Student Engagement & Wellbeing News
Communication Bill of Rights
Did you know that behaviour is a form of communication? If someone is very upset, angry or frustrated and cannot find the words, they may lash out. This does not mean that they are a ‘bad’ or ‘naughty’ person, just that they couldn’t form the words to convey their message… yet.
At Moonee Ponds West, we focus our early educational experiences on play-based learning and experiences. This supports the development of language as we use these experiences to discuss and write about. A language rich environment is key to developing good communicators.
Did you know that people have a fundamental right to communicate in all parts of their lives? These communication rights promote full participation across the lifespan. They include:
- The right to dignity and respect in all interactions.
- The right to meaningful communication that is culturally and linguistically appropriate.
- The right to be addressed directly and not be spoken for or talked about as if not there.
- The right to receive a response to all communication, even when the desired outcome is not possible.
- The right to participate across settings as full communication partners.
- The right to interact socially and to build and keep relationships.
- The right to be given—and to understand—information about objects, actions, events, and people.
- The right to ask for or refuse objects, actions, events, and people.
- The right to express preferences and feelings, make comments, and share opinions.
- The right to make choices from meaningful options.
- The right to access services and supports for communication across the lifespan.
- The right to individualized, working augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems and other assistive technology (AT) at all times.
I love it when our students come and tell me about the wonderful experiences they get up to on the weekend. I want more of this communication!
What experiences are you organising in your family? I wonder what communication you have about these experiences at home. Encourage your little ones to come and tell us about them! The use of pragmatics is the change of language depending on the relationship. The way they discuss it with you, versus their friends and even us, will be different (it may still be developing). We had a wonderful demonstration of this at assembly this week! More on language in a later edition.
Anna Gbikpi-Benissan