April 26, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
At school In clinics and hospitals At home In restaurants and shops People are supporting children with complex communication needs by speaking AAC and building opportunities for communication learning. Here are a few short videos showing what they’ve been up to. Vanderbilt’s Early Intervention Program are getting some communication in while playing and making music in preschool. Check out Shelane Nielsen and her handsome guy gooping it up in AACtion at home. Jill Baldessari explains how Miguel and his SLP get their eye gaze on. Take a peek at Deb using both prestored messages and single word vocabulary at a restaurant. Let’s see how these classmates are working together in their general education classroom. Ready for a bit of reading instruction, AAC style? Do you have videos of AACtual communication? We’d love to have you share them!
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: communication, Multimodal, video
April 19, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Having trouble getting AAC integrated throughout the classroom day? Veteran SLP Maureen Castillo took a creative approach to this common problem in the classrooms she supports. In this video, she discusses a project she created to foster AAC learning and use in the context of literacy activities. Learn how she combines the teaching of core vocabulary and Dolch sight words using aided language input, peer modeling, anchor books, and more. The video was made possible by Saltillo and is part of their free webinar series. Many thanks to Maureen and to Saltillo for making this available. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epQ3QlBg0hs
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: core vocabulary, intervention, literacy, reading, sight words, video
April 12, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Do you work in or support preschool classrooms? Are you interested in infusing more AAC teaching throughout the day? If so, the TELL ME program may be of interest. This post has an overview of the program I developed with my friend and colleague, Lori Wise, in order to give teachers and therapists a better understanding of ways that they can integrate AAC learning throughout the classroom day. Many thanks to the fine folks at Saltillo for inviting me to do this webinar and for allowing us to share the recording. We are grateful for the support of SLP Joni Nygard and the wonderful team at Attainment for helping us bring this work to fruition. You can download the handout for the video here and see some samples of the TELL ME program here. What works for you in teaching AAC in the preschool classroom? Share your ideas so we can... [Read More...]
Filed under: Video of the Week
April 5, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Why do we work so hard to support effective communication through AAC? In the end, the real goal is to help people live rich and enviable lives. Working toward that starts with a vision and that’s the subject of Erin Sheldon’s talk, Including Maggie. Many thanks to Kathy Howery and the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia for making this available. If you think you know inclusion and if you think you know what the end game is in AAC, don’t skip this. All of us have something to learn from this family’s journey toward an inclusive life. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkf3LD6047s&list=PL6P1FySUgEPR1aG-ZRYi363jtaniNJFqC&index=13
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: inclusion, Inclusive Education, planning
March 29, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Ensuring that AAC systems include high frequency words sets the stage for us to teach language that is flexible and functional across a variety of settings. For whom is that appropriate? How many words? Which ones? In today’s featured video, master clinician Gail Van Tatenhove tackles all of these issues and more. This video and the accompanying resources (which can be found here) were part of the Power AAC series Gail created for PaATTAN to support their efforts in building capacity for high quality AAC services. We’re indebted to them for making this available so all can learn from it.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: core vocabulary, PaTTAN, vocabulary selection
March 22, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for a core+fringe AAC display that is easy to make and not overwhelming to use? This post may have just what you need. It’s great to see the variety of ways in which professionals are embracing AAC options and using what they know to teach others. In today’s post, we feature a video by the Louisiana South/Central Regional AT Center in which they take us through the step-by-step process of making a versatile AAC support that can be a wonderful starting point for some of our learners. In addition to the video, this generous team shares their files so you can make one of your own (click here to download; you can get the SymbolStix version here) and even share the source for the vinyl pockets they use. Pretty prAACtical! Thanks, Louisiana South/Central Regional AT Center, for your collegiality in sharing this with all of us!
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: communication book, core, DIY
March 15, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
We’re back to learn more from Gail Van Tatenhove with more in the Power AAC series from PaTTAN. In this video, Gail reviews key concepts in developing a multi-component AAC system that meets the needs of an individual learner. This is a great resource for helping teams make the important decisions that lead to a set of individualized AAC tools or evaluate their students’ current AAC systems to see where adjustments might be needed. We’re grateful to Gail and to PaTTAN for this wonderful series. Be sure to download the handouts in the Links and Downloads section. Direct Link to Video – https://www.pattan.net/videos/poweraac-module-3-develop-personal-aac-systems
Filed under: Video of the Week
March 8, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
The good news is plentiful. A growing number of classrooms incorporate some form of AAC. Teachers and therapists are increasingly aware of the value of augmentative forms of communication and are recognizing the potential for communication growth in all of their students. School teams are stepping up to provide access to activity-based communication boards, communication books, low tech SGDs, and AAC apps. They are creating opportunities for teaching and using these forms of AAC in specific classroom activities. In many cases, teachers and therapists are growing dissatisfied with the outcomes. Students are more engaged in the activities are improving their ability to participate appropriately. They aren’t always becoming competent communicators who can express themselves independently throughout the day. It’s frustrating to scramble to find and/or create materials and resources, make significant changes to activities, work hard to implement them, and still not get the expected outcome. It’s exhausting. It’s disappointing,... [Read More...]
Filed under: Video of the Week
March 1, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Back in the late 1980’s when I was doing my doctoral work at Purdue University, there was exciting research going on in classroom-based AAC intervention. Environmental Communication Teaching (ECT) has been through some changes in the past 25+ years, but it is still a powerful approach to helping teams support learners with complex communication needs. In today’s video, we feature Kelly Fonner discussing ECT as part of a webinar made possible by the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia. You can download the accompanying handout here. Enjoy! Many thanks to the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia for making this available.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: classroom, ECT, Kelly Fonner
February 22, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Speed dating, AAC style? Some days, we just need a little bit of fun. Happy Wednesday, prAACtical friends! Direct link to video: https://vimeo.com/46831064
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: fun, video