Making MISP Accessible for All Students Using Visual Communication Cards

Making MISP an inclusive program for students with special needs, especially students with limited expressive and/or receptive language skills is easy using visual communication cards.  The cares are about the size of a credit card and are double sided. Students with impaired speech or language difficulties can use these communication cards when:

• asking permission to give another student a massage
• accepting or declining a massage when asked by another student
• communicating their likes or dislkes about particular massage strokes.

Staff Feedback

Staff at Kalamunda Primary Education Support Centre have said that MISP:

• helps teach students about personal space
• develops an understanding about manners
• provides a good opportunity for students to follow step by step instructions
• has a calming effect on students especially when done after lunch or after a sports session
• teaches the students the difference between soft and firm touch
• encourages students to allow appropriate touch from others
• provides an excellent springboard for protective behaviour lessons
• supports visual and kinaesthetic learners
• improves students’ gross motor skills
• develops trust between students and helps develop friendships / buddies between different classes.