After the Candy is Gone: Post-Halloween Ideas for AAC Learning

November 3, 2022 by - Leave your thoughts


After the Candy is Gone: Post-Halloween Ideas for AAC Learning

We’re sharing some ideas for AAC learning based on a previous post by the late Dr. Robin Parker. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Language learning involves talking about events in the past, present, and future.  Since Halloween is over, it is a perfect opportunity to help AAC users talk about past events. Here are 5 tips for getting started. Use a weekly or monthly (calendar) schedule to ‘remember’ Halloween, or if you are sticking to core words to remember the “great day” or “bad day” depending upon the experience. Use photos of the Halloween festivities to discuss what happened and what everyone did. You can use these to discuss costumes, decorations, the best/worst part of the day, etc. Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast Halloween experiences. This can be done by comparing two people, places, or anything else. For some learners, you can use images to put Halloween things that everyone saw... [Read More...]

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Halloweening, AAC Style

October 31, 2022 by - Leave your thoughts


Halloweening, AAC Style

Happy Pumpkin Day! We’re reprising this post for anyone in need of some additional resources. Holidays are special and Halloween is a favorite among many. As much fun as it is to dress up and get candy, though, there are lots of ways that Halloween can be stressful for AAC learners. From the change in routine, to the costumes and scary decorations, to talking with neighbors and other less familiar communication partners, to the overabundance of sugar, there are lots of ways in which Halloween can trip us up. If the AAC learners in your life celebrate Halloween, Fall Festival, Harvest Parade, or any other celebration with similar traditions, we SLPs can help them to have a positive experience. Here are some ideas. Use a social narrative to prepare everyone for what to expect on and around Halloween. Read them often in the weeks leading up to the school dress-up parade,... [Read More...]

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AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 44: October 2022

October 30, 2022 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 44: October 2022

Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have some posts for you to explore. Monday – PrAACtically Halloween: 10 AAC-related Printables Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: AAC Overview for Individuals with Angelman Syndrome   Thursday – November Year of Core Vocabulary & School Year of Core Vocabulary Words :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Ready for a little more AAC exploring? Here are a handful of suggestions. Core Values: Suggestions for Language Building with AAC Learners Video of the Week: Supporting AAC Learning Through Non-Directive Language Supporting Language Growth in AAC Learners, Part 1 Supporting Language Growth in AAC Learners, Part 2 Supporting Language Growth in AAC Learners, Part 3 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Before you go, we invite you to contribute to a parent resource project focusing on Angelman Syndrome. If that is of interest, click here to get started or on the images below for more information. Small stipends are provided for any... [Read More...]

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November Year of Core Vocabulary & School Year of Core Vocabulary Words

October 27, 2022 by - Leave your thoughts


November Year of Core Vocabulary & School Year of Core Vocabulary Words

It’s prAACtically November and we’re reprising some past posts in two popular series, Year of Core Vocabulary Words and School Year of Core Vocabulary Words. The initial series was based on a small set of core words for each month (see that post here). We followed that with a second set of Year of Core Vocabulary Word resources for a new list of words (click here for that post). Among the many resources are the activity calendars created by AAC SLP and co-founder of Talking AAC, Rachael Langley. There were many other contributors over the years who added to these efforts. The School Year of Core Vocabulary Words, authored by guest contributors Michaela Sullivan, Alisa Lego, and Beth Lytle, was first published in 2020. If you’re following along and utilizing these resources, which were developed by quite a few people in the AAC community, you can access the content for... [Read More...]

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AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 43: October 2022

October 23, 2022 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 43: October 2022

Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you might like. Monday – AAC at the 2022 ASHA Convention: Presentations to Get Excited About Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: How Do AAC Apps Compare? Thursday – Throwback Thursday: AAC in the Community ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Looking for a few more posts to browse? Take a look. PrAACtically Halloween! Considerations for an AAC-Friendly Holiday Halloween Recipes for Cooking AAC Style 5+ Fun AAC Things to Do to Get Ready for Halloween The Communication Book is Ready! Now, What? AACtual Therapy: Teaching the Use of Social Phrases and Comments How I Do It: Functional Ideas for AAC Use at Home

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Throwback Thursday: AAC in the Community

October 20, 2022 by - Leave your thoughts


Throwback Thursday: AAC in the Community

Looking for ideas on AAC use outside the home and school environments? Today’s edition of Throwback Thursday has some posts that might be helpful. Thumbs Up for AAC Support in The Community AAC-friendly Library Visits: 5 PrAACtical Ideas AAC Goes to High School: Community-based Instruction Community Participation Let’s Go Outside! Five PrAACtical Ideas AAC Goes to the Library AAC in Secondary School: AACcessibility during Community-Based Instruction

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Throwback Thursday: Families & AAC

October 13, 2022 by - Leave your thoughts


Throwback Thursday: AAC & Families

Whether by birth or by choice, families play such an important role in our lives. They’re the focus of this edition of Throwback Thursday so if it’s a topic of interest, here are some posts to browse. Videos Growing Up with AAC in the Family From Presence to Contribution – A Family’s Journey Towards an Inclusive Life Family Collaboration by Dr. Barry Prizant Empowered Families in the World of AAC Articles Faces of AAC: Making It Work in A Busy Family PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: The Family Book Emergency Preparedness for the AAC Family AAC Therapy: Putting Parents in Charge    

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