February 15, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
We get many requests to do more posts on providing AAC supports to children who use alternative access. Karen Natoci must have read my mind when she wrote this month’s PrAACtically Reading post because she gave us lots of ideas for shared reading with a child who is learning to use eye gaze for communication. The book that she chose is a P.D. Eastman classic that many of us remember from our own childhoods. Happy reading! Shared Reading Using Eye Gaze Book: Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman CORE Words to practice using: you, want, where, look, more, no, go, like, oh no! mine FRINGE Words to practice using: Animal names, mother, snort!! I am happy to share this lesson plan to describe the integration of early eye gaze and switch use to foster engagement while reading the delightful book, Are you My Mother? (authored by P.D. Eastman). Today, I chose... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: eye gaze, reading
February 14, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
What’s been happening in your prAACtical life? Monday – PrAACtical Thoughts on Challenging Behavior and Emotional Regulation from the 2016 CARD Conference Tuesday – Teach Me Tuesday: Scene Speak Thursday – Video fothe Week: Who Can Pay for AAC Devices for Public School Students by Lew Golinker
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
February 9, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Interested in learning more about Scene Speak by Good Karma Applications? Here are some useful links. User Guide Creating New Scenes Video Creating a New Hotspot Video Editing a Hotspot Video Using the Settings Menu Video Creating a Book Video Where to Go for Help: Knowledge Base and Contact form
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Teach Me Tuesday
February 8, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Last month, I had an opportunity to hear Dr. Barry Prizant, Director of Childhood Communication Services and Adjunct Professor at Brown University, at the 2016 Center for Autism and Related Disabilities Conference. Many of you know Dr. Prizant as co-author of SCERTS, the Social Communication Emotional Regulation Transactional Supports Program, and his recent book, Uniquely Human, discussed in this video. At this conference, he spoke on ‘An Emotional Regulation Approach to Preventing Problem Behavior.’ Here are some points of interest from his presentation. Dr. Prizant suggested that when someone is dysregulated, the first thing we should think about is biological factors that may be causing or exacerbating the problem. Why? Because unless we address the root of the problem, chances are slim that any behavioral, communicative, or psychological strategies will be effective in the long run. In some cases, there is a rather straightforward solution, such as teaching our client... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Challenging Behavior, emotional regulation
February 7, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
It’s been a busy week with ATIA 2016 in Orlando. Hope you had moments of AAC inspiration, too! Tuesday: PrAACtical Thoughts on Social Skills Training from the 2016 CARD Conference Wednesday: Video of the Week – Supporting AAC Learning Through Non-Directive Language
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
February 2, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
I had a wonderful time this past weekend connecting with colleagues and learning from ASD experts at the 2016 Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) Conference in Orlando. One of the keynotes, “From Building Social Relationships to Improved Quality of Life Outcomes for Youth on the Autism Spectrum: We Finally Know What We Already Knew,” was given by Dr. Scott Bellini. I also attended his talk on the Building Social Relationships program. Here are some of the take-aways from those two sessions. Evidence Base The evidence base for social skills training is variable. While his meta-analysis on school-based social skills training found that social skills interventions were minimally effective, there are several effective strategies that can be used in that and other settings. When evidence-based strategies, including video modeling and video self-modeling and social narratives, are used within the context of social skills training, the overall efficacy is much greater. The evidence... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: ASD, handouts
January 31, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Between the start of new semester, conferences, and a bit of crazy weather, January has been a busy month. Here are a few posts from our prAACtical week that may be of interest. Monday – AAC and the IEP: 5 Resources to Explore Wednesday – Video of the Week: Helping Learners Build Self Regulation Skills Thursday – PrAACtically February: Resources for A Year of Core Vocabulary Words
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
January 28, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Are you looking for some ways to help your AAC learners become more fluent in using core vocabulary? One approach to boosting practice opportunities is to select a dozen or so core words to focus on each month. Throughout the month, we can then pay special attention to that small group of words by highlighting them with focused language stimulation, aided language input, and specific activities designed to teach or practice those words, In previous years, we shared lists of some core words to help you do just that. You can learn more about that in the posts linked below. Set 1 (2013: 12 words/month) Set 2 (2014: 16 words/month) It’s been a busy January, and now it’s time to prepare the next set of core vocabulary words. Our words for February are listed below. Set 1: again, eat, get, go, happy, here, look, I/me, on, play, put, this Set... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: A Year of Core Words, core vocabulary, download
January 25, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
It’s never too early to start thinking of ways to strengthen the IEP to better support students with AAC needs. Here are some resources that may be helpful. AAC in the IEP by Gail Van Tatenhove AAC Goals, IEP, and Beyond by Margaret Perkins Examples of IEP Goals with Communication Devices by Cara Batema and Sample AAC Goals by the Utah Speech and Hearing Association Writing IEP Goals for Authentic Communication for Children with Complex Communication Needs by Linda Burkhart Implementation in the Classroom by Amy Conover, Julie Packer, and Dan Mills What strategies have you found for building IEPs to support students’ development of AAC skills? We’d love to hear about them.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: goals, IEP, school
January 24, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Here are some posts that you may have missed in your busy week. Monday – PrAACtically Reading: A House for Hermit Crab Tuesday – PrAACtical Ideas: AAC Core Vocabulary Practice for Workshop and Inservice Training Thursday – Video of the Week: Documenting AT in the IEP Thanks for all you do to support children and adults with little or no functional speech.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking