April 25, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
When working with AAC learners, how can we best model and elicit target communication behaviors? In today’s featured video, SLP Deborah Witkowski provides an overview of the ways that we can shift our approach from one that prioritizes activity-specific words, to one that emphasizes high-frequency words. If you are looking to grow your skills in implementing AAC, this video will provide lots of helpful information. Many thanks to the Colorado Department of Education’s Southwest AT and AAC project (SWAAAC) for making this available. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R70CfxnD4yY
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: descriptive teaching, intervention strategies, language intervention
April 18, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
How can we better support people who have challenging behavior? When that behavior is related to communication needs, as it so often is, Functional Communication Training is often part of the answer. But how can we provide those kinds of supports in ways that are efficacious and feasible? And what about other sorts of behaviors that impact safety, learning, and quality of life? In today’s video, we learn about a parent training approach developed by the Research Units in Behavioral Intervention (RUBI) Autism Network. Many thanks to Dr. Bearss and the Els for Autism Foundation for making this archived webinar available. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Bearss, K., Johnson. C., Smith, T., Lecavalier, L., Swiezy, N., Aman, M., McAdam, D., Butter, E., Stillitano, C., Minshawi, N., Sukhodolsky, D., Mruzek, D., Turner, K., Neal, T., Hallett, V., Mulick, J., Green, B., Handen, B., Deng, Y., Dziura, J., & Scahill, L.(2015). Effect of parent training versus parent... [Read More...]
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Challenging Behavior, FCT, problem behavior
April 11, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Speak AAC to Teach AAC It’s wonderful to see how many people are actively working on their own skills in aided language input. Today’s video, from the Communication Technology Education Center (CTEC) in northern California, addresses a question that many communication partners have: How much language should I model? Kudos to the STAR team at CTEC for this engaging video. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VppaSuAF0f4
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: aided language input, modeling
April 4, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
If you work in school settings and serve students with AAC needs, or if you have a school-aged child who uses AAC, today’s featured video is an important one for you. Lisa Lightner, parent, disability rights leader, and author of the popular blog A Day In Our Shoes, shares useful information of interest to families and professionals alike. The webinar was sponsored by the Center on Technology and Disability (CTD). Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5spq37ooWRk&feature=push-u&attr_tag=ayID2iP5sKPBsTQX-6 Interested in this topic? Check out some of the other work by the CTD on AT in the IEP here. Kudos to the CTD and Lisa Lightner for creating this presentation and making it available to all.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AT, education, IEP, school
March 28, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Today we learn about Pivotal Response Treatment and its application to academics from Drs. Lynn and Robert Koegel of the Stanford School of Medicine. This 2-part presentation is available through the Tri-State ASD Webinar Series, which receives support from the Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN), the Nebraska Autism Spectrum Disorders Network, and the Colorado Department of Education. Part 1 Part 2 Enjoy!
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: ASD, Pivotal Response Treatment, PRT
March 21, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
The feature matching process is familiar to professionals involved in AAC assessments, but it can also be applied to selecting other forms of technology. In today’s featured post, Dr. Therese Willkomm discusses a variety of tools and resources to apply the feature match concept to selecting apps for learning, writing, independent functioning, and more. Hosted by the Center on Technology and Disability, this archived webinar shows us how to analyze apps based on student goals and the skills needed to effectively use the app for the intended goal. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tww9bPX2BDM&feature=push-u&attr_tag=9bplHkv4eBrSkcq_-6 We thank Dr. Wilkomm and the CTD for this helpful presentation and for making it publicly available
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: app selection, assessmen, Center on Technology and Disability, Feature Matching, Therese Willkomm
March 14, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
In the US, one option for obtaining funds for AAC devices is through Medicaid, a public health benefits program. In today’s featured video, Lew Golinker, of the AT Law Center, provides an overview and discusses important updates and issues that will be helpful to anyone considering using Medicaid funds for AAC devices. Many thanks to USSAAC for this wonderful webcast series, to ISAAC for facilitating it, and to Lew for his tireless efforts in advocating for the AAC field. You can learn more from Lew here. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b55U92VIfvE
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC evaluation, funding, Lew Golinker
March 7, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
“The love of the social world leads children to develop language.” Today, we turn our attention to some foundational issues important to those of us who try to help children with AAC needs become linguistically competent. Emily Rubin, director of the Educational Outreach Program at the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University in Atlanta, helps us understand the role of social-emotional engagement and ways we can support that in the classroom using Universal Design for Learning. Thanks to Emily Rubin and OCALICON for making this presentation, which was originally a keynote address, available to those who could not attend. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpynZ86usJo
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: connection, social emotional development
February 28, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Visual supports are a standard of care for supporting people with autism at home, in school, at work, and in the community. Today, we hear from Laura Ferguson of the Kentucky Autism Training Center on this topic. If you work with teams who are interested in using visual supports and video modeling but could use some help in implementing them effectively, this is a good video to watch. Many thanks to Laura and the Kentucky Autism Training Center for making and sharing this video. You can see a previous video from this series here. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAi1TZP69-I
Filed under: Video of the Week
February 21, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for ways to strengthen the implementation of AAC for the children and adults with whom you work? Today, we turn to the Center for Technology and Disability (CTD) for an archived webinar that covers the development of a plan that teams can implement. SLP Laura Kessel discusses AAC implementation plans that lay out the tools, strategies, prompting methods, activities, and communication targets along with the roles of various team members. Our appreciation to Laura for the information and to CTD for hosting this video and keeping it open for all to view. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AprSi-x1PAQ
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC implementation, Center for Technology and Disability