Blog #115~SETT to Talk Â
For the past few weeks, Iâve been writing about the SETT meeting process. Recently, we did a SETT meeting at Nickâs school to re-evaluate the device he uses to communicate. This is called an Augmentative and Alternative Communication device (AAC). Nick is 21 years old and has Down syndrome and autism.
SETT is an acronym for Student, Environment, Task and Tools. The team gathered to ask key questions and get information that will help to pinpoint what technologies would best suit the student.
S= Student (abilities, learning styles, concerns)
E= Environment (What places will the talker be used and how)
T=Tasks (What type of work and learning will the student be doing?)
T=Tools (What tools are needed on the device to make it a success for Nick?)

In Blog #114, I covered Nickâs abilities, learning style, needs and concerns. The last three areas we brainstormed on were the Nickâs environment, tasks that we wanted Nick to be able to do on the talker and what tools would be needed to make this a success. Take a look at what the team came up with in these areas:Â
Environment:Â
* Uses a âchangeâ visual
* PECS book at home â items to request, pictures of people, task strips
* Private SLP services â 1:1 for speech and occupational therapy
* Video modeling strategy successful
* Attends ESY (Extended School Year-summer school)
* Bowling, mall, library, out to lunch
* Church
* Job: delivery run to CEC for STEPS
* Shopping at Meijer and Wal-Mart
* Goes to movies, lunch/breakfast, and the park
*Has a respite worker at home
* Production class: shredding, sorting, bagging, cleaning
*Visits to family â grandparents, aunt and uncle
*Older brother, Hank, attends NIU
*Cooking
* Functional reading and math
* Yoga
* Dance party Fridays
* Uses classroom leisure choice board independently
* Small group or 1:1 instruction, especially for unfamiliar tasks
* Adult supervision for safety
* Visual supports
* Cues to stay on task for jobs he knows
* Needs to know expectations, both visually and auditorally- what to do, how many to  do, how many are left
* Does visual schedule for the day
* Benefits from handâoverâhand and modeling for fine motor tasks
* Looks for peer models
* Task strip for hygiene routines, with point prompts, at home
* Visual learner
* Flexible with symbol sets â familiar with PCS, SymbolStix, Proloquo2Go
* 15 buttons on current AAC home page
* Uses visual support to order at restaurants instead of his AAC device

Tasks:Â
*âThatâs grossâ
* âI like thatâ, âI donât like thatâ
* âThatâs crazyâ
* Flirting
* Gain attention
*Need help
* âStopâ
* âI need a breakâ
* Emotions
* Preferred items and activities
* Requesting
* Sharing his humor
* Order at restaurants
* Communicate whatâs bothering him
* Sensory vocabulary â âhotâ, âloudâ, âcrowdedâ
* âWhere is the fire alarm?â
* âIâm tiredâ
* âIâm madâ
* Ask questions
* Share personal information
*Basic needs â bathroom, drink/thirsty, hungry
* Greetings
* Ageâappropriate vocabulary
* Comments
* Weather and calendar vocabulary
* Names â People past and present
The team looked at what tools would be needed on the device that would work for Nick. Each member could choose the top three most important aspects to focus on in particular (these have 3 *** by them):

Tools:
* Portable
* Shoulder or waist strap
* Durable
* Waterproof
* Loud enough for all environments
* Ability to add vocabulary
* Combination of single words and phrases***
* Import photographs
* Easy to program
* Ability to program on the fly
* 7â8â screen size
* Sturdy case (âbounceproofâ)****
* Quick and consistent response from AAC device***
* Categoryâbased******
* 2â3 hits to communicate message**
* Online tech support
*Cloud or USB backup
* Warranty
* Cost
*Dedicated communication device
* Ability to hide buttons
* 8â12 buttons per page
* Keyboardâsized buttons or larger
*Long battery life
* 1 charger for whole system
* No replacing batteries
The SETT process was enlightening. The team covered a lot of ground in looking at many aspects of communication for Nick.  As you can see, there are so many things to consider when looking into a voice output device. Nick just got his new AAC device last Thursday. I canât wait to share with you how he is navigating it! Thatâs what is in my noggin this week!
~Teresa đ
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