March 21, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Language experience surveys are versatile tools with considerable applicability to AAC learning. These involve creating an informal survey based on a single question that was selected specifically to support communicative development. They can be used to give AAC learners more opportunities to learn from others in focused and specific ways. They also offer ample opportunities to practice emerging skills and generalize those skills from the therapy space or classroom to real-world contexts. You can learn more about them here. How can we use language experience surveys in our AAC work? Here are a few ideas. Introduce new words or concepts: We often precede direct instruction on a new word or concept with experiences that provide exposure to those. Using a language experience survey can be a powerful way to introduce AAC learners to a new vocabulary word in ways that are engaging, enjoyable, and memorable. Examples: “Can you tell me... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
March 20, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have a bunch of articles, videos, and resources that you might like. Monday – PrAACtically St. Patrick’s Day: AAC-friendly Resources Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Getting Familiar with Partner-Assisted Scanning Thursday – How I Do It: AAC Practitioners, Part 1 Can you stick around for some more? We’re listing a bunch here for you to pick from. How We Do It: Tele-AAC with Nerissa Hall and Hillary Johnson How We Do It: Using Language Boards to Support AAC Use By Nerissa Hall and Hillary Jellison AT Recipes for Success: Shared Reading Sometimes I Feel Sunny Pete the Cat Bark, George Bear Wants More AT Recipes for Success: Sensorimotor Activities Fun with Balls & Dolls Fun with Cars & Bubbles Fun with Paint Daubers & Crayons Fun with Animal Puzzles & Potato Head AT Recipes for Success: Older Learners... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts
March 17, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
In today’s Throwback Thursday, we learn from AAC professionals who’ve shared their experiences, perspectives, suggestions, and materials. We’ve had a lot of these posts over the years, so we’ll do this in two parts, both with lots of great content. Take a look. How I Do It Tabi Jones-Wohleber Classroom CORE Book AAC Inservices The All-in-One-Visual-Support Tool Deanna Wagner Supporting Spanish-speaking AAC Learners Lindsay Oesch Bilingual AAC Assessment Tips Kim Ho Video Read-Alouds with Aided Language Input Krista Hadeed Building & Using Language Kits Jesse Kleinman Functional Ideas for AAC Use at Home Kathrine Dally Pocket Flipbooks for Teens Pocket Flipbooks for Adults & Teens Pocket Flipbooks for Adults & Teens, Part 2 Amanda Samperi Teaching the AAC Helpers Planning AAC Therapy Activities Across Grade Levels Putting the FUN Back in FUNctional Working with Multiple Symbol Sets Tina Moreno Classroom Support for Students with AAC Needs Laura Hayes Using Videos... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
March 15, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Tuesday, AAC friends! Once a week we invite you to share your own AAC-related content, product news, or anything else that you’d like others in the AAC community to know about. It may be a recent post you’ve written, a slide deck from your AAC presentation, a handout, video, or meme that you’ve posted online, an AAC product you’ve created, an announcement for an AAC course or conference, or any other prAACtical content you developed and want to share with the AAC community. To post your own link, scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post and complete the form. Enter the URL and the name/title in the boxes provided below. If you are on a mobile device, click over to the full website version to do this. The AAC Link Up is moderated to keep us from being spammed so it may take a little... [Read More...]
Filed under: AAC Link Up, Featured Posts
March 14, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for some stories, activities, and recipes that are AAC-friendly? Here are some resources that might be of interest. Reading It’s St. Patrick’s Day This is St. Patrick’s Day What Do You See St. Patrick’s Day Parade? Clovers for Me and You What People Like About St. Patrick’s Day St Patrick’s Day How to Catch a Leprechaun At the End of the Rainbow Pat the Leprechaun Shamrocks Everywhere! Activities St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Hunt by A Cupcake for the Teacher St. Patrick’s Day ‘Would You Rather?’ Questions by Rachel Lynette Make a Wish Lucky 4-Leaf Clover by Expressive Monkey Limerick Writing by Rockin Resources Write Your Own Limericks by Addie Williams I Have Who Has? St. Patrick’s Day by Kathryn Knight Lucky Scavenger Hunt by Julie Hipple St. Patrick’s Day Sorting Mat by Juanita Pritchard... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
March 10, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
For today’s Throwback Thursday, we’re revisiting some posts featuring faculty members and students who are hoping to become AAC professionals in the not-too-distant future. Many of these posts have AAC resources that will be of interest to clinicians, educators, and families. Take a look. Growing AAC Professionals AAC-friendly Classrooms, AAC for Toddlers, & AAC for Healthcare Providers AACessible Literacy: Emergent Literacy Resources for the AAC SLP Resources for Self-Advocacy, Reducing Abandonment, Medical Encounters, & More ALS Communication and Assistive Technology Learning Lab Introducing Middle School Students to AAC Through Project HOPE Resources for Mythbusters A Virtual AAC Camp When Learning Meets Service AAC-friendly Books Learning about Safeguarding Practices AAC Awareness Month Many thanks to Vicki Haddix, Krista Davis, and others who are continually working to educate future generations of AAC professionals.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
March 8, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Tuesday, AAC friends! Once a week we invite you to share your own AAC-related content, product news, or anything else that you’d like others in the AAC community to know about. It may be a recent post you’ve written, a slide deck from your AAC presentation, a handout, video, or meme that you’ve posted online, an AAC product you’ve created, an announcement for an AAC course or conference, or any other prAACtical content you developed and want to share with the AAC community. To post your own link, scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post and complete the form. Enter the URL and the name/title in the boxes provided below. If you are on a mobile device, click over to the full website version to do this. The AAC Link Up is moderated to keep us from being spammed so it may take a little... [Read More...]
Filed under: AAC Link Up, Featured Posts
March 7, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Professionals who teach people with complex communication needs to express themselves with AAC frequently ask about the evidence base for AAC devices and apps. Evidence-based practice (EBP) has three basic pillars: Clinical expertise, external and internal evidence, and the perspectives of clients and caregivers. We have good evidence for the effectiveness of SGDs and AAC apps as a general category of communication tools, rooted in a strong array of research studies, a great deal of clinical expertise, and extensive experiences of consumers and families. As in many areas of clinical practice, though, more work still needs to be done. It’s not as easy to get this sort of research evidence as it may seem. A medical device like a speaking valve may have an evidence base tied to a specific brand and model of the equipment because there isn’t a great deal of variability in what it is expected to... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
March 6, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have some good posts for you to explore today. Monday –The PrAACtical Power of Co-Construction in AAC Support Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Alternative Access for AT & AAC Thursday – PrAACtical Reading for March: AAC-friendly Book Suggestions Friday – CAA Con Links: Marzo 2022 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: If you have a little more time, stick around to browse some of these past posts. “Can I Ask You a Question?” Language Experience Surveys Language Experience Surveys: 8 Fun Ideas Strengthening the Communication Environment Barriers to Access for AAC Learners Living an Accessible Life
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
March 4, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
On the first Friday of every month, we feature a Spanish version of our AAC Link Up, CAA con Links. If you have AAC-related announcements, materials, or videos in Spanish that you would like others to know about, we’d love to have you add that information below. Also, please share this with anyone who might be interested in contributing to or using the materials that get added to these posts. You’ll find the place to add that information at the very bottom of this post. Organized by Claudia Marimón, these monthly posts also feature AAC work being done in Spanish-speaking countries. Today, it’s all about traveling as she shares two versions of a lovely book that you can download and complete. Want to see some AAC in AACtion? Check out the videos of the travelers first featured in the January CAA Con Links Post, later in the post. Enjoy! :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::... [Read More...]
Filed under: AAC Link Up, Featured Posts