What does smiLE Therapy teach?

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smiLE Therapy teaches students:

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• to become actively responsible for their own communication and learning

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• ways to prevent or repair communication breakdown in face-to-face situations

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• a range of strategies to ensure they communicate their message successfully (hierarchy of communication strategies)

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• strategies to clarify information received

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• to self-evaluate

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• to work with their peers in a group and be respectful

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• socially appropriate behaviours eg. greetings, to wait if another person is busy

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How does smiLE Therapy work?

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• complex communication skills are broken down into manageable components.

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• component skills are taught explicitly.

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• students are assessed (using camcorder) on how they manage in a specific communication situation. They know what they are aiming for and why. The ‘what’s in it for me’ factor is high.

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• Evidence Based Practice: before/after outcome measures are integral to each module.

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• a student-centered approach ensures that the needs of the pupils determines the pace of the session.

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• component skills are practiced through role play with sufficient time being given for them to become established.

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• supported generalisation of skills are integral to each module.

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• symbols are used to support understanding and literacy.

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• units are AQA Unit Award Scheme accredited.

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• links directly to PSHE curriculum.

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• social appropriacy in a specific situation is highlighted and taught.

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• awareness of hearing cultural norms is taught for deaf/hearing impaired students.

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Who is smiLE Therapy for?

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smiLE Therapy is for Primary and Secondary aged students, those in Further Education/Colleges and for Adults, who have communication needs due to eg. Deafness/hearing impairment, Learning Difficulties, Developmental Language Disorder, Autistic Spectrum Disorders or Physical Difficulties, who need to develop skills to be able to communicate effectively face-to-face in everyday situations.

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smiLE Therapy was first developed in 2002 specifically to meet the communication needs of Deaf/hearing impaired students. Students who communicate through spoken language only, those who are BSL (British Sign Language) users only, and those who use SSE (Sign Supported English) learn how to communicate to the best of their abilities, using appropriate strategies where necessary to be able to function maximally in the hearing world around them.

Since 2009, Karin Schamroth has worked alongside Speech & Language Therapists and Teaching Staff to successfully deliver smiLE Therapy to students who have communication needs due to their Learning Difficulties, Physical Disabilities, Autism or Specific Language Impairment.