Transformative Experiences - NIKA Project with Peru and India
Due to the pandemic, an alternate experience was designed for developing international experiences in the development of AAC systems and services through the NIKA Project and participation by 13 Project BB scholars. In a two-week, online class led by Dan Phillips, co-founder of the NIKA Project, Project BB scholars participated daily to learn aspects of AAC for sustainable development in international locations with diverse cultures, languages and varying degrees of access to communication systems for students with disabilities. The daily sessions through ZOOM included topics that covered the development of the NIKA Project throughout the world, cultural orientation to specific locations with professionals in India and Peru, AAC assessment, AAC tools for communication, and AAC literacy tools --- all with a cultural and language lens.
Throughout the two weeks of daily meetings, NIKA Team members joined to share particular AAC expertise and provided guidance to Project BB scholars in the development of AAC materials to share with professionals in each location. Project BB Scholars collaborated in two teams: Team India and Team Peru to consult with professionals in each location regarding languages, particular cultural activities, needs for AAC materials, current challenges faced with reaching families and students through remote learning due to the conditions created by the pandemic and more. The initial partnerships between Team India and Team Peru with the professionals in each setting and mentorship with the NIKA Team provided a foundation for their final projects. Project BB Scholars in each team worked in pairs to create appropriate AAC materials focused on daily routines that were identified as important including the following examples:
- Mealtimes
- Social Areas in Community
- Circle/School times
- Important holidays
Project BB Scholars in each team created 3 activities around the above themes, including communication boards or AAC systems with relevant vocabulary, literacy tools and a language-based classroom teaching plan to reinforce the use of AAC. Examples of the tools created with culturally and linguistically relevant content for each location in India and Peru are shown below.
Continued development and application of these materials is planned with NIKA, Project BB Scholars and representatives from India and Peru throughout the 2020-2021 academic year.
Mealtime Communication Board, designed by Team India
Holiday Communication Board, designed by Team Peru