June 12, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
In many areas, there has been a greater focus on mental health and well-being. Though we applaud that trend, it’s disappointing that people with significant disabilities and those with complex communication needs are often left out of the discussion. Today’s post is a welcome exception. In this featured video, Dr. Kathy Howery addresses this topic and provides us with strategies that can be used to better support children and adults with AAC needs. Many thanks to Dr. Howery for this fine presentation, to USSAAC for organizing and hosting it, and to ISAAC for their support of this webinar series. You can obtain the handout for this archived session here. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=77&v=lLnG70qADUs
Filed under: Video of the Week
June 5, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
What’s it like to have a parent who uses AAC? Matthew Wangeman and his son Elijah team up to tell their story in this wonderful video. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsVzlyD7ArM&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1U7y9WtRAaXiRSB-PSDqJ2-s5B9BZxPyQwQETYJX7AgHos7k5b4-nV8r0
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: adult, Disability Awareness, family, parent
May 29, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Looking to strengthen your approach to goal-writing for individuals with AAC needs? In today’s featured video, SLP Betsy Clifford shares information on this topic and has practical suggestions that may be helpful to you. Many thanks to Betsy and Saltillo for creating this video and making it available to all of us. Direct Links to Videos Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfFdn5-lOHk Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxmK1xaD3hY
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC goals
May 22, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Many individuals with developmental disabilities and complex communication needs reach adulthood without a functional AAC system. In today’s featured video, SLP Paul Simeone discusses some of the issues around the decision to initiate AAC in adulthood. We are grateful to Paul and the Arc of Massachusetts for addressing this important topic and raising awareness of the needs of such an under-served population. Enjoy! Direct link to video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQjFDfw3QL0&t=29s
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: adulthood, adults, developmental disabilities
May 15, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
How can we help individuals on the autism spectrum who have significant challenges with communication? In today’s featured video, Melissa Subock shares her thoughts on AAC implementation for learners with autism. You can download the handout for this archived presentation here. Thanks to Melissa and the Sharing Treatment and Autism Resources (STAR) Parent Training Program at Kennedy Krieger Institute for making this video available. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmLp4ympnc4
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: ASD, Kennedy Krieger
May 8, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Given the limited time that SLPs and students who use AAC have together, it is no surprise that there has been considerable interest in classroom-based approaches to AAC support in recent years. Today, we learn about one such approach, Project Core, from Dr. Lori Geist. While you may be familiar with the Project Core website and its free resources, the implementation piece may be new to you. Many thanks to Dr. Geist, Dr. Kathy Howery, the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium, and the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia for this wonderful presentation. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bS4bu4rp24&index=40&list=PL6P1FySUgEPR1aG-ZRYi363jtaniNJFqC
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: classroom, Lori Geist, Project Core
May 1, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Aided language input and other forms of AAC modeling are often used to help individuals with complex communication needs learn in an immersive AAC environment. Today, we turn to Mara Rogers and her fellow AAC SLPs at the Northeast Intermediate Metro School District in Minnesota. In order to better support their students with AAC needs, they created a series of videos to demonstrate what aided language input looks like for beginning communicators. Enjoy! During Reading Creating Communication Opportunities Group Activities Requesting Rejecting Thank you, Mara, Sara, Maggie, and Olivia for making these videos and to the Northeast Intermediate Metro School District for support of this dissemination effort. Direct Link to Intro Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC6q1B3jHEs
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC modeling, aided language input, school
April 24, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Although readers of this site are generally quite familiar with the basics of AAC, most of us encounter families who are new to the AAC journey fairly often. In today’s video, we turn to SLP and AAC mom Dana Nieder who covers this topic from a very prAACtical perspective. Many thanks to Dana and to the Center on Technology and Disability for creating and sharing this archived presentation. This is a good one to enjoy and share with families who are just beginning to use AAC with their child. You can learn more from Dana at her wonderful blog, Uncommon Sense. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=CmvJSM3QFJk
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC family, beginning communicator, Dana Nieder
April 17, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
We’re always grateful for the opportunity to learn with and from people who use AAC on a day-to-day basis. Today, we turn to the BBC to share the work of Jemima Hughes, a UK-based filmmaker, in collaboration with Screen South. Kudos to Jemima and the BBC for this video and the entire Rethinking Disability collection. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video: https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/how-to-speak-when-you-dont-have-a-voice/p07693kc?playlist=redefining-disability
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: BBC, disability, Jemima Hughes
April 10, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Helping teams get onboard in using supportive AAC strategies is a challenge throughout the world. In today’s featured video, we hear from AAC specialist Lauren Enders, who has been a PrAACtical AAC guest author on many occasions. There is a lot of prAACtical information in this presentation, organized and hosted by Dr. Kathy Howery and the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium (ERLC) and the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia (ARPDC). We are grateful for their wonderful support of the AAC community through this archived webinar and to Lauren for this terrific information. Thanks again to the presenter and to ERLC for making this archived presentation available. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA9iGljqMOM
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: classroom, Lauren Enders, partner training, school, teams