Which strategy could reduce communication barriers during a collaborative project?

• A. Provide visual supports such as cue cards and checklists.
• B. Rely only on spoken language with no supports.
• C. Schedule group work without structure.
• D. Exclude the student from planning meetings.

Answer: (A)

Visual supports give everyone a concrete, shareable way to understand and participate in a project, which lowers barriers to communication. Cue cards and checklists provide visible steps, expectations, and prompts, so the student can indicate needs, decisions, or confirmations even if spoken language is unclear or limited. This keeps the team aligned, reduces guesswork, and lets the student contribute actively by pointing to or referencing the appropriate card or item.

Relying only on spoken language can leave someone out if they have limited expressive or receptive language, making it harder to follow the plan. Scheduling group work without structure creates confusion and inconsistency, which can heighten misunderstandings. Excluding the student from planning meetings removes their voice entirely and undermines collaboration.