SWAMPSCOTT — Partnering with the Commission on Disability, the Swampscott School District will have acquired a new communication board, which will provide kids who may have difficulty speaking with a tool to express themselves, their needs, and connect with others.
Donated by the Flutie Foundation for Autism, Inc., the ultimate goal of the communication is to help show that Swampscott schools are a warm, inclusive community that’s open to all. The board will be installed at Swampscott Elementary School on Thursday at 5 p.m.
The board itself is large, colorful, and consists of many squares/icons that represent various needs or actions — such as “want,” “drink,” “happy,” and “home” — which will be placed at the playground located at the front of the building for the community to use and enjoy.
“Not only will it help all children (both neurotypical and neurodivergent) communicate in times when verbal communication is challenging, but it will also send a clear message that Swampscott is an inclusive community, and everyone here has a voice,” Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Nancy-Jo Kelly said.
Kelly continued, saying that the Communication Board is an example of “our commitment to inclusivity and belonging for all and a reflection of our CORE mission and values.”
Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Martha Raymond said the communication board is an example of Swampscott Public School’s commitment to its CORE (Community, Opportunity, Respect and Equity) mission. Swampscott Public Schools is committed to being a Community of belonging with an intentional celebration of individual differences that puts Opportunity, Respect and Equity at its core.
“We are grateful to the Swampscott Commission on Disability, especially Lauren Shrestha and Michelle Steingiser, who worked with the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism to donate a Communication Board to the new Swampscott Elementary School playground,” Raymond said.
The communication board offers a platform for children to communicate with one another during play, Raymond noted. It can also educate the community about the varying ways people of all abilities can connect with each other.
“The Swampscott Commission on Disability, the Swampscott School Committee, and the Swampscott Public Schools collaborate to fulfill our commitment to inclusivity in the schools and the community. All benefit when school districts, towns, and nonprofit organizations team up to ensure the inclusion of all children and adults in our community,” Raymond said.
