The Center has unveiled Virtual Reality in October 2008. This is an outcome of research regarding more innovative ways of learning by combining speech/language, movement, and technology. Staff determined that participants learn faster when they utilize a whole body activity. Virtual Reality provides participants with an exciting multi-sensory experience to translate movement into language stimulation. It employs a wide array of applications and environments. For instance, users step onto ice, which breaks beneath their feet with fish swimming around their toes, and they do this without getting their feet wet! This technology is also projected onto a cushioned wall display using different visual themes. Participants find this interaction is both stimulating as well as educational.
We have found that Virtual Reality stimulates increased speech production because the children and adults are in continual interaction mode. For example, they are jumping into a swimming pool and swimming. When they get out of the virtual water, they are “dried off” with an extra large beach towel or a weighted blanket to offer deep pressure stimulation. We even have a sliding board to propel our participants into the pool to hear the splash of the waves!!!!!
Our social groups are expanding. We have groups of all ages. We have provided a technological spin on the group interactions including different kinds and levels of technology to foster communication exchanges. Social strategies and stories are instructed with parent reported carryover. In some of our groups, parents participate to foster carryover of social concepts. This year our goal is developing a DVD’ about each child/adult to further reinforce transfer of key ideas learned in the sessions.
In our older social groups we instruct skills to be used not only in social contexts but also in the work environment. For example they learn the 3 Second Rule, which is you your make a lasting impression in the first 3 seconds you meet someone. They develop skills to facilitate a positive image. Time management techniques and job related skills are also instructed. The language of emotions is taught and reinforced with group software sessions where the individual sees the related image projected on the wall.
