Every Move Counts
Sensory-Based
Communication Techniques
Presentation Created By:
Suzie Tweedle
Cyd Farrell
Barbara Smith
Gloria Burks
For individuals with severe disabilities it is often difficult or impossible to
communicate with the world around them in a productive manner. They
have very inefficient or limited ways to indicate their needs, wants, or
choices in a meaningful way. This inability to communicate may leave
individuals isolated, frustrated, helpless, and/or victims to the will of
others. In short, individuals with severe multiple impairments lack the
ability to control their environment.
In addition to this, family members often feel frustrated because they
desire to build a relationship based upon reciprocal communication. Over
time they begin to anticipate the needs of an individual and attempt to
meet these needs rather than allowing the child to communicate their
needs. Although these individuals intentions are well meaning they
actually are inhibiting the need for a child with severe multiple
impairments to communicate.
Every Move Counts is an assessment and curriculum design to elicit
responses from a targeted population and shape these individual's
communicative responses into a more formal language based on
positive sensory input and responses.
Every Move Counts:
Purpose:
•Encourages communication in individuals who are
functioning at a level that inhibits the acquisition of
language skills.
•Uses a positive approach based on what an
individual can do
•Provides insight into the types of stimulation most
likely to elicit a response from an individual
•Refines an individual’s responses into a more formal
communication system.
•Develops the skills necessary for an individual to
have control over his environment
Program designed for…
•Individuals with Autism
•Individuals with developmental delays
•Individuals with severe multiple disabilities
•Age range: infancy through adulthood
Principals program is based on…
•Positive relationship exists between vestibular functioning and
language development
•Distinction between communication and language.
Communication
process through which we exchange information
(What the message is)
Language
the structure through which we communicate
(The method individuals relay the message)
•Children with severe multiple impairments have prerequisite
skills required for communication
•Co-occurrence is crucial in the development of cognitive
and communication skills.
Every Move Counts …
The Intervention Hierarchy
Through and systematic attention to each level provides the foundation
from which the next process flows.
Identification
v Process
Response mode
pleasurable activities
Definition Process
Response
contingency
Elicitation and Refinement Processes
Quantity
quality
Generalization and Expansion Processes
Focusing on responses during each level and providing numerous
opportunities to communicate in a range of setting contributes to
framework for the generalization process.
Every Move Counts …
The program gives an hierarchy of communicative options that allow individuals with severe
impairments to progress along normal developmental paths. The chart below gives examples of
alternatives you might implement to refine the individuals’ mode of communication. However, the
program encourages communication be refined based on individual’s needs and abilities.
Assessment:
There are two components of the assessment part of Every Move Counts.
1. Sensory response assessment
Used to place individual on the matrix
Identifies the response as reactive or proactive
Documents response patterns
Identifies responses to attach communicative intent
Assesses a range of sensory responses
2. Communication assessment
Addresses communication not language
Interviews parents, caregivers or both
Can be completed through structured observation
Sensitive to small changes in behavior
Can be used for pre and post testing
Targets specific communicative skills
Weighs questions resulting in the more frequent and understandable
communication event is rated higher
Reflects an individual’s current skill level
Example of Communication Assessment:
Example of Sensory Response Assessment:
Advantages to using the Every Move Counts Assessment:
•Test materials are easily assembled
•Administration is not complicated
•Results indicate pleasurable activities
•Documents how individual communicates enjoyable activities
•Appropriate for individuals whose communication skills are below 18
months
•Results can be incorporated to develop individualized intervention
strategies
•Based on client responses and interpretation of these responses
•Results place individual on a communicative and physical skills matrix
rather than developmental level
•Does not require formal developmental responses
•Information gained is basis for developing goals and objectives
Assessment is directly linked to intervention strategies…
Once the assessment is completed this information is complied to
complete the client profile. This profile is designed to give specific
targeted information which is used to place an individual at the
appropriate level in the matrix and assist in designing interventions for
the individual.
Three delivery models are appropriate for implementing the intervention
strategies based on individual needs. These include:
1. Individual concentrated trials
2. Group concentrated trials
3. Incidental teaching
A stimulation protocol and activity selection guide is included in the program.
The protocol gives suggested physical activities, time intervals for presentation of
stimuli , along with possible symbolic representations that could be used to build
language at the object, picture, symbol, gesture, and sign levels. The program
emphasizes to take into consideration the age of the individual when deciding the
materials to be used when implementing a physical activity. Creativity and
flexibility are encouraged.
Sample of activity
selection guide
Every Move Counts uses a
systematic approach to
move through each of the
four levels of response.
Each level contains the following
Information
•Purpose
•Entry level criteria
•Behavior characteristics
•Goals and objectives
•Procedures
•Data collection
•Response levels and
reinforcement
Also included is a moving to
the next level section
Sample of
Stimulation
Protocol
Data collection
Data collection is a key component in implementing the intervention
portion of Every Move Counts.
Purposes for collecting data
•Documenting skill acquisition
•Determining when to change instructional levels
•Selecting the optimal response mode
Types of data collection forms included in program
•Environmental observation
•Response significance form
•Activity log
•Response inventory
•Individual trials record
•Daily routine record
•Symbol choice-location log
•Symbol choice-preference log
•Daily use log
A parent guide is another component of the Every Move
Counts program. This guide gives brief explanations about
ways to communicate and strategies to encourage
communication.
For Teachers of the Visually Impaired…
Article on using Every Move Counts
as a Learning Media Assessment.
http://psychcorp.pearsonassessments.com/HAIWEB/Cultures/en-us/Productdetail.htm?Pid=076-164749X&Mode=summary
Every Move Counts can
be ordered from Pearson
Assessments.
Information on a new manual which updates and expands the Every Move
Counts Manual to include Clicks (switches-use strategies) and
Chats (assistive technology)