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
November 8, 2013
by Robin Parker -
The holidays are prAACtically here and depending upon the holiday traditions you celebrate they may be closer than you realize. Chanukah begins the day before thanksgiving and we never think it is too early to shop for Christmas or any other holiday, so here are some great companies to help you get started. We will update this holiday shopping list a few times throughout this holiday season. Please send any additional companies you feel should be included. Paper Clouds Apparel– Get t-shirts, hats, and totes featuring artwork designed by individuals with special needs. Paper Clouds apparel also hires individuals with special needs to package all of the products. and more. Paper Clouds Apparel was formed to showcase the creative minds and artistic abilities of individuals with special needs while raising funds to provide financial support for special needs schools and organizations. Fifty percent of the net proceeds from the sale of... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: ASD, developmental disabilities, employment
June 29, 2012
by Robin Parker -
We have ‘grown up’ with many of our students and their families. We have learned from the students themselves, their parents, siblings, teachers, and their other SLP’s, OT’s, & ABA therapists. So when we recently met with a terrific mom and contemporary ABA therapist, we needed to speak about apps for adolescents (goals and activities had been discussed previously). The student communicates and organizes herself through natural speech, the Dynavox Maestro, apps on the iTouch, & apps on the iPad. The student is now 16 and she cooks amazing food, hikes through the mountains of Switzerland, takes inventory for her school, types shopping lists, puts together scrapbooks, and does a lot more really cool things. Here is the list of apps we recommended to support her favorite leisure & literacy activities, and quest to be more & more independent. We only stopped giving more apps when ALL of us were... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: adolescents, Apps, ASD, developmental disabilities, leisure activities, special needs