June 22, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
June is the perfect month to focus on having a little fun! Check out these past posts on AAC, play, and gaming. AAC in Secondary School: Using Games to Support AAC Learning for Older Students From Solitary Play to Interaction: 5 Things to Try With Kids Who Love Their iPad Games Let’s Play! Using Switch-accessible iPad Games for AAC Learning PrAACtical Resources: Structured Play Groups Building Sentence Length through Conversational Routines & Games 5 Quick and Easy Games That Build AAC Skills 5 Adapted Play Resources for Children with Motor Impairment Make It PrAACtical: DIY Adapted Toys Make It PrAACtical: Modify a Battery-Operated Toy to Make It Accessible by Switches PrAACtical Play: Creating Communication Opportunities with Favorite Toys Balance Pans: A Learning Toy that Helps Build Conversation Skills Video of the Week: Aided Language Input During Play Video of the Week: AAC & Board Games
Filed under: Featured Posts
June 19, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Today we wrap up our series describing an AAC Implementation framework, guest authored by AAC SLP Vicki Clarke. The founder of an AAC-focused private practice, Dynamic Therapy Associates, Vicki is also the Director of DTA Schools. Join us as we explore the results of our efforts in this implementation journey. If you are new to this series you can find the earlier posts through the links below. Steps to Learning Step 1, Determining the Target Step 2: TRAIN Step 3: Take In Step 4: Try It AAC 101: Steps To Learning Step 5: Talk! We have finally reached the finale! Our students are ready to talk. Now by “talk” we of course, mean “communicate using their AAC system, sign language, picture symbols or the communication devices!” We expect our students to now be able to choose what to say, when to say it, and remember how to say it... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
June 18, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends, and a Happy Father’s Day to those who are celebrating. Here are some posts you might appreciate. Monday – Father’s Day, AAC Style Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Feature Matching in AAC Assessment Thursday – Throwback Thursday: Summertime, AAC Style ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Are you looking for some AACtivity suggestions? Here are a few from past posts. Sometimes I Feel Sunny: AT Recipes for Success from CHoR PrAACtical Supports for AAC Learners: AT Recipes for Success – Sensorimotor Activities Pete the Cat, Rockin’ in My School Shoes: AT Recipes for Success PrAACtical Supports for the Young AAC Learner: Recipes for Success (Bubbles, Cars) PrAACtical Supports for Older Learners: AT Recipes for Success (Computer, Scrapbooking)
Filed under: Featured Posts
June 15, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
It’s almost time for a change in the seasons here in our part of the world. Today, we’re reading into the archives for past posts with a summery bent. Take a look. PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: How Do You Know It’s Summer? A Recipe for Summer AAC Summer Reading A Few AAC Blog Suggestions 5 AAC Suggestions 3 Book Suggestions Apps to Prepare, Learn, & Talk About Summer Vacation Core Words & July 4th: Get Ready, Get Set, Go PrAACtical Summer Activities AAC-friendy Camps
Filed under: Featured Posts
June 12, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Holidays and special occasions are a great time to put communication into AACtion. Since it’s prAACtically Father’s Day, we’re sharing some ideas and materials that may be of interest. Set the stage for success by reading a social narrative about Father’s Day in the week leading up to the holiday. This example from Emily’s World will get you started. Use Talking to Dad Visual Supports/Worksheets by Joel Shaul at Autism Teaching Strategies to create meaningful conversations. Read some books that feature special things about fathers. Here are some suggestions to get you started. My Dad is Amazing I Love Dad with the Very Hungry Caterpillar The Night Before Father’s Day Because I’m Your Dad What Do Dads Do? Verbs, Verbs, Verbs Celebrate with a special book that you write together using these resources. My Super Dad by Miss Hellen’s Hippos. Father’s Day Flip Book by Kaitlynn Albani. Write a... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts
June 11, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you might enjoy. Monday – Juneteenth, AAC Style Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Modeling & an AAC Implementation Plan Thursday – Throwback Thursday: AAC Support for People with Aphasia ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: If you have a few more minutes, stick around and explore some more. From Activity-based AAC to Robust Language Activity Schedule AACtion AACtual Therapy with Jeanne Tuthill: An Informal Assessment Activity A PrAACtical Literacy Activity for Beginning Communicators 10 Posts on Activity Ideas for Language Therapy with AAC
Filed under: Featured Posts
June 6, 2023
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 a little... [Read More...]
Filed under: AAC Link Up, Featured Posts
June 5, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
In the US, Juneteenth is one of our newest federal holidays and many are now getting ready to celebrate it. Whether you are relatively new to an understanding of Juneteenth or have been honoring it for decades, we hope today’s post has some ideas for integrating it into the AAC work you do. First published a few years back, we’ve updated it with some additional books, videos, and other resources. PrAACtically Juneteenth In the US, June 19th is a day that commemorates the ending of slavery. Although the Emancipation Proclamation became effective on January 1, 1863, it took an additional two and half years for it to take root in all of the states. It wasn’t until June 19th, 1865 that Texas became the final state to uphold the proclamation. There are other days that memorialize the freedom of enslaved people, but Juneteenth is the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration. Traditionally marked... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
June 4, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you may have missed. Monday – On Memorial Day Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Mental Health & AAC Friday – PráctiCAAmente Conectados: CAA Con Links Junio 2023 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: For those of you who want to browse a little bit more, here are a few suggestions. Supporting AAC Learners in Working with Words Teaching AAC and Sight Words AT for Writing Supporting AAC Learners in Emergent Reading: 5 Helpful Resources Using Adapted Books with AAC Learners: 3 Important Questions to Ask
Filed under: Featured Posts
June 2, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Each month we feature a Spanish version of our AAC Link Up, CAA con Links. If you have AAC-related announcements, materials, or videos in Spanish that you would like others to know about, we’d love to have you add that information below. Also, please share this with anyone who might be interested in contributing to or using the materials that get added to these posts. You’ll find the place to add that information at the very bottom of this post. Organized by Claudia Marimón, these monthly posts also feature AAC work being done in Spanish-speaking countries and offer translations of material that can help families and service providers. Today, she focuses on an exciting event that will be of interest to many, the ISAAC AAC Conference in Cancun. Enjoy the post, and remember to scroll to the bottom to add your link and see what others are sharing. Este mes... [Read More...]
Filed under: AAC Link Up, Featured Posts