Motor Mouth Camp to help children communicate adds second camp for 15th anniversary
A WA program that helps children with complex communication needs build trust and connection is celebrating a major milestone this year.
For the past 15 years, Motor Mouth Camp has been supporting children who use augmentative and alternative communication to communicate their needs, thoughts, and feelings.
Variety — Three-day immersive camp offered by Children’s Charity WA brings together children who communicate using.
augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and other supports with families and expert volunteers.
The demand has increased so much that in addition to the October camp every year, it will also organize an additional camp in April this year.
Since the camp began, almost 200 WA children and families have attended and more than 350 volunteers have contributed more than 8,500 hours to help run the programme.
Children taking part include Bentley’s Zhiqing and Willagee’s Keeley Lannon.
Zhiqing uses an AAC device to express her thoughts, needs, and feelings.
For her mother, Lizzy, communication at home often meant uncertainty; Not always knowing what Zhiqing wants to share or how she feels.
By modeling communication using AAC devices during daily activities, Motor Mouth Camp volunteers helped Zhiqing find new ways to communicate his needs while giving Lizzy the confidence to continue using the device at home.
“It gave us confidence to keep using it every day,” her mother said.
His greatest memory was hearing Zhinging laugh again.
“He was laughing so loud, I haven’t heard him laugh that loud in a long time,” he said.
Keeley cannot always rely on speaking, so she uses other means to communicate, which often results in her mother Lee-Ann trying to interpret what Keeley needs, wants or feels.
At camp, Keeley began to use stronger sentences and express herself more clearly. Ms Lannon said there had been a powerful change in understanding her daughter.
“I didn’t consider it a second language before,” he said.
“But now I understand; it’s Keeley’s native language, and we’re the ones learning it.”
Motor Mouth Camp founder, coordinator and speech pathologist Kelly Savage said the camp was created to give children who communicate using AAC devices and their families the opportunity to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.
“As children grow, they learn to communicate in new situations and with new people – parents, siblings, teachers, friends and even people they meet at the park or in the shops,” Ms Savage said.
“Skilled communication partners make a big difference for children using AAC.
“That’s why Motor Mouth Camp focuses not only on children, but also on parents and siblings, giving families the tools and confidence to support communication every day.”
Variety WA CEO Chris Chatterton said the program reflects Variety’s mission to ensure every child can participate fully in life.
“Communication is essential to every child’s independence and ability to connect with the world around them,” he said.
“What makes this program so special is that it supports not just the child but the entire family, creating a community where everyone learns, grows and feels understood.”
