AAC Intervention For Multicultural Families – Similarities and Differences Across Cultures

September 11, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Intervention for Multicultural Families - Similarities and Differences Across Cultures

Across the world, AAC teams are looking for ways to strengthen their support of multilingual individuals with complex communication needs. In this article, guest authors Hsiao-Ting Su and Wen-Hsin Ku, who are both bilingual Mandarin-English SLPs, share their thoughts. AAC Intervention for Multicultural Families – Similarities and Differences Across Cultures Though there are limited AAC resources in minority languages at this time, SLPs should make every effort to meet the needs of multicultural families. It is crucial for SLPs to keep cultural differences in mind when working with multicultural families. As two bilingual English-Mandarin-speaking SLPs who have worked with both families in the U.S. and Taiwan, we have first-hand experience navigating similarities and differences across cultures.  Here, we describe some of the similarities and differences we have encountered most frequently. Similarities: Families worry that AAC will hinder verbal communication development Families need reassurance that it is okay for children to... [Read More...]

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AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 37: September 2023

September 10, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 37: September 2023

Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts from our prAACtical week. Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: The Intersection of AAC and Success Thursday – Cultural-Linguistic AAC: Inclusive Practices Using the TELL ME Program & Other Materials ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: We’ve got a few more posts for you to browse. On the Same Page: Helping Team Members Recognize and Respond to Unconventional Communication Signals From Referential to Descriptive Teaching with AAC Learners Aided Language Input – How Much Language Should We Model? PrAACtical Resources: Promoting Inclusion and Participation for People Who Use AAC When Students are Reluctant to Use AAC: 5 Things to Try

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Cultural-Linguistic AAC: Inclusive Practices Using the TELL ME Program & Other Materials

September 7, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Cultural-Linguistic AAC: Inclusive Practices Using the TELL ME Program & Other Materials

We are excited to continue our series on multilingual AAC support, guest-authored by BilingüeAAC. In today’s post, one member of the team, Melissa Tapia, addresses ways to use specific instructional materials with bilingual individuals. BilingüeAAC is a group of SLPs with a shared belief in providing evidence-based intervention strategies and resources to bilingual Spanish AAC clients, families, caregivers, and professionals. Inclusive Practices Using Tell Me Program & Other Materials How can we effectively conduct inclusive practices in our work settings? What are some approaches or materials that we can use to integrate the culture of the home and community? Why are inclusive practices essential for the success of our students/clients? These are fundamental reflective questions I have found to guide me in collaborative therapy and lead to better participation with and from my clients and their caregivers. We are Bilingue AAC, and we are here to provide helpful tools to... [Read More...]

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AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 36: September 2023

September 3, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 36: September 2023

Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts that might come in handy. Monday – September Year of Core Vocabulary & School Year of Core Vocabulary Words Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: AAC Fundamentals for Families Thursday – Throwback Thursday: AAC Support for Beginning Communicators Friday – PráctiCAAmente Conectados: CAA Con Links – Septiembre 2023 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: In the mood for some more AAC? Here are some selections from our archives. Video Modeling & AAC Boosting Communication with Video Modeling PrAACtical Teaching in the ASD Classroom: Predictable Chart Writing with Core Vocabulary How We Do It: AAC Videos for Core Word Modeling

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Throwback Thursday: AAC Support for Beginning Communicators

August 31, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Throwback Thursday: AAC Support for Beginning Communicators

There is a lot to consider when working with people who are in the early stages of communicative development. If you are planning an assessment, preparing for therapy or instruction, or otherwise supporting an emergent communicator, these past posts may be of interest. Recommended Practices for Beginning Communicators  Using Symbols with Beginning Communicators  Getting Started with AAC Helping Beginning Communicators Expand Their Sentences  A PrAACtical Literacy Activity for Beginning Communicators  Beginning Communicators: Learning Through Touch Cues The Role of Meaning Making with Beginning Communicators: Motivating Interactions Influencing People’s Perception of Beginning AAC Users: 3 Things to Try

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September Year of Core Vocabulary & School Year of Core Vocabulary Words

August 28, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


September Year of Core Vocabulary & School Year of Core Vocabulary Words

In 2013, when schools and other clinical programs were expanding their emphasis on teaching core vocabulary words, Robin Parker and I developed a set of resources for families and professionals that included symbol cards, sample sentences to model, activity suggestions, and more. All of these were 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). Over the years, the resources were expanded and grew to include a wonderful series of calendars with daily activity suggestions developed by AAC SLP and co-founder of Talking AAC, Rachael Langley. There were many other contributors over the years who added to these efforts. In 2020, a new series was launched, School Year of Core Vocabulary Words, authored by guest contributors Michaela Sullivan, Alisa... [Read More...]

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AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 35: August 2023

August 27, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 35: August 2023

Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have some posts that you might enjoy. Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: AAC & the Power of Pretend Play Thursday – Throwback Thursday: AAC at School ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Here are a few more for your browsing pleasure. AAC and Visual Supports for Storms and Hurricanes: 10 Useful Resources How I Do It: Cooking in the Classroom with Carol Goossens’ How I Do It: Conversation Practice with Teens and Young Adults by Angela Adams On AAC Training: Skill Building for AAC Team Members PrAACtical Resources: AAC 101 Flipbook Handout

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Throwback Thursday: AAC at School

August 24, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Throwback Thursday: AAC at School

Here in the US, we’re heading back to school. Check out these posts if you need a little extra inspiration for an AAC-friendly experience. Back to School with AAC: Materials for the Start of the Academic Year Roadmap to a Communication-Positive School Video of the Week: Back to School AAC Tips Heading Back to School with AAC: Tips & Tools Supporting Young AAC Users in the Classroom Back to School with AAC Progress Monitoring for Secondary School Students AAC Goes to High School: Community-based Instruction PrAACtical Resources: AAC for School Staff  AAC Collaboration in the Classroom Back to School with AAC: Bulletin Board Printables

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AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 34: August 2023

August 20, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 34: August 2023

Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you might want to browse. Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: AAC Learning with Boom Cards  Thursday – Throwback Thursday: Health-related Issues & AAC ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: While you’re here, take a look at some of these posts from the archives. Write to Talk with Dr. Caroline Musselwhite Sound/Music Cause and Effect Apps for Engaging AAC Learners Beyond the Basics: Thoughts On Effective Language Instruction for AAC Learners When Materials Aren’t Effective in AAC Teaching: 5 Things to Try When Students are Reluctant to Use AAC: 5 Things to Try

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Throwback Thursday: Health-related Issues & AAC

August 17, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Throwback Thursday: Health-related Issues & AAC

People with AAC needs face significant challenges in accessing appropriate medical care and getting the help they need to deal with illness, pain, and other symptoms. In today’s edition of Throwback Thursday, we reprise past posts on this topic that may be of interest. Supporting People with Significant Communication Challenges in Medical Encounters PrAACtical Resources: Chronic Pain Assessment in Children with Disabilities Growing AAC Professionals: Resources for Self-Advocacy, Reducing Abandonment, Medical Encounters, & More Pain in Children with Developmental Disabilities PrAACtically SLPs: Working with Children With Complex Medical Conditions Supporting Children in the Pediatric ICU 5 PrAACtical Resources For Better Communication Experiences with Healthcare Providers Growing AAC Professionals: AAC-friendly Classrooms, AAC for Toddlers, & AAC for Healthcare Providers Video of the Week: Equitable Health Access to Health Care for AAC Users

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