Tag Archive: resources

It’s PrAACtically Martin Luther King Jr Day

January 11, 2018 by - Leave your thoughts

PrAACtically Martin Luther King Jr Day

Looking for activities and books to help integrate AAC and language learning with content about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr? Here are some resources to explore. Acts of Kindness and Justice Martin Luther King Jr: Venn Diagram: Great for practice of core and fringe vocabulary, as well as information-giving (e.g., name, birthday) and comparing/contrasting Martin Luther King Jr I Have a Dream Speech: Wonderful for older learners and those focused on Tier 2 vocabulary, more complex sentences, main idea, narrative development, and inferencing. Martin Luther King Jr Holiday 5 Resources for AAC Learners  Visual Supports, Core Words, and Martin Luther King Core Values: Suggestions for Language Building with AAC Learners 

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Throwback Thursday: Core Vocabulary, AAC Resources and Beyond

July 13, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts

Throwback Thursday: Core Vocabulary and Beyond

Things move more slowly in the summer and that makes it a good time to play catch-up. Here are some posts that may be worth a second look. Getting ready for a core vocabulary journey  Make It Monday: Manual communication boards with core vocabulary  Make It Monday: More words, please! Expanding our manual communication boards  Super Size It: 5 ideas for making large communication boards  Beyond requesting: A week of routines to increase AAC use at mealtimes  5 ways to build understanding  Free resources for making AAC and visual supports 5 places for shared AAC materials What else are you catching up on these days? —

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PrAACtically May: AAC Resources for A Year of Core Vocabulary Words

April 27, 2017 by - 4 Comments

PrAACtically May: AAC Resources for A Year of Core Vocabulary Words

It is just about time to flip the calendar to a new page, and that means it’s time for a new set of core words to model, elicit, and practice. In this post, we have a number of resources and an announcement (**scroll to the bottom**) for those who’ve tried their hand at implementation. Thanks to all who’ve reached out with questions, comments, and words of appreciation for the Year of Core Vocabulary series. Here are some helpful resources for those who are using the words in Set 1 ( 2013 Year of Core Words) or Set 2 (Another Year of Core Words). If you are contemplating this approach, feel free to jump in at any time. The best time to start (or re-start) is right now. Don’t worry about retracing steps, or not ‘doing it right.’ The best way to get better at core vocabulary instruction is just to... [Read More...]

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PrAACtical Resources: Downloadable AAC Posters

February 13, 2017 by - 2 Comments

PrAACtical Resources: Downloadable AAC Posters

Looking for some additional AAC-related resources?  CALL Scotland has some wonderful resources that can be displayed as posters, and/or used as handouts for meetings/trainings (click here). Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find.   And don’t miss this interactive flyer that takes you to PowerPoint books.  ‘Thanks to the wonderful team at CALL Scotland for making and sharing these terrific resources.

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Site of the Month: Core Word Classroom

October 10, 2016 by - 1 Comment

Looking for materials that you can use to support AAC in educational settings? AssistiveWare’s newest venture, The Core Word Classroom, may be just what you are looking for.  While the materials align with their AAC app Proloquo2Go, the concepts, activity ideas, and planning tools have broad applicability. Jennifer Marden and Amanda Hartmann, who created most of the content for this new venture, introduce us to the site. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The AssistiveWare Core Word Classroom is a resource for anyone who is implementing a core word-based AAC system. The materials focus on teaching using core words, as well as expanding communication beyond requesting to all the reasons we communicate, and helping AAC users use the full grammatical possibilities of language. The classroom materials are built around a framework called the 3W’s:   WORDS – the core words that could be used for an activity   WHYS – the many different reasons why we communicate... [Read More...]

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PrAACtically October: A Year of Core Vocabulary Resources

September 29, 2016 by - 7 Comments

PrAACtically October: A Year of Core Vocabulary Resources

Know any AAC learners like these? Jeremiah has an SGD with thousands of core and fringe words, but he uses less than 100 of them in day-to-day life. Bella used an AAC app with visual scene displays to interact at playtime and during daily routines for the past several months. Her team just added an app with grid-based vocabulary so that she can begin to create novel sentences and expand her language abilities. Mason was recently evaluated for an AAC device, but it will likely take a few months to get the funding situation straightened out. In the meantime, his team created a manual communication board that mirrors the main screen of the SGD’s language software. Each of them need lots of practice to become fluent with the core words in their AAC systems. Are you looking for resources to support your use of core words in therapy, in the... [Read More...]

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PrAACtical AT Recipes for Success: Shared Reading with ‘Bark, George’

September 15, 2016 by - Leave your thoughts

Thanks to all of you who have reached out with comments about the AT Recipes for Success and the wonderful resources shared by SLP Sara Barnhill and the AT Team at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. They’ve been incredibly generous in sharing their work over the past several months. If you missed them over the summer, you can view previous posts here. As a member of the AT Core team, Sara is involved in AAC evaluations and therapy in the hospital’s clinics, out-patient program and Transitional Care Unit. CHoR’s AT Program is one of few comprehensive AT programs in Central Virginia. The program provides AT evaluations, equipment and training to people of all ages, enabling children and adults with disabilities to function more independently.  CHoR’s AT team consists of four SLPs, two OTs, one PT, and one Therapy Practice Assistant.  In addition to completing transdiciplinary evaluations and treatments, CHoR’s AT team is... [Read More...]

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PrAACtical Supports for AAC Learners: AT Recipes for Success – Sensorimotor Activities

September 1, 2016 by - 1 Comment

PrAACtical Supports for AAC Learners: AT Recipes for Success - Sensorimotor Activities

It’s time to resume our PrAACtical Supports series, highlighting handout materials developed by Sara Barnhill and the AT team at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR). Sara is an SLP who has has worked at CHoR for six+ years.  She is a member of the Assistive Technology Core team and VCU’s Center for Craniofacial Care team.  Her caseload includes patients in clinics, outpatient therapy, and on the Transitional Care Unit which provides pediatric long-term care.  The CHoR AT Program is one of few comprehensive AT programs in Central Virginia, providing AT evaluations, equipment and training to people of all ages, enabling children and adults with disabilities to function more independently.  CHoR’s AT team consists of 4 SLPs, 2 OTs, a PT, and a Therapy Practice Assistant.  In addition to completing transdiciplinary evaluations and treatments, CHoR’s AT team is responsible for supporting staff and sharing AT information to five CHoR therapy centers... [Read More...]

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PrAACtical Supports for Older Learners: AT Recipes for Success, Part 6

August 11, 2016 by - 2 Comments

PrAACtical Supports for Older Learners: AT Recipes for Success, Part 6

Welcome back to the PrAACtical Supports series, highlighting the work of the AT team at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR). Meghan Reitz, an SLP who has worked at CHoR for over 3 years, returns to share activity ideas for older learners and downloadable handouts for their caregivers. She received her Master’s in SLP from the University of Virginia., which provides comprehensive services for pediatric healthcare. The CHoR AT Program is one of few comprehensive AT programs in Central Virginia, providing AT evaluations, equipment and training to people of all ages, enabling children and adults with disabilities to function more independently.  CHoR’s AT team consists of 4 SLPs, 2 OTs, a PT, and a Therapy Practice Assistant.  In addition to completing transdiciplinary evaluations and treatments, CHoR’s AT team is responsible for supporting staff and sharing AT information to five CHoR therapy centers throughout Central Virginia. Meghan has a passion for working... [Read More...]

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PrAACtical Supports for Older Learners: AT Recipes for Success, Part 5 – Let’s Cook!

August 4, 2016 by - 1 Comment

PrAACtical Supports for Older Learners: AT Recipes for Success - Let's Cook

Thanks to all of you who reached out with appreciation for the ideas and resources shared in last month’s PrAACtical Supports posts (you can see those here). We’re delighted to continue the series and grateful to the AT team at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR), which provides comprehensive services for pediatric healthcare. The CHoR AT Program is one of few comprehensive AT programs in Central Virginia, providing AT evaluations, equipment and training to people of all ages, enabling children and adults with disabilities to function more independently.  CHoR’s AT team consists of 4 SLPs, 2 OTs, a PT, and a Therapy Practice Assistant.  In addition to completing transdiciplinary evaluations and treatments, CHoR’s AT team is responsible for supporting staff and sharing AT information to five CHoR therapy centers throughout Central Virginia. Today’s guest blogger is team member Meghan Reitz, an SLP who has worked at CHoR for the past... [Read More...]

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