March 24, 2025
by Carole Zangari -
Last week, we discussed the important role that prestored messages can play in a robust AAC system. As an exclusive way to store messages in an AAC tool, they are overly limiting, but when used together with single words and spelling, they can make communicative exchanges more timely, efficient, and effective. Today, we dive into different categories of messages that AAC users and their service providers should consider when customizing speech-generating devices and AAC apps. For most individuals, emergency messages are a high priority and focus on the health, safety, and well-being of the individual. After identifying an initial set of time-sensitive situations for which emergency messages should be added, it can help to review these periodically and adjust them as needed. We hope the examples shared here provide a range of ideas, though the particular messages should, of course, be individualized based on the person’s needs. Medical Conditions “My... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts
March 23, 2025
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have some posts you may enjoy. Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Unspoken Voices and More Thursday – PrAACtical Considerations: Prestored Messages in AAC, Part 1 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Looking for some AAC materials? We pulled out a few from the AAC Toolbox just for you. Spelling Boards & FlipBook– Letter boards (alpha & QWERTY) used at Camp Alec; Created by Tina Moreno Communicare Language Board Templates – Communication board templates for the post “How We Do It: Using Language Boards to Support AAC Use” Colorful Connections – Templates for teaching modified Fitzgerald Key and Goossens’, Crain, & Elder color-coding schemas And here’s a post from the past that you might like. Readiness: 7 Days of AACtion
Filed under: Featured Posts
March 20, 2025
by Carole Zangari -
Prestored messages are an important tool in any AAC user’s communicative toolkit and, when included in thoughtful ways, can enhance conversations and build vital interaction skills. Today, we introduce a series of posts to explore their role. Prestored messages are utterances longer than a single word that have been programmed into an SGD, AAC app, or appear in a communication book or board. These can be stored as: Phrases (e.g., We are out of…; I want to wear my…; Can you help me with…?); Sentences (e.g., I am 7 years old; Please get my medicine out of my purse. It’s in the front pocket of my backpack; My address is 123 Daisy Lane); and Narratives (e.g., I communicate with this special iPad. I can understand everything you say. It will take me about a minute to respond. Please wait quietly when I am composing my message; We had so much... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts
March 9, 2025
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have a bunch of posts that you might enjoy. Monday – March Year of Core Vocabulary Resources Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Aligning Vocabulary Prediction and Selection in AAC with Language Development Thursday – PrAACtically Ramadan: AAC-friendly Resources to Explore Friday –PráctiCAAmente Conectados: ISAAC Español ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Stick around for a bit more if you can. Here are some posts that may be of interest. Let’s Go Outside! 5 PrAACtical Ideas At the Very Beginning: Working with Pre-Intentional Communicators Sometimes I Feel Sunny AAC Access for Individuals with Significant Motor Limitations Through Partner-Assisted Scanning Supporting AAC Learners in Emergent Writing: 5 Helpful Resources
Filed under: Featured Posts
March 6, 2025
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for resources to support AAC learners during Ramadan and Eid? Here are a few suggestions. Ramadan for Kids from Twinkl Aliya’s Secret: A Story of Ramadan by Farida Zaman (Read Aloud) Ramadan on BrainPop Ramadan and Eid Materials from Twinkl Ramadan Coloring Page by Mommy SLP Ramadan Word Cloud by Aneesa Garcia Cultivating Inclusivity & Creating Spaces for All During Ramadan Discussion with Jamilah the IEP Coach Books on Ramadan and Eid from the School Library Journal Tarheel Reader Book About Ramadan on Monarch Reader Eid Al-Adha from PBS Kids
Filed under: Featured Posts
March 4, 2025
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Tuesday, AAC friends! Once a week, we invite you to share your own AAC-related content, product news, or anything else that you’d like others in the AAC community to know about. It may be a recent post you’ve written, a slide deck from your AAC presentation, a handout, video, or meme that you’ve posted online, an AAC product you’ve created, an announcement for an AAC course or conference, or any other prAACtical content you developed and want to share with the AAC community. . To post your own link, scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post and complete the form. Enter the URL and the name/title in the boxes provided below. If you are on a mobile device, click over to the full website version to do this. . The AAC Link Up is moderated to keep us from being spammed, so it may take... [Read More...]
Filed under: AAC Link Up, Featured Posts
March 3, 2025
by Carole Zangari -
Planning for comprehensive core vocabulary instruction? The Year of Core Vocabulary Words and The School Year of Core Vocabulary Words, two series of monthly resources for core vocabulary teaching, both have resources that can be helpful to therapists, educators, and families. We’re reprising those posts for anyone interested in following along and utilizing the resources developed by quite a few people in the AAC community. The initial series was based on a small set of core words for each month (see that post here). We followed that with a second set of Year of Core Vocabulary Word resources for a new list of words (click here for that post). Among the many resources are the activity calendars created by AAC SLP and co-founder of Talking AAC, Rachael Langley. There were many other contributors over the years who added to these efforts. The School Year of Core Vocabulary Words, by guest... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts
March 2, 2025
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you might enjoy. Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: AI, Robots, & Interaction Support Thursday – AAC Resource Roundup: 5 Videos for Training & Professional Development ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Some of our AAC friends are beginning to prepare for upcoming IEPs so our thoughts have been turning to the classroom, curriculum, and academics. Here are some of the posts we’ve been revisiting. Take a look. Integrating AAC Instruction with Curriculum Standards Research Tuesday: Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Disabilities Educating Students with Complex Support Needs in a Standards-Aligned System PrAACtical Partnerships: AAC and Academics Helping the General Education Team Support Students Who Use AAC
Filed under: Featured Posts
February 27, 2025
by Carole Zangari -
If you’re in a role that requires you to provide training and professional development on AAC practices, today’s post may have something of value. Take a look. SMoRRE Partner Training Supports AAC Explainers for Parent & Staff Training Environmental Communication Training – Strategies for Implementation Activities to Use in AAC Training Using Evidence to Improve our Professional Development
Filed under: Featured Posts
February 25, 2025
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Tuesday, AAC friends! Once a week, we invite you to share your own AAC-related content, product news, or anything else that you’d like others in the AAC community to know about. It may be a recent post you’ve written, a slide deck from your AAC presentation, a handout, video, or meme that you’ve posted online, an AAC product you’ve created, an announcement for an AAC course or conference, or any other prAACtical content you developed and want to share with the AAC community. . To post your own link, scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post and complete the form. Enter the URL and the name/title in the boxes provided below. If you are on a mobile device, click over to the full website version to do this. . The AAC Link Up is moderated to keep us from being spammed, so it may take... [Read More...]
Filed under: AAC Link Up, Featured Posts