June 23, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Check out these posts you may have missed. Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: AAC Support in Interventions for Aphasia Thursday – Supporting People with Aphasia and AAC Needs While you’re here We have a few more from the archives that might be of interest to you. Faces of AAC: Making It Work in a Busy Family PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: The Family Book Family Collaboration by Dr. Barry Prizant From Presence to Contribution: A Family’s Journey Toward and Inclusive Life From ‘No AAC’ to ‘AAC All Day, Every Day!’ Autism and AAC: 5 Things I Wish I Had Known
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June 20, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
In honor of Aphasia Awareness Month, we’re reprising some past articles and videos on supporting people with aphasia through AAC. Posts & Articles When Language Is Lost: AAC Supports for Individuals with Aphasia Making It Work: 6 AAC Strategies for People with Aphasia Low Tech AAC for Adults with Aphasia: What Does That Mean? Bridging the Gap: Helping People with Aphasia to Compensate for Their Language Difficulties Aphasia, Supported Communication, Written Choice Strategy, + Variations 5 Questions about Aphasia & Communication Books A Fresh Look at AAC & Aphasia with Dr. Kristy Weissling Communication Books & Aphasia Aphasia & Supported Communication: What’s Volunteering Got to Do With It? AAC Assessment for People with Aphasia AAC & Aphasia: Resources in Support of National Aphasia Awareness Month Videos AAC Support in Interventions for Aphasia Life Participation & AAC Device Personalization for Adults with Aphasia AAC & Aphasia AAC Supports for People with... [Read More...]
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June 16, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends, and a joyful Father’s Day to all the AAC Dads out there. We have some posts you might like. Monday – Customizing AAC Tools with Stepping into AAC (Weeks 6-8) Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Symbol-based AAC Apps Thursday – PrAACtically Juneteenth: Ideas for AAC-friendly Learning & Celebrating :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: If you have a little time before you have to leave, take a few minutes to browse through these past posts. Core Values: Suggestions for Language Building with AAC Learners AAC & Personal Narratives AAC Site of the Month: Centre for AAC AAC: 4 Ways to Develop Self Advocacy Skills & Become A Self Advocate 5 Ways to Support Self-Advocacy in AAC Learners ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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June 13, 2024
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...]
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June 9, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts from our prAACtical week. Monday – Building a Foundation with Stepping into AAC (Weeks 2-5) Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Exploring Text-based AAC Apps Thursday – Gearing Up for an AAC-friendly Summer Friday – PráctiCAAmente Conectados: CAA Con Links – Junio 2024 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: While you’re here, check out some of these previously published posts. 5 Ways to Tell If Your Students are Becoming Competent Communicators A Look at PODD Books Using Visual Supports to Bring Music Alive Supports for When Modeling AAC is Hard AACtual Therapy: Use Your Best Spud to Teach Vocabulary With Tanna Neufeld How We Do It: Changing AAC Mindsets & Outcomes Engaging AAC Learners with Complex Bodies
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June 6, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
It’s almost time for a change in the seasons here in our part of the world. Today, we’re reaching into the archives for past posts with a summery bent and sharing some resources for summer-themed activities. 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-friendly Camps Summer Fun with AAC Other Resources for an AAC-friendly Summer From Susan Berkowitz Free Summer Communication Activities Calendar for AAC Speech Therapy Free AAC Core Vocabulary at the Beach Summer Communication From Ladybug Speech Summer Core Boards AAC From Melissa Clark AAC Core Word Summer Calendar From SLP Collective AAC Bug Hunt – Summer Activity From Traveling Talker Time Summer Polaroid Activity
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June 2, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have some posts that you might enjoy. Monday – PrAACtical Groups: Tips, Tricks, & Positive Outcomes Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Voice Banking with Acapela My-Own-Voice Thursday – School Year of Core Vocabulary Words – Older Student Lessons: AAC Resources for June :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: And if you are thirsty for more, check out some past posts on activities and materials for AAC therapy and instruction. AACtivity Ideas to Jumpstart Learning Magic Moments with Verb Circus PrAACtical Ways to Make Decisions about Thematic Therapy Materials Why We Love AAC Language Experience Activities Vocabulary Activities: 5 Sites About Learning with Avatars AAC Intervention: 5 Activities with PrAACtical Potential
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May 30, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
Here in the US, the school year is just about over, but there’s still enough time to welcome back guest authors Michaela Sullivan and Lindsay Dougherty for another set of Older Student Lessons in the School Year of Core Vocabulary Words series. As usual, they share some wonderful resources including two slide decks full of activities and the data collection forms specific to the June core words. They also provide a perspective on the presumption of competence and share their thoughts on its role in AAC. SCHOOL YEAR OF CORE- Older Student Lessons Access & Copy below: Weeks 1-2 Google Slides Weeks 3-4 Google Slides INTRODUCTION- JUNE 2024 Welcome back to the School Year of Core – Older Student Lessons: June! Summer is finally here, and we are celebrating with new core words and themes for the month of June. Engage in core word-centered activities centered around the end of... [Read More...]
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May 27, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
We hope that guest authors Marisa Portanova and Marnina Allis have inspired you to develop AAC groups for the children and adults you serve. Today, they wrap up their series with some final tips for creating and running successful groups. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: PrAACtical AAC Groups Made Easy – Positive Outcome and Tips and Tricks Our AAC groups were a hit, and we want to help you all knock it out of the park as well! We had some great positive outcomes we would like to share to help with motivation to get started. Variety of communication opportunities – talking about their weekends, playing fun games like HeadBandz, giving opinions about a book read Language learning opportunities – within literacy contexts and natural social environments Social interaction opportunities are hard to accomplish in 1:1 settings between child and therapist. These groups allowed for peer-to-peer interaction as well. They allowed children to see other... [Read More...]
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May 26, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you might enjoy. Monday – PrAACtical Groups: Let’s Be Authors Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Getting Ready for June School Year of Core Vocabulary Words Older Student Lessons Thursday – Starting a Journey with Stepping into AAC ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Have a little more time? These might be of interest. Five Places for Shared AAC Materials Five AAC and Related Resources to Explore AAC Teamwork: Encouraging Colleagues #1 (downloadable) AAC Teamwork: Encouraging Colleagues #2 (downloadable) AAC Teamwork: Encouraging Colleagues #3 (downloadable) AAC: More Teaching, Less Testing (downloadable)
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