December 12, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Professionals who are involved in the selection of AAC and other AT are quite familiar with the concept of determining what features are needed and then selecting tools that have those features to sample. The feature matching process has been the gold standard for AAC device selection , though many practictioners report that its implementation may not be robust. Determining exactly which features an individual might need in their AAC or other AT is a critical part of this process, and one with which many teams struggle. In today’s post, we highlight an online resource designed to make this process easier for school-based teams. The Student Inventory for Technology Supports (SIFTS) is a free, web-based survey tool that helps teams match the needs and abilities of a student to specific AT features. It is not a comprehensive assessment tool but provides guidance to help teams in the process of AAC... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: assessment, AT, feature match, schools
December 11, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
How are you holding up in this busy holiday season? Here are a couple of AAC posts you may have missed. Monday: How We Do It: AAC in the Special Education Classroom Wednesday: Video of the Week: Supporting People with Significant Communication Challenges in Medical Encounters Thursday: Supporting AAC Learners in Emergent Writing: 5 Helpful Resources
Filed under: Featured Posts
Tagged With: summary post
December 8, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for ways to help AAC learners of any age develop meaningful writing skills? These helpful resources may be of interest. “There is No Can’t” by Jane Farrall and Sally Clendon Emerging Writers and AAC by Jane Odom Alternative Pencils: What Does the Research Say? Emergent Literacy Beginnings and Goals for Children with Angelman Syndrome by David Koppenhaver and Susan Norwell (information applicable to a broader range of people who use AAC) Can Low-incidence Students Become First-time Writers? By Janet Sturm Happy exploring!
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: literacy, writing
December 5, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
At the ASHA Convention last month, I chatted with an SLP about her secret longing: To take a sabbatical and travel the world to see AAC in action. Wouldn’t that be exciting?! In the meantime, we’ll have to live vicariously and peek into AAC practices through the words and pictures of dedicated professionals. Angi Pearce, a teacher at Kowhai Special School in Hastings, New Zealand, was kind enough to help us out and share her experiences in increasing AAC use in her classroom. Angi is the team leader for the Junior School classes (ages 5-11) and graciously prepared this post with support from SLP Michelle Roberts. As you’ll see, Angi is a highly experienced educator but new to the world of AAC and not afraid to take risks and embrace change. Let’s take a look at how a veteran teacher stretched herself to incorporate more AAC into her classroom. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: AAC IN THE CLASSROOM My... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: classroom, core vocabulary, school, signing
November 28, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
A few years ago, we suggested that one way to help strengthen learners’ abilities with core words is to take a different set of 12-20 core words each month and focus on them for a few weeks. How? By modeling those words, making resource materials (like word cards with the symbols), creating activities in which those words figure prominently, posting them in the classroom/therapy room, reading books that have heavy use of these words, sharing them with families, write stories using them, etc. Core words are a great addition to the highly motivating, learner-specific words that many AAC users start with. If you are looking to expand to more robust language, this approach may be of interest. Here are the specific words we are focusing on in December. Set 1 (2013): ask, favorite, goodbye, hear, of, please, silly, surprise, these, use, way, work Set 2 (2014): already, clear, doctor, fix,... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Another Year of Core Words, Year of Core Words
November 25, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Helping families build their AAC support skills is an important part of what we do. In today’s post, we have a return visit from Alicia Garcia, a lead SLP at the AAC Clinic at One Kids Place, a children’s treatment centre in northern Ontario. Alicia has more than two decades of clinical experience in a variety of settings and locales. You can see a guest post Alicia did on avoiding pitfalls in aided language input here. Today, she shares a booklet of handouts on AAC facilitation skills that can be used when working with families and other stakeholders. Many thanks to the AAC Team at One Kids Place for allowing us to share this helpful resource.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: family, parent training, partner skills
November 24, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: gratitude
November 21, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
As usual, the ASHA Annual Convention was so chock full of AAC learning opportunities that there was no way to get to everything of interest. Here are some handouts on AAC topics from the first day of the conference. Aided Language Stimulation for All Communication Partners of Children Who Use AAC by Eric Sailers of Expressive Solutions and Jhoselle Padilla at Chula Vista Elementary School District AAC Multidisciplinary Treatment for Communication & Functional Participation by Amy Sonntag of Ohio State University and Lindsay Ripple of Akron Children’s Hospital “A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words.” An AAC Intervention for Children With Complex Communication Needs by Jamie Boster and John McCarthy of Ohio State University Expanding & Customizing Spanish Core Vocabulary for Augmentative & Alternative Communication by Amy Munekata, Bridget Carlile, and Lisa Domby of the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill An Analysis of Conversational Interaction of an Individual With... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: ASHA, Conference, handout
November 17, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
One of the best things about providing AAC services in a university-based clinic is that we have regular contact with parents and other caregivers. That gives them the opportunity to observe the session, or, better yet, become an active participant. This allows us to talk to them about issues with the AAC system and help them develop the skills and routines to support AAC learning outside the therapy session. Most practitioners, however, don’t have this luxury. How can we impact AAC use outside of therapy and the classroom when we have infrequent face-to-face time with families and other caregivers? Here are some things to try. Video: Make a short screencast using free tools (like Jing, from Techsmith). In less than 10 minutes, you can make a recording of your computer screen and narrate it with implementation tips and information, then upload it, and share the link with families. For more... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
November 15, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for a handy guide to help families who are new to communication disability get familiar with visual supports for communication? In today’s post, we share a wonderful booklet intended just for that purpose. Australian SLP Dolly Bhargava created this book, Getting Started: Using Visual Systems to Promote Communication, with support from the School for Parents and the Non Government Centre Support for Non School Organisations of Western Australia. You can see the accompanying video here.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking