Tangible Symbols at Home

NPR covers families struggling with the school system over Special Education during COVID school shutdowns in the article titled, After Months Of Special Education Turmoil, Families Say Schools Owe Them by Cory Turner and Rebecca Klein. The Tangible Symbol card system, handmade at Adaptive Design Association, is an assistive communication device that families can use at home, as shown below.

Caleb learns and communicates through touch, sometimes using a tactile card system placed throughout his home.

Cassandra Giraldo for NPR

Chrystal Bell lives in New York City with her son Caleb, who is deaf, blind and nonverbal. When the pandemic closed schools, he lost access to tactile special education that he needs in order to learn.

Cassandra Giraldo for NPR