At Gympie Special School we utilise the Communication Bill of Rights as part of our core work. Our vision as a school, is for all of our students to become autonomous communicators, we believe every person, everyday has the right to:

• To say what they want,
• When they want,
• However they want,
• To whomever they want.

As such, communication is key to our school activities throughout the week. We are communication partners, supporting our students to learn how to communicate with each other, and how to understand the messages given to them. We utilise AAC such as PODD books, iPad apps such as Proloquo2GO, visual time tables, communication boards, quick visual rules and we have a large focus on vocabulary and language teaching and learning in all classrooms, and all learning areas.

Speaking and listening skills are vital and are referred to as oral language skills. The main components of oral language include,

• Word knowledge,
• Sentence structure,
• Language understanding and
• Structured thinking to organise and sequence thoughts.

To become a skilful reader and writer, oral language skills are vital. The PLD literacy program we have embraced encompasses a structured approach to the teaching of the listening to and reading of letters and their sounds, motor and movement skills and most importantly Oral language skills.

I am so excited about how students have been enjoying the language and literacy games used through the program to practice and develop these skills.