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Chapter 16. This Playground Upgrade is Bringing Communities Together—Why Every Park Needs It
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Chapter 16. This Playground Upgrade is Bringing Communities Together—Why Every Park Needs It

Imagine a playground where every child, parent, and community member—regardless of language or ability—can connect, communicate, and play together. This simple yet powerful upgrade is transforming public spaces, making them more inclusive for children with difficulties communicating, multilingual families, and even adults engaging with kids in meaningful ways. In this episode of Interconnected with Jourdan, we dive into the world of playground communication boards with expert VernaAnn, a speech-language pathologist and advocate for accessible communication. Discover how these boards are not just helping kids with speech differences but are building bridges between cultures, languages, and generations.

If you're a:

✔️ Parent wondering how to support your child's communication in public spaces

✔️ Teacher or school leader looking to create an inclusive learning environment

✔️ Community advocate searching for ways to bring people together

✔️ Curious about assistive technology and how it empowers all voices …

then this conversation is for YOU! ❤️

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rJWJZmJyA-fDG7dgWQgwUsu9xeUiYcc0-Bt3NAbVfAE/edit?usp=sharing

Time Stamps:

03:50 – The Power of AAC: How It Opens Up a Child’s World

06:23 – Breaking Language Barriers with Playground Communication Boards

08:08 – How Inclusive Playgrounds Support Kids, Parents & Communities

13:56 – How Playground Communication Boards Work & Why They Matter

16:33 – The Lowell, Massachusetts Success Story

19:08 – Why These Life-Sized Boards Are a Game-Changer for Public Spaces

24:23 – How Anyone Can Advocate for Inclusion in Their Own Community

25:34 – Final Thoughts – Every Child Deserves a Voice

Contact Information: VernaAnn Kotansky

-Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vernaann-kotansky-7255938a/

-Resources at Lakeshore Speech: https://www.lakeshorespeech.com/

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lakeshorespeechtherapy/

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakeshorespeechtherapy/

Contact Information-Jourdan Saunders

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jourdansaunders/

-Website: https://www.theresourcekey.com/

-Subscribe to Newsletter: https://motivated-producer-7393.kit.com/6fc3435050

-Subscribe to Interconnected on Spotify

#InclusivePlay #EveryVoiceMatters #AAC #CommunityConnections #SpeechTherapy #AssistiveTech #PlaygroundUpgrade

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