September 19, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Whether they are therapists, educators, or come from some other background, AAC practitioners tend to be overworked and under-resourced. The day-to-day work of planning instruction, measuring growth, documenting services, communicating with other team members, creating or adapting materials, making adjustments on the SGD/AAC app, and advocating on behalf of the AAC user leaves little time for the other types of support that are needed. Thus, things that need attention but can wait for another day when there is more time and energy often get moved to the side. Today, we continue our series of things that get overlooked even by the best professionals and most dedicated families. Time and energy are always in short supply. We’ve already talked about the importance of backing up AAC apps/SGDs but did you know that depending on the specific equipment and software, you’re not always backing up everything you need? (If you missed the... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
September 13, 2022
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
September 12, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Like most learners, those with complex communication needs perk up when they see themselves, their family and friends, and their favorite things/places embedded into instruction or therapy. When we personalize materials and activities to each individual, we often see an increase in engagement and enjoyment. And those, in turn, lead to better outcomes. How can we put a personal spin on things we use in our AAC teaching? Here are a few ideas. Photos and videos of familiar people, places, and objects can be very impactful. Not all families are open to this and not all schools/agencies permit it. But when it IS an option, there’s nothing better to spark higher levels of engagement. We can substitute photos of family, friends, and favorite characters for generic photos/images in games, books, and learning materials to draw and retain their interest. We can talk about what they are doing and build language... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
September 11, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have some AAC reading that you might appreciate. Monday – PrAACtical Thoughts on Labor Day Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Video Models & Visual Supports for AAC Thursday – Throwback Thursday: Supporting Early Communication with AAC ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Still have time for a bit more? Here’s a sampling of past posts for you to browse. PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: Apples AAC Partner Training Strategies AAC Device Mounting Fundamentals AACtual Therapy: From PECS to iPad with Jason Butcher 5 Things We’ve Learned from Our AAC Families Understanding and Supporting Families of AAC Learners
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
September 6, 2022
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
September 5, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Unemployment and underemployment are chronic problems faced by people who use AAC. As we celebrate Labor Day, we’re thinking of those of you who are working to help people who use AAC find, get, and keep jobs that they enjoy. If you are advocating for people with AAC needs in the realm of employment, this video by SLP Megan Case may help the agencies and job coaches you’re connecting with to better understand the role of speech-generating devices and other AAC. Direct link to video – https://ohioemploymentfirst.org/view.php?nav_id=123 You can check out other employment-related resources in this past post.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
September 3, 2022
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’s post focused on literacy and AAC and includes a recording of a presentation from the 2022 AAC in the Cloud Conference, hosted by CoughDrop. Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom to add your link and see what others are sharing.... [Read More...]
Filed under: AAC Link Up, Featured Posts
September 1, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Sensory stories, sometimes called multisensory stories, are short narratives that add sensory components to the story reading experience. After each sentence or two, there is an accompanying sensory experience – something to do, touch, smell, hold, or listen to – that relates to that part of the story. There are bespoke sensory stories, but also many that are summarized versions of popular books and movies. The props, movement, and singing/sound-making combine to make this an engaging way to promote active engagement in story reading. Sensory stories are fairly easy to develop and can be used in many ways. If you are new to sensory stories, this brief video provides some helpful information and a quick demonstration. Direct link to video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esqxROLqv-g&ab_channel=KidsIncludedTogether The engaging nature and opportunity for multimodal interaction make sensory stories an appealing activity for AAC learners. Here are some sensory story resources to explore. Inclusive Teach Sensory Stories... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
August 30, 2022
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
August 23, 2022
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