I am requesting donations for communication boards to be installed in our local community parks.  My vision and mission are central to my efforts in generating funds for this communication board—and that is inclusion.

A communication board is a device that displays animated photos, which designates or can be used to support what children naturally say or do in a playground environment.  Stated differently, a communication board allows non-verbal children to communicate with peers about how they want to play by merely pointing to a picture. The board will provide non-verbal children the opportunity to have a voice, be heard, and understood. Also, a communication board will help educate all children at an early age, whether verbal or non-verbal, to recognize and interact with non-verbal children properly. A communication board is accessible for kids across all levels; it promotes conversation about feelings, playground equipment and even provides full-sentence greetings.

As a graduate student at Eastern Michigan University studying speech-language pathology, my goal is to create opportunities for all children. Recently, I was the speech-language pathology student intern at Lindemann Elementary School in Allen Park. Currently, I am completing my last internship of graduate school at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, OH. I first-hand see the importance of inclusion for the youth in our city. This communication board will be a step in the right direction to promote relationships between verbal and non-verbal students. I wholeheartedly believe that children with special needs deserve the same access to fun and friendship as their peers.

The donated funds will be used to purchase the Talk to Me Technologies communication board. It is designed by a team of speech-language pathologists and vocabulary design specialists who have over 50 years of combined experience working with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
 
It is essential that those of us who have a voice speak up and use it to advocate for the youth. Diversity helps us grow as humans. When we see each other as playmates, classmates, and colleagues, we realize that we are all human but communicate in varying ways. I hope this will open even more possibilities for children of all abilities to play and communicate together. This communication board is just one more step to making Allen Park a more inclusive place to live, work, and play.

A single communication board estimated cost with delivery and installation is $2,200. My hope is that this communication board is the first of many in our community. With your support, I envision multiple boards throughout the city, creating a space for the non-verbal individuals in our community to have a voice. As the Parks and Recreation Department has renovated many of the city parks, the addition of communication boards will create a more inclusive environment for children with special needs and their families.


On behalf of my supervisor, Christine Waldus, and my students, I thank you in advance for your time and consideration in funding my community project. The impact will allow children with special needs a place to play in our community and invite diversity into our local parks. Please feel free to reach out with any questions that you have or if you would like to discuss my vision further.

Thank you,
Madison Brithinee
Lindemann Elementary School, Allen Park
[email redacted]