Tag Archive: safety
March 4, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
How can we reduce the vulnerability of individuals with AAC needs? In today’s featured video, we return to the archived sessions from AAC in the Cloud, hosted by CoughDrop. Bringing the dual perspectives of AAC mom and AAC professional, Erin Sheldon helps us understand the vulnerabilities faced by AAC users and ways that we can address these issues in very prAACtical ways. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iclspbe774 You can obtain the handout for this session here. Many thanks to Erin and the amazing team at CoughDrop for making this available. Mark your calendars for June 23-24 for the 2020 AAC in the Cloud Conference.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Erin Sheldon, safety, vulernability
September 4, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Reducing the vulnerability of people with complex communication needs is something that all AAC service providers should be thinking about. In today’s featured video, which was part of the AAC in the Cloud Conference, AAC specialist Erin Sheldon helps us understand the issues and consider some of the things we can do to help AAC users have more autonomy and be less vulnerable. Many thanks to Erin and to the wonderful team at CoughDrop for this fine presentation. This is an important topic that we should all learn more about, AAC friends. Erin’s handout is available here. Link to the session on the CoughDrop site: https://presenters.aacconference.com/videos/UVRRelFURTU= Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=4iclspbe774
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: personal autonomy, safeguards, safety
May 14, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Recent events, such as the horrific mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School, have led us all to re-examine policies and procedures that impact school safety. Throughout the country, school communities are re-evaluating and fine-tuning their processes for keeping students and staff safe in the unlikely event of violent acts, such as bomb threats and active shooters. It seems surreal that we have to think about and plan for this, but that is our reality. We look at school safety drills for Code Red and lockdowns with a greater degree of importance and a heightened level of urgency. Our students with AAC needs are among the most vulnerable in any emergency situation and this is no different. Our students may have difficulty understanding what is happening in a drill or its implications. They may have difficulty moving quickly to get to a safe space or staying quiet once they get there.... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Emergency, emergency preparedness, safety, schools
July 14, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
There are some organizations and projects that just amaze us with the work that they do. Today, we are looking at one of those, Communication Disabilities Access Canada, led by Barbara Collier. They have a wonderful array of resources that address important topics related to safety, self-determination, advocacy, and more. Here are two of our favorites. Communication Boards Making and Using Communication Access Cards You can follow them on Facebook, too.
Filed under: Strategy of the Month
Tagged With: accesss, advocacy, Communication Disabilities Access Canada, safety, self-determination
June 21, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
Though she was not the first of my clients with cerebral palsy who made me think long and hard about safety, Marla was the one who kept me up at night. It was the seventies, and I was a PCA when institutionalization was on the way out and community living was gaining ground. Marla lived on her own in an apartment and, for awhile when I was a college student, I visited her in the morning to get her up and at night to put her to bed. During the day, she could get around reasonably well and call for help if she needed it. But at night, after she was settled in bed, she was pretty much stuck there until someone returned in the morning. She didn’t have the physical skills to use a phone while lying down, and, if there was AT that would have helped, I... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: communication boards, resources, safety, self-advocacy
October 7, 2012
by Robin Parker -
PRACTICE FIRE SAFETY- watch what you heat. It’s Fire Prevention Week 2012– October 7-October 15, 2012. There are many Fire Prevention Week campaign resources available through the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Additionally, we learned that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has incredible safety information for EVERYONE, All the time. In exploring NFPA’s website, we saw the dedication in protecting ALL children and adults from the many dangers of fire. The Safety Signals Project is another great fire prevention resource funded by Autism Speaks. We are not super worriers by nature, but thought it is would be great time to update some our fire safety supports. National Fire Prevention Association Fire Safety- Specialized Fire Drill Social Narrative Being Prepared-Autism– (Webinar) Fire Safety-Limited Hearing (great information) Fire Safety- Older Adults– (we love the posters) Safety Fact Sheets- Multiple Languages NFPA E-Newsletter– (love the focus on quality of life for people with disabilities) + lots more The Safe... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: ASD, Firs Safety, safety, Social Story
February 4, 2012
by Carole Zangari -
Is anyone else totally floored by the stories of good people getting into bad situations that have been in the news lately?? While it can happen to anyone, it is probably true that people who use AAC face a number of safety risks that the rest of us don’t think much about. The people we work with may not have the vocabulary they need to talk about safety issues, report abuse, or even state objections/resistance in a forceful way. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The latest story to cross my inbox made me think of some of our AAC friends and what we, as SLPs and clinical educators, should be doing to provide support. The Canadian organization Augmentative Communication Community Partnerships, has some wonderful resources to help get us started. Among them is a set of communication displays, both text and picture-based, that can be useful to individuals with AAC needs.Originally... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: advocacy, communication boards, safety