing symbols. The child now has the elements of communicate – but the symbols become the means of communication. A child with vision loss may not use conventional communication behaviors such as eye referencing, pointing, and/or gesturing. Both sensory and physical capabilities will influence certain types of conventional communication. How can we work to establish intentional communication? Parents and professionals must ensure that the child is given opportunities to communicate by being consistently responsible to potential communication behaviors (e.g. fussing
