Croatian city speaks in pictures to help nonverbal children and adults communicate

The City of Pula in Croatia’s Istrian peninsula has installed boards for augmentative communication in several public areas for those who have speech difficulties, and to help promote acceptance and inclusion.

Pula helps nonverbal children and adults to communicate more easily

Everyday activities we take for granted can seem daunting and frustrating to children and adults who are unable to rely on speech to communicate their thoughts and emotions. For example, visiting a doctor – an experience that is already nerve-wracking – can cause even greater stress and anxiety when one cannot effectively convey what they are thinking. Acknowledging that there are numerous people who are on the autism spectrum, have slow speech development, Down Syndrome, or brain trauma, the Croatian City of Pula has set up pictographic boards for “augmentative communication”.

Croatian City of Pula speaks in pictures

Last month, the Croatian municipality revealed that it has collaborated with the Veruda Pula Day Centre for Rehabilitation to launch a new and ambitious project: “City of Pula speaks in pictures”. Under this project, the two bodies have installed several boards featuring pictures that will facilitate communication for nonverbal children, adults, and even tourists.

In a press release, reported by The Mayor, the municipality revealed that it has already set up several communication boards throughout the city. More specifically, it has installed them in the children’s playground in Tito Park, the city beaches Ferijalni, Hidrobaza, and Ambrela, the public institution DV Mali Svijet, the arena, and the children’s playground in Šijanska šuma and Valkana.

Aside from setting up boards, the City of Pula will also provide paediatric and dental clinics in the municipality with small booklets featuring pictures. Explaining the need for this action, Master of Educational Rehabilitation Marija Sertić Nađ shared that the booklets will alleviate the anxiety surrounding medical examinations. Moreover, they will allow children to express their thoughts and share their conditions.

Through “City of Pula speaks in pictures”, the municipality not only facilitates communication for those who have speech difficulties but also promotes acceptance and inclusion. Expanding on this, Pula’s residents will now gain a better understanding of the challenges their fellow citizens face and how they can support them. 

Source: TheMayor.eu 

The idea is to ‘symbolise’ all public institutions of the city of Pula used by children

Communication boards function in a way that symbolises the environment for speech through pictograms, ie images with symbols of special meaning. Such symbols are used by both children and adults who are nonverbal, unable to speak, or are in the process of adopting speech. Since such plates are of a universal language, they are also suitable for tourists of other speaking areas.

Eight communication boards have been made and placed on the children’s playground in Tito Park, city beaches (Ferijalni, Hidrobaza, Ambrela), in the yard of the Public Institution DV Mali svijet, and are planned to be placed on the children’s playground in Šijanska šuma and Valkana. One plaque will be placed near the Arena, and will contain brief information about the monument and its history.

WHO CAN THIS HELP?

This type of communication is used by children and adults from the autism spectrum, with cerebral palsy, slow speech development, Down syndrome, people who have lost the ability to speak due to brain trauma and all others who are unable to express their needs and desires due to some impairment. Depending on the purpose and place where it is placed, a special vocabulary is prepared for each communication board, through which users can communicate their needs in that situation, said Ines Delzotto, an expert in assisted communication.

The idea is to ‘symbolise’ all public institutions of the city of Pula whose services are used by children. Thus, every pediatric and dental practice in the city, as well as the Pula General Hospital, will receive booklets with appropriate and carefully selected social stories. Marija Sertić Nađ, Master of Educational Rehabilitation, the author of all social stories in the booklet, notes that going to the doctor for non-verbal children is extremely stressful.

Namely, they do not know how to express their conditions and say where they are in pain and what is happening to their body. But with these books, children will finally be able to say what is bothering them and where it hurts. These are small booklets like picture books in which the medical examination will be explained. The goal is to reduce their child’s anxiety and fear of the unknown. From the city library, through the Arena to the city pool, our children will be able to communicate with their symbols, claims Sertić Nađ.

The City points out that the benefit of this project is immeasurable because it also sensitizes citizens to people with disabilities who are the most vulnerable group in society. But those who don’t speak out really need support.

USERS FROM ALL ISTRIA COME TO THE CENTER FOR TREATMENT 

“Everything that is happening in our homeland today in this area, we can freely say that it was born from the wings of our institution. In this small workshop of miracles, everything that is impossible for people with disabilities becomes very feasible and realistic. Namely, in our country, children who do not speak can communicate with the pupil of the eye or the air from the nostrils, and the immobile can write with the chin or cheek, they can draw geometry with the breath. So, our office of assistive technology is a place where the bravest dreams come true.” concluded Loretta Morosin, director of the Center.

Source: GlasIstre.hr