AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week #40: October, 2017

October 1, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week #40: October, 2017

Today marks the start of AAC Awareness Month. Let’s kick it off with some posts from last week and then dig into the archives. Monday – PrAACtically October: AAC Resources for A Year of Core Vocabulary Wednesday – Video of the Week: Breaking Down Barriers to AAC Implementation Thursday – How We Do It: Developing & Implementing a District-wide Focus on Communication and Core Vocabulary (Part 1) Need some information or videos on ways to better support people with challenging behavior? Here are some posts that may be of interest. PrAACtical Resources: Behavioral Supports for Young Children AAC and Challenging Behavior Using Structure to Minimize Behavioral Challenges Preventing Problem Behavior at School with Dr. Barry Prizant Communication Supports for Problem Behavior with Dr. Pat Mirenda Starting tomorrow, we’ll share ideas and materials for celebrating AAC Awareness Month, but we just couldn’t wait to share Lauren Enders‘ collection of AAC and literacy apps... [Read More...]

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How We Do It: Developing & Implementing a District-wide Focus on Communication and Core Vocabulary (Part 1)

September 28, 2017 by - 3 Comments


How We Do It: Developing, Implementing a District-wide Focus on Communication & Core Vocabulary (Part 1)

One of the best parts of blogging is getting to connect with talented professionals who are committed to meeting the needs of people who use AAC.   In today’s post, SLP Jennifer Ro shares some of the ‘lessons learned’ in implementing a core vocabulary approach to AAC throughout an entire school district. Jennifer is part of the Assistive Technology Team at Forsyth County Schools in Georgia. Focusing much of her 20+ year career in the field of AAC, Jennifer has provided AAC and speech-language services through the public schools, private clinics, early intervention programs, and community-based adult group homes and workshops.    Jennifer helped develop Forsyth’s Core Word Board utilized district-wide. Her current interests include collaborative models of service delivery and staff development in the area of AAC. She has presented at the state and local level with a focus on communication related to AAC, core vocabulary, and language development, social-emotional engagement, visual... [Read More...]

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PrAACtically October: AAC Resources for A Year of Core Vocabulary

September 25, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts


PrAACtically October: AAC Resources for A Year of Core Vocabulary

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 a 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 needs 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... [Read More...]

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AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 39: September, 2017

September 24, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 39: September, 2017

Have a few minutes to browse some AAC posts? Here’s a quick selection to choose from. Monday – How We Do It: Using AAC to Repair Communication Breakdowns Wednesday – Video of the Week: Choosing the Right AAC App Thursday – PrAACtical Resources: Teaching Peers About AAC Friday – PrAACtical News: AAC Disaster Relief Book-related Posts PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: Apples PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: It’s Okay to Be Different Infusing AAC Core Vocabulary into Interactive Storybook Reading Adapting Books with Visual Scenes Five Books Featuring Children Who Use AAC  

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PrAACtical News: AAC Disaster Relief

September 22, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts


PrAACtical News: AAC Disaster Relief

As we all know, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria left many people without basic services, and people who use AAC are among the most vulnerable. Please review this important information about efforts underway to address their no tech, low tech, and high tech AAC needs. You can help by donating time, expertise, AAC-related equipment that is in good working order, and/or funds to purchase replacements. If you are considering a donation of used AAC-related equipment, please see this important information from the Pass It On Center. Another way you can help is by spreading the word about these sites and helping us reach people in need. Individuals in the US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands are able to apply for assistance. Please help however you can. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: People with severe disabilities who are unable to speak are among the hardest hit by disasters like Hurricane Harvey and more recently, Hurricanes Irma and Maria. They get separated from their helpers, lose access to their speech generating devices and their low-tech tools,... [Read More...]

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PrAACtical Resources: Teaching Peers About AAC

September 21, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts


PrAACtical Resources: Teaching Peers About AAC

It is not overstating things to say that Gail Van Tatenhove’s resources have shaped the way AAC is practiced all around the world. In this post, we share a terrific booklet that she created to help those who are supporting students in inclusive settings. While this specific resource is designed to teach the basic idea of Minspeak, the student-friendly approach she has used is a wonderful example that can inspire those of us who support students working with a wider variety of AAC systems. Enjoy this little gem! You can download it here or by clicking on the image below.

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How We Do It: Using AAC to Repair Communication Breakdowns

September 18, 2017 by - 1 Comment


How We Do It: Using AAC to Repair Communication Breakdowns

We’ve had many nice comments about the resources shared by AAC SLP Alicia Garcia, clinical lead of the AAC Clinic at One Kids Place, a children’s treatment centre in northern Ontario. With over two decades of experience in pediatric rehabilitation practice in private and public settings, Alicia’s ideas for how to support AAC learners and their families are tried and true. In today’s post, Alicia shares thoughts and materials for situations in which the AAC is needed to repair communication breakdowns. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Children with unclear speech not only have different intelligibility levels but also different levels of awareness, focus, and interest on repairing their communication breakdowns. We use different approaches based on how they react and respond when they are not understood. As a general guideline when a communication breakdown occurs, regardless of the child’s profile, we first try determining the level of urgency or importance of the child’s intended... [Read More...]

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AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 38: September, 2017

September 17, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 38: September, 2017

We’ve been busy recovering from Hurricane Irma but wanted share a few posts with you nonetheless. Wednesday – Video of the Week: AAC Data Collection The events of the week gave us an opportunity to connect with friends, near and far. It also made us think about how far we have to go in learning the best ways to help AAC learners build meaningful and lasting friendships. Here are some previous posts on that topic. On Friendship: Supporting AAC Learners A Recipe for Friendship Friendship Skills for Children with ASD Who Use AAC 5 Ways That SLPs Can Support Friendships for People Who Use AAC 5 (More) Resources for Supporting Friendships in Individuals who use AAC

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AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 37: September, 2017

September 10, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 37: September, 2017

There are busy weeks and there are stressful weeks, and then there are stressful-and-busy weeks. Hurricane Irma took up much of our time and energy this week, and the impending storm made me really grateful that WordPress allows advance scheduling of blog posts. By the time you’re reading this, the power may be out at PrAACtical AAC Central. Either way, you can still look over the posts from this week. Monday – PrAACtical Resources: Storm Preparation and Recovery Wednesday – Video of the Week: Real Life AAC Thursday – Emergency Preparedness for the AAC Family If that’s too much storm-related reading for you, try these posts instead. AAC Therapy: When the Lesson Plan Fails From Activity-based AAC to Robust Language: Part 1 From Activity-based AAC to Robust Language: Part 2 Supporting Language Growth in AAC Learners: Part 1 Supporting Language Growth in AAC Learners: Part 2 Hoping we all have a calmer,... [Read More...]

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Emergency Preparedness for the AAC Family

September 7, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts


Emergency Preparedness for the AAC Family

Many of us live in areas prone to storms or other game-changing weather events, but even those who don’t should prepare for emergency situations. Today, as we continue our preparations for Hurricane Irma, one of the strongest storms ever recorded in the open Atlantic, my friend, Amy Goldman, takes the reins. With her broad background in AAC and AT and her incredible advocacy work, we are in no better hands. If you’re inclined toward prayers or even if you’re not, we here in South Florida could use any positive energy you can send our way. Stay safe, friends, and remember to take care of those around you. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: With the images of the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in front of us, and with Irma and possibly Jose in the forecast, it is actually a little late to be talking about emergency preparedness.  However, it is good to reflect on some of... [Read More...]

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