Tag Archive: visual support
December 2, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
We’re all about the visual presentation of concepts, whether it is through aided language input, graphic organizers during vocabulary instruction, timelines for facilitating narrative development, or a host of different situations. There’s something about the visual layout that clarifies and inspires. Over the past few years, there has been a huge increase in the number of software programs and apps that allow us to visually depict the relationship between things. You can create mind maps and flowcharts in Google Slides and Powerpoint, but sometimes you just want a dedicated, specially designed program to create them. Here are some free or low-cost options to explore. Mind Meister MindMup Connected Mind (Chrome extension, app) Text2MindMap Transno Bubble.us Are you using mind mapping software/apps in your AAC work? Please comment or get in touch with us. We’d love to hear about it.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: visual support
May 27, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
It’s a holiday weekend here in the US and that means a little more time to relax and catch up on things. If your day includes catching up on some AAC reading, check out our posts from the past week. Monday – Message and Voice Banking Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Thinking About the Communication Bill of Rights Thursday – PrAACtically June: AAC Resources for A Year of Core Words Have time for a little more light reading? Here are a few topics you might like to explore. Using Structure to Support Participation Designing & Using Visual Supports for Older Students Using Scripts in AAC Therapy 5 Ways to Use Anchor Charts & Other Visual Supports in AAC Therapy 5 Visual Supports for AAC Learners Before you go, you may wish to review our privacy policies, which were updated as required by the General Data Protection Regulations which... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: participation, summary post, visual support
May 18, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
When we think of AAC apps, expressive communication and voice output generally come to mind. But there are other kinds of AAC apps, too, including those that are used to create printable materials. Today, we hear from a clinician who uses this kind of AAC app on a regular basis. Georgia Karavias is a speech language pathologist whose career has centered around working with school-aged children and adolescents who have physical disabilities and communication difficulties. Georgia is passionate about utilizing alternative access methods and inclusive technologies to enable independent communication using AAC systems. She currently works at Scope’s Communication and Inclusion Resource Centre (CIRC) as part of the communication access team in a community capacity building role. In this post, she talks about how she uses AAC and visual supports created with an app developed at her workplace. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I am a speech pathologist who has worked with children with complex... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Apps, no tech, visual schedules, visual support
December 21, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Working with learners who have difficulty transitioning from one activity to the next? Visual schedules are a well-known strategy for supporting transitions, but most of us use pictures to represent the various activities. In some cases, this may not be the best approach. Today’s video describes a case example of a young learner who needed the support of objects. Hear how his team addressed this need and get useful tips for implementation. Be sure to download the handout and supporting resources while you’re there. Many thanks to TASN for making this available. Direct Link to Video: https://www.ksdetasn.org/resources/590
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: object symbols, schedule, visual support
October 24, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for some additional ways to support learners with AAC needs in educational settings? Here are some visual supports that you may want to explore. Emergency Drills from The Success Box Morning Meeting Binder from Central/South AT Center Social Narratives and Other Visual Supports by SET-BC “When I’m Upset” by File Folder Heaven Tri-fold Displays with for conversation and behavior regulation by TASN
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: classroom, visual support
December 28, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Some of us aren’t feeling quite ready to go back to work after the holidays. Like use, many AAC learners need help to get their minds and bodies prepared for activities and experiences. Here are some ready/not ready resources that can help us prepare them to cope with things to come. This simple version, by Amanda Sajac, can be a good starting point for introducing the concept through modeling. Kelli Proulx’s visual support has full messages that can be used as a manual communication board or made into an overlay for a low tech SGD. We can’t assume that AAC learners share our idea of what it means to be ready, so teaching this in an explicit way makes a lot of sense. AAC Lab created several visual supports to show what ready looks like and what behaviors indicate that we are NOT ready. Sometimes it can be helpful to create... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: ready, visual support
April 6, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for a prAACtical way to introduce basic visual supports to families of kids with AAC needs? This week we feature a video from Arizona State University’s Tots ‘n Tech Project that is perfect to share with families who are ready to add a few visual supports into their lives. We love the simplicity of this video and the engaging support document that accompanies it. Direct Link to Video: http://tnt.asu.edu/ideas/communication-socializing/what-do-you-want-do-chart
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: choice board, play, Tots and Tech, visual support
January 5, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Wondering how to make mealtimes more interactive? Give everyone a specific role. Amy Laurent shares some prAACtical ideas. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afBFrqal-dA
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: eating, meals, social, visual support
November 23, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
Since we’ve been talking about vocabulary instruction, we thought it might be fun to take a peek inside some therapy sessions where new words were being taught. In the examples below, we were teaching a core word and a Tier 2 vocabulary word over a few sessions. Here are some excerpts with their key intervention principles and practices. Target Words: do/did as an auxiliary (not main) verb Activities: Introduced a Visual Support (anchor chart): This explained the concept of ‘Helping Verbs,’ provided information on how they are used, listed them, and provided examples. These are effective tools for initial teaching, but are also invaluable for ongoing instruction. We use them extensively in language therapy, referring back to them often when we want to reinforce correct responses (look back at the visual together to further solidify the concept), help ‘fix’ incorrect responses (reteaching the pieces that didn’t stick), and facilitate self-correction... [Read More...]
Filed under: Strategy of the Month
Tagged With: anchor chart, semantics, visual support, vocabulary
August 8, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
Because sometimes you need something quick, simple, and free. 1. Quick Pics from the Patrick Ecker AAC site 2. ConnectAbility’s Visual Engine 3. Picto4Me: An app for your computer that you can install to Chrome 4. PhotoSYMS program 5. Aragonese Portal of AAC: Over 14,500 symbols that you can download and use
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: 5, communication book, five, free, resources, visual support