A unique program for children aged 7-14 who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices

CommuniCamp is an event by Scope Australia which aims to bring together young people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, helping them and their families to build more confidence when using these devices in daily life.

Thirteen children and their families travelled from across Victoria to attend the first ever CommuniCamp in the Gippsland region. Participants were supported by speech pathologists from Scope, an occupational therapist, allied health assistants, and a wonderful team of volunteers.

Many great experiences were had across the weekend, including a scavenger hunt, painting camp t-shirts, and dancing the night away at an Australian bush disco. Scope AAC Mentor, Lisa, also provided insights to participants at the camp about her lived experience of using AAC.

Melanie, a parent who attended the camp with her young daughter Ella, has shared her experience with CommuniCamp in this blog post from Scope Australia:

My daughter Ella was diagnosed at three weeks old with Cri Du Chat, a rare genetic disorder. Along with the many challenges this presented, one of the most heartbreaking was when I was told Ella would never be able to communicate. She was 6 months old at the time.

After a few years of using Key Word Sign (KWS) and gestures, we were introduced to AAC with the Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP) system which we fondly refer to as Ella’s "talker".

We have been using Ella’s talker for five years now and she really enjoys being able to communicate. Unfortunately, it has become harder in the past few years—it was like we had hit a wall.

We were struggling with ways to implement it at home, and Ella was resistant to using her talker in front of other people as she had never met anyone that uses an AAC like her before.

I was desperate to hear her "chat" to us, and when I saw a post about CommuniCamp, I was very excited and signed-up right away.

We were both blown away by the amount of knowledge and care that everyone at the camp has, and Ella was very excited to see others using similar ways of communication.

At first Ella was hesitant to use her talker, but by the end she was turning the volume up and telling everyone her name!
Ella really took to Anna, one of the speech pathologists, who let everyone paint her face. Anna could be found in every crowd, signing "silly Anna" every time.

The most invaluable thing for Ella was seeing so many people using talkers, including the staff and other participants.

It has really built her confidence in using her voice, and as a mum, it has been absolutely heart-warming to hear it.

I have also gained confidence in being able to support my daughter with her AAC journey, thanks to the kind and helpful words of all the staff.

We learnt so much at the camp, not only from the people there but also from the parents. I learnt new ways to help Ella communicate in her own words, and I am so, so excited.

I drove home on a high, making a mental list of all the new words I can give Ella, and all the new strategies we can put in place.
Since returning home, Ella has re-found her voice! She has told everyone about our dog Lucy, and how she laughs when Lucy licks her.

She has told me about her favourite TV show characters, and asked me questions about my favourite colours and animals. None of which was possible just a week prior to camp.

This camp has truly changed Ella’s (and my!) life. It has helped her find her voice, and the confidence to use it. We can’t wait for the next camp!

Planning is now underway for CommuniCamp in April 2024 and Scope is actively recruiting participants, staff, and volunteers. Learn more about CommuniCamp 2024: https://www.scopeaust.org.au/events/specialised-family-camp-for-children-using-communication-aids

For more information about topics relating to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), My CP Guide has information resources for people of all age groups with cerebral palsy. Visit the Assistive Technology & Equipment section of the site to browse a variety of resources.