'A sense of power': New communication panels offering nonverbal children a chance to interact at city parks
Communication panels have been installed in three Regina parks, offering those who are nonverbal or who are experiencing disabilities an opportunity to interact with others.
The double-sided panels have pictures and words on them representing a variety of feelings and actions. Children can point to the appropriate picture to portray what they wish to communicate.
Nichole Forbes, a speech language pathologist with the Regina Speech Centre, said the boards offer a sense of independence for children.
“It offers a wide variety. It covers their needs but also things that they may want to initiate and implement for play themselves - what they want to do and how they want to use the park,” Forbes said.
“That’s what communication does. It gives our students a sense of power to communicate their needs. That’s what we want to be able to offer our kids who use devices like this.”
The panels are currently installed in Gocki Park, Regent Park and Les Sherman Park.
The city said a fourth panel is scheduled to be installed in the spring.
“We need accessible equipment all over our city at a variety of different locations, so we’re just excited to see something new come up and be another accessible feature,” Courtney Domoney, a community consultant for social inclusion with the City of Regina, said.
The panels use the Picture Exchange Communication System, which is used for people of all ages with various cognitive, physical and communication disabilities.
Some of the prompts include park features like a slide, swings and ramps.
Others portray feelings like sad, happy and mad, or responses like yes and no.
“The system of pictures that’s used is something that a lot of students or children or adults use to communicate,” Domoney said.
“Instead of them having to carry the system with them at all times, now the system is in place at the parks for them to use.”
The panels were created in partnership with the faculty at St. Maria Faustian School and the Regina Speech Centre.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
South Korean sentenced to 14 months in jail for killing 76 cats
South Korean man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for killing 76 cats in one of the country's most gruesome cases of animal cruelty in recent years.