Bic Mack

Today i'm going to introduce a great resource with you guys. It is called Bigmack, certainly not the Big Mack from McDonald😜. This is a communication aid device for people with exceptionalities that helps generate speech or record music or any sound. The user can record a phrase to play back whenever they choose to. As you can see there is a big size that you can press with the palm of your hand and a small size for pressing with your finger.


Anyone can purchase device, for example students with special needs, resource teachers, parents, teachers and school principles.  Please speak to your principle and resource teacher to see if school can provide this great device for your child.

Usefulness

• In a Classroom
• Placed by the door it can be used to ask to use the washroom
• Can signal a need for more materials or say they are finished
• Can be used to ask if they can have a snack
• Can be used in conjunction with a mood chart to help students express feelings
• Can be used to ask if the student can have a body break or some time in a quiet area
• Can be used to call over the teacher or say they are “here”
• Can be used to communicate information to a teacher or secretary (Its time for my medicine, My teacher needs more paper)
• Can have the name of a storybook character so it can be pressed when the characters name appears. This allows the student to be an active part of the reading.
• Announce some class activities (snack time, line up)
• Parts of class songs can be recorded so the student can participate
• At home
• Can be placed in the kitchen to ask for water or snacks
• Can be used at the dinner table to ask for more food or to say they are finished
• Tell parents they love them or express their feelings
• Can be used to call parents to them
• Can tell visually impaired users what is in the room
• Tell a parent to turn a page in a book
• Other Times
• Can be used to order in a restaurant
• Greet people
• Ask questions
• Ask for directions (Name of the desired location recorded)

Wondering who will benefit from this device? 

Any person with visual impairments and persons with physical disabilities who require a larger target area, people with communication difficulty and speech impairments and of course this resource is not limited to these uses only.
keep on reading this post and check our resources as well on how else you can use this in school and classroom.

Benefits?

The primary benefit of the BIGmack button is that it gives a voice to people with exceptionalities. Often people take for granted small interactions they have with others like asking for food, expressing their feelings, or even just saying hello. The BIGmack button allows for a short message to be recorded that allows people with exceptionalities to express simple thoughts and concepts in a clear and precise way. In a classroom they can be placed near the door so they can be pressed if students need to use the washroom. At home they can be used at the dinner table to signal finished or wanting more, or can be placed in the kitchen if the user wants water or a snack. There are a large variety of uses that most importantly allow for users with exceptionalities to gain a greater sense of agency and independence. The buttons allow them a much simpler way of communicating basic concepts and can reduce stress of not being understood.

        Even though that this device is resourceful, but sometimes students with exceptionalities do not like to have more attention drawn to them. Therefore, teachers can use device in classroom for some activities to help the students know why some students may need this and how it work. Children love to learn when fun is involved. Record a word or phrase from a story and let the child respond to a question during the story using the BIGmack. Record jokes, words and let children guess the name of the story you are going to read or name of songs, create stories by pressing random words.You can refer to this link for more Fun Ideas. If you are still looking for More Ideas and how to function this device click on links highlighted.

Accessibility?

The Bigmack button is very accessible to a large range of non-verbal students with exceptionalities. The button features a number of pictures (more can be printed) that allows the learner to understand each buttons function. The button come in different sizes, are very durable, and pictures and messages can be easily changed.

Cost?

 You can purchase this device from the resources provided Below⇩, as you may see there are different models and prices, but it starts from $135 to $182 . Since expense can be problematic for some families and schools,  this can be considered as points of improvement to reduce the cost and make it more affordable.

Where to Buy It!         Another place to buy it from?   

Different place to purchase!         More place to purchase!



List Of References :


https://talksense.weebly.com/
https://www.ablenetinc.com/downloads/dl/file/id/32/product/39/101_ideas_single_message_sgd.pdf
http://www.inclusive.co.uk/ablenet-bigmack-p2039
https://www.ablenetinc.com/bigmack
https://www.amazon.com/Ablenet-10002100-BIGmack-Communicator/dp/B0006IH7I4