NYSTCE Students With Disabilities Practice Test

When working with students with disabilities, what is the best first step in encouraging communication?

1. Immediate feedback on communication attempts

2. Using advanced technology for speech

3. Engaging in physical activities for expression

4. Instructing students on formal grammar use

The correct answer is: Immediate feedback on communication attempts

Encouraging communication in students with disabilities often begins with immediate feedback on their communication attempts because this approach creates a supportive environment. Immediate feedback helps students understand how their attempts to communicate are being received by others, reinforcing their efforts and encouraging further attempts. It gives them the confidence to keep trying and improves their overall communication skills over time. This option focuses on the interactive nature of communication, emphasizing responsiveness and validation, which are essential for building communication skills. By providing immediate feedback, educators can effectively guide students in recognizing their strengths and areas for improvement, fostering a more engaging and motivating learning atmosphere. The other choices, while they may have their merits in different contexts, do not serve as the fundamental first step in promoting communication. Advanced technology for speech, physical activities for expression, and formal grammar instruction can all play important roles later in a student’s communication development, but they are not as effective in building initial communication skills and confidence. Immediate feedback is more personalized and directly related to encouraging ongoing communication attempts from the student.