The D39 Educational Foundation also awarded $4,249.81 to Romona Elementary for the purchase of communication boards to help facilitate communication among all students. The goal with this project is to create a culture of belonging at Romona.
A communication board is a board that displays symbols, pictures, or photos that a person can use to communicate with those around them. These boards will provide students with differing language capabilities the ability to express themselves thus helping them feel included and understood. The grant includes purchasing one permanent communication board for the main playground, two removable communication boards for the kindergarten and early childhood playgrounds, and two traveling communication boards that can be moved from the cafeteria to gym and other places within the building. The communication boards represent a new and innovative model of neurodiversity affirming education, which seeks to uplift students of differing abilities and create environments that foster their growth while educating the broader community about how to adjust communication and learning styles to be inclusive of all students.
These communication boards support D39’s Statement of Inclusion which states “D39 believes inclusion plays a vital role in student growth. We are committed to providing a safe and equitable learning environment that fosters a mindset of empathy, respect, and belonging for all D39 students and staff.”