{"id":38371,"date":"2026-10-28T11:06:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T11:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/send\/areas-of-need\/sensory-and-or-physical\/multi-sensory-impairment\/how-to-use-a-bigmack-top-tips-and-ideas\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T11:43:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T11:43:51","slug":"how-to-use-a-bigmack-top-tips-and-ideas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/send\/areas-of-need\/sensory-and-or-physical\/multi-sensory-impairment\/how-to-use-a-bigmack-top-tips-and-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"How to use a BIGmack &#8211; top tips and ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a BIGmack?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A BIGmack is a simple communication button that allows a child or young person to record and play back a single message by pressing a large coloured switch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It can help children with speech, language, communication, sensory, or physical difficulties to take part in activities, make choices, and communicate with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using a BIGmack can help children and young people to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Communicate their needs and preferences<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Participate in learning and social activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop independence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Understand now and next<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build confidence in communication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Experience successful interactions with others<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A BIGmack is often a useful first step in developing communication skills and introducing alternative and augmentative communication (AAC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Useful videos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watch our videos, using the links below, to help you use a BIGmack:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first video demonstrates what a BIGmack communication device is and how it can be used to support expression, choice making and independence:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dP42FEUBmqM\" rel=\"noopener\">What is a BIGmack communication device and how do you use one?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second demonstrates how you can use a BIGmack communication device to support greetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=830KCk2lh-s\" rel=\"noopener\">How to use a BIGMack to say \u2018Hello\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Considerations for using a BIGmack<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is the BIGmack positioned so the child or young person can easily reach and press it?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the recorded message meaningful and motivating for the child or young person?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are adults responding consistently when the child or young person uses it?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the volume suitable for the child or young person&#8217;s sensory needs?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are there regular opportunities for the child or young person to use it throughout the day?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional ideas for using a BIGmack:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In the classroom:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&#8220;Good morning&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Yes&#8221; \/ &#8220;No&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Answering the register<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Joining in with lessons and discussions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">During story time:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Repeating a key phrase from a story<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Joining in with songs and rhymes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Taking part in sensory stories<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Social interactions:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&#8220;Hello&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Can I play?&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Please\/Thank you&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Choice making<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choosing an activity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Requesting a favourite toy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Asking for more<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Requesting help<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sensory and Physical development<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Encouraging reaching and exploration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supporting cause-and-effect learning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Activating adapted toys or activities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Developing participation and engagement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more information about using a BIGmack to support inclusion and learning, schools and settings can book an ICT consultation, using the following email address:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"mailto:educate.specialeducationalneeds-mailbox@devon.gov.uk\">educate.specialeducationalneeds-mailbox@devon.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The consultations normally take place monthly on a Tuesday and Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no cost to settings to book an ICT consultation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a BIGmack? A BIGmack is a simple communication button that allows a child or young person to record and play back a single [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2616,"featured_media":0,"parent":8151,"menu_order":9,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-38371","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2616"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38371"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38371\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38377,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38371\/revisions\/38377"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}