Partner-Assisted Scanning (Live Voice)
What It Is
- Partner-assisted communication is a strategy that allows an individual with physical and/or visual impairments to communicate more actively by participating in conversations using choices presented aloud (auditorally).
- Partner-assisted scanning provides individuals with the language they need to interact with their partner and the ability to cue their partner to provide more appropriate choices.
- It is predicated on the student having an established 'yes' response.
See It In Action
What It's Not
- A series of unrelated yes/no questions.
How It Works
- The burden of responsibility falls on the partner for the successful use of this strategy.
- Interacting with a student using a partner-assisted scanning strategy requires practice and consistency on the part of the partner in order for the student to be successful.
- Use vocabulary that the student understands, vocabulary at their developmental level.
- Provide opportunities for the student to use a variety of communicative functions (e.g., ask/answer questions, comment, direct, describe, relay information, name, etc.).
- The extent of a student's competence in using partner-assisted scanning is only as good as his/her partner's ability to present choices appropriately.
The steps…
- Clarify what response mode you are expecting. [For example, "Use your voice to tell me which one you want."]
Elle uses her smile and voice to establish how she will respond to her communication partner.
- Announce choices to the student in advance as a preview.
Elle uses her voice to indicate her preference.
- Watch the process again from start to finish!
Click here for a sample partner-assisted scanning script!