July 11, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
We get lots of questions about using AAC with young children, from babies to toddlers to preschoolers. There are many ways to approach this, so today, we are looking back at some of our earlier posts on AAC for little learners. Using Vest Displays with Preschoolers on the Autism Spectrum with guest author Dr. Carol Goossens’ Mining the Preschool Routine for PrAACtical AAC Opportunities Supporting Preschoolers with AAC Needs: A Case Study Visual Supports in Action in the Preschool Classroom Video of the Week: Parent-Implemented AAC Intervention for Young Children PrAACtically Reading: Books Featuring Children & Youth with Disabilities From Wheelchair to Hands-free Walker for Preschool Children with AAC Needs, Part 1, Part 2 TELL ME: AAC in the Preschool Classroom TELL ME About It (Year 1) TELL ME AAC Literacy Kits Brown Bear, Brown Bear I Went Walking From Head to Toe Here Are My Hands What Do You Like?... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts
July 7, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you might appreciate. Monday – PrAACtically July – AAC Resources for A Year of Core Words Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Supporting AAC Users at Camp Friday – PráctiCAAmente Conectados: CAA Con Links – Julio 2024 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Still have an appetite for some AAC? Check out this sampling of past posts. When Repetition Becomes Problematic SGDs for People with ASD “What Should I Program on the SGD?” Feature Match Chart 5 Features to Look for in SGDs and AAC Apps Making a Back-up for High-tech AAC
Filed under: Featured Posts
July 5, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
Happy July, CAA friends! Each month, we feature a Spanish version of our AAC Link Up called 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. Claudia Marimón organizes these monthly posts, which feature AAC work being done in Spanish-speaking countries and offer translations of material that can help families and service providers. In today’s post, Claudia introduces us to “Mi libro es así” (“My book is like this”), a project of a shared reading group led by Florencia Cambariere and María Fernanda Maquieira. Learn about this group’s activities, and don’t... [Read More...]
Filed under: AAC Link Up, Featured Posts
July 1, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
Planning for comprehensive core vocabulary instruction? The Year of Core Vocabulary Words has resources that can be helpful to therapists, educators, and families. We’re reprising a past post for anyone interested in following along and utilizing the resources developed by quite a few people in the AAC community. The initial Year of Core Vocabulary series was based on a small set of core words for each month (see that post here). We followed that with a second set of Year of Core Vocabulary Word resources for a new list of words (click here for that post). Among the many resources are the activity calendars created by AAC SLP and co-founder of Talking AAC, Rachael Langley. Many other contributors over the years added to these efforts. You can access the resources for July words by clicking on the image below. Set 1 & Set 2 Words
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June 24, 2024
by Carole Zangari -
Welcome back to our series on using the Stepping into AAC materials. If you are new to this approach to getting started with AAC, you may want to look at some of the earlier posts. Introduction: A PrAACtical Guide to Stepping into AAC Week 1: Starting a Journey with Stepping into AAC Weeks 2-5: Building a Foundation with Stepping into AAC Weeks 6-8: Customizing AAC Tools with Stepping into AAC In Weeks 9-12, we ramp up our efforts to build habits of daily AAC use with a focus on daily routines and play/leisure. Target words for Weeks 9-12: can, get, help, I, more, open, that, finished, what, who Communicative Intent: asking and answering questions, asking for help, protesting, rejecting, showing off Hands-on activities: Make plans to spend 10 minutes a day doing these simple activities that will help you build the AAC habits that support your learner’s use of AAC.... [Read More...]
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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
Filed under: Featured Posts
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 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Filed under: Featured Posts
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
Filed under: Featured Posts