Using Talking Buttons: focusing on accessibility, sensory engagement, and skill-building

1. Choice-Making for Communication
Setup: Record options for activities, snacks, or toys on each button.
Activity: Place the buttons within easy reach, allowing students to listen to each choice and press the one they prefer. This supports communication skills and independent choice-making for students with communication challenges.

2. Sensory and Emotional Expression
Setup: Record different emotions, such as "happy," "sad," "angry," and include simple phrases like “I need a break” or “I’m feeling good.”
Activity: Use buttons during emotional check-ins or as tools for self-expression, allowing students to identify and communicate their feelings. This supports emotional regulation and social-emotional learning.

3. Yes/No Answering Practice
Setup: Record “Yes” on one button and “No” on another, or other binary choices like “More” and “Finished.”
Activity: Use these buttons during activities, giving students a simple way to communicate choices. This reinforces basic communication and participation in activities, even for non-verbal students.

4. Step-by-Step Instructions for Routine Activities
Setup: Record step-by-step instructions for daily routines, such as washing hands or packing a bag.
Activity: Students can press each button sequentially to hear the next step, supporting independent life skills and promoting a sense of routine.

5. Auditory Sequencing and Memory Practice
Setup: Record a short sequence, such as numbers or colours, across different buttons.
Activity: Students listen to the sequence on each button and attempt to repeat or recreate it, reinforcing auditory memory and sequencing skills.

6. Storytelling with Visual Support
Setup: Record simple phrases or parts of a story, pairing each button with an image card for visual support.
Activity: Students press the buttons in sequence to hear a story or participate by pressing the button when prompted. This supports comprehension and active participation in storytelling.

7. Functional Language and Social Interaction Practice
Setup: Record common social phrases such as “Hello,” “Please help me,” or “Thank you” on each button.
Activity: Place the buttons on a board and encourage students to press them in social interactions. This supports language development and social interaction, especially for students needing support with communication cues.

8. Sensory Scavenger Hunt
Setup: Place the buttons around the room with recorded sensory prompts such as “Find something soft” or “Find something blue.”
Activity: Students listen to the prompt and locate items that match, engaging in sensory exploration and following auditory cues.

9. Sound Matching and Auditory Discrimination
Setup: Record different environmental sounds (e.g., animal noises, weather sounds) on each button.
Activity: Use these as part of a sound-matching game, where students match the sounds to pictures or identify the sounds, building auditory discrimination skills.

10. Motivational Feedback and Reinforcement
Setup: Record motivational phrases like “Great job!” or “Keep going!” on each button.
Activity: Use buttons to provide positive reinforcement during tasks, offering auditory encouragement for students who respond well to sound-based motivation.

These activities are designed to be adaptable, sensory-focused, and supportive of independence and communication skills. The use of colour, sound, and tactile engagement helps create a stimulating learning environment tailored to individual needs.