Communication Aid Centre
The Communication Aid Centre serving South Wales is based at Rookwood Hospital in Cardiff. The centre provides an advice and assessment service to anyone aged 3+ who would benefit from a communication aid, in order to help them decide on the suitability of potential communication aids and systems.
Communication aids range from low technology aids, such as symbol boards, to high technology computerised aids. The centre can recommend and loan communication aids for trial. Parents, carers and professionals can contact the centre for advice on different communication aids and about whether an assessment would be beneficial.
To arrange an assessment, a referral questionnaire has to be completed by a professional such as a social worker, a speech and language therapist or a teacher. Assessment is free of charge and results in a written report that recommends suitable communication aids. The centre cannot actually provide aids, these will have to be funded by alternative means; however, the centre can provide information about where to purchase communication aids.
For more information, please contact Annette Penn at the Communication Aid Centre on 02920 313956
Rookwood Hospital,
Fairwater Road,
Llandaff,
Cardiff,
CF5 2YN
Opening times: Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm
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Glyncornel Sensory Room
A new sensory room has been constructed on the site of Glyncornel Young People’s Centre in Llwynypia, Rhondda.
Examples of equipment in the Glyncornel sensory room are:
Large multi-coloured bubble tube
Coloured slide wall projector
Multi-coloured fibre optics
Several large comfy cushions
Ultra violet light and toys that respond
Chimes and other tranquil sounds
Mirror ball
and more…
The sensory room is now available for use. Advance booking is required. To book the sensory room, please call Glyncornel on 01443 420940
Use of the sensory room is currently free of charge; a small charge may be introduced at some time in the future.
Glyncornel Young Peoples Centre
Nant y Gwyddon Road
Llwynipia
CF40 2JF
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 Twinkle Twinkle Singing Stars
Twinkle Twinkle Singing Stars is a music class for children aged from 3 months to 4 years and their parents. Classes run in the Aberdare area (details below) and encourage the development of children’s skills using music and language. Sessions involve communicating with children through singing, and consist of traditional nursery rhymes, action songs, body identification rhymes, counting songs and using instruments.
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Tuesdays
Coliseum Aberdare
Baby (3 months to walking) 9.30am to 10.30am
Toddler (walking to school age) 10.30am to 11.30am
Thursdays
Abercynon Sports Centre
Baby (3 months to walking) 10.00am to 11.00am
Toddler (walking to school age) 11.00am to 12noon
Aberdare Sports Centre
Baby (3 months to walking) 1.00pm to 2.00pm
Toddler (walking to school age) 2.00pm to 3.00pm
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The first session costs £2, after which you can become a member in order to attend further sessions. Membership costs £15 per year. Membership includes a t-shirt, musical instrument, book, CD and insurance. After joining, sessions cost £2.75 per class (if paid termly) or you can pay as you go at £3.25 per session.
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Hosted by Youth Music, Bongo Club is a new online resource for music making, aimed primarily at children aged 0 to 5. The Bongo Club website is full of information and inspiration for parents and practitioners about involving children in making music, including expert advice, useful resources, games, as well as parents’ own experiences of using music with their children. The website provides ideas on where to start; for example, musical instruments can be made from household objects, a fun activity in itself and an inexpensive way to get children interested in making music at home.
The rationale behind Bongo Club is that, for young children in particular, music can enhance personal, social and educational development. By engaging in music making with your child, you are providing them with a way of expressing themselves, encouraging their creativity and improving their self-confidence. Music is fun and can help your child to learn in your own home. Specifically, music making can develop young children’s language, communication, maths, listening, concentration, and social skills, providing them with a head start when they begin full-time education.
 
Remember that you don’t need any special musical ability to start enjoying music with your child. In fact, learning together can become a great new way of bonding with your child. The website includes a ‘Print and Paint’ section that features printable drawings for your child to colour in and also has its own discussion forum. Furthermore, in the practitioners section of the website, you can access various songs and other musical resources to help you to get started.
For further information, please visit the website at www.bongoclub.org.uk Alternatively, further information can be requested by telephoning The National Foundation for Youth Music on 020 7902 1060 or by writing to The National Foundation for Youth Music, One America Street, London, SE1 0NE.
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The Transporters’ DVD aims to help children with autism to learn about emotions by focussing on the human face.
The DVD is aimed at children from 2 to 8 years and features a series of 15 minute episodes about the adventures of eight toys with human faces.
Each episode concentrates on a different human emotion and has an accompanying interactive quiz to help children to learn about the featured emotion.
The DVD is narrated by Stephen Fry and comes with an information booklet for parents and carers.
Copies of the DVD are not currently available, however the first episode can be viewed on the Transporters website, which also features the range of characters and a transporters quiz.
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To access the website, please click on the following links:
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[...Communication Links...]
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A charity that helps disabled children and adults to use computers and the internet by adapting and adjusting their technology.
UK charity representing children and young adults with communication impairments.
Children's Society website presented enitrely in symbols to enable children with learning disabilities to gain information about current affairs and express their views and opinions.
Bongo club is a website that encourages music making with your child and features a range of ideas on how to get started.
Featuring a range of information about challenging behaviour and communication; for example, factsheets entitled 'Communication and Challenging Behaviour' and 'Self-injurious behaviour'
A charitable organisation concerned with the needs of people with complex communication needs.
Children's communication charity working to foster the development of speech, language and communication skills in children with a communication disability.
Makaton is a language programme through which people with communication and
learning difficulties can communicate.
Information about the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS).
A sign supporting system based on British Sign Language designed to help children and adults with communication difficulties, mostly associated with learning disabilities.
Step inside your baby's mind and communicate using sign. The getting started section introduces the idea of signing with your baby/young child and gives some examples of basic signs.
The parents corner includes signing stories and articles written by parents.
An organisation that supports people living with aphasia and the carers through its information service, national network of groups and activities programme.
This website features a range of symbol depicting day to day activities.
Information about using sign language and Makaton to communicate with young children.
A factsheet produced by Contact a Family that helps parents to understand their child's challenging behaviour and find strategies to deal with it.
Background information from the National Autistic Society about using picture symbols to communicate.
Providers of a software communication system that is also available in Welsh.
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