December 31, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Goodbye, December! Before we turn the calendar page, here are some of the most popular posts of 2015. Many thanks to Lauren Enders, Rachael Langley, and all of our guest bloggers for being so generous with their time and expertise. I couldn’t do it without you!! 5 Great Resources for Pre-Made Communication Boards How I Do It: Writing IEP Goals for Students Who Use AAC with Lauren Enders How I Do It by Rachael Langley – PODD in the Classroom: Portable, Wearable, & Comfortable How I Do It: Using PODD books and Aided Language Displays with Young Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder Core Samples Teaching Core Vocabulary A Year of Core Vocabulary Words Pivotal Skills for AAC Intervention: Aided Language Input Literacy for Everyone with Adapted Books Communication Boards: Colorful Considerations 30 Ways to Celebrate Autism Awareness Month
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
December 29, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Taking down the Christmas tree Chilling a bottle of champagne Reflecting on New Year’s resolutions Is it really possible that, in another few days, we’ll be saying goodbye to 2015? As we welcome another prAACtical year, it’s time to start preparing the materials we’ll need to model and teach core words to our AAC learners. Next week, we’ll talk more about the instructional methods to use with these materials. For now, though, our focus is on getting the word cards and other materials for the Year of Words (Set 1/2013; Set 2/2014) ready to use with the AAC learners in our lives. Thanks to the kindness of PrAACtical AAC readers we have posts with a variety of resources: Minspeak/Unity version: Set 1/2013 PCS versions: Set 1/2013 , Set 2/2014 Speak for Yourself version: Set 2/2014 SymbolStix version: Set 1/2013 Lesson Pix: Set1/2013 We are so appreciative for the support of... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: core vocabulary, Year of Core Words
December 28, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Some of us aren’t feeling quite ready to go back to work after the holidays. Like use, many AAC learners need help to get their minds and bodies prepared for activities and experiences. Here are some ready/not ready resources that can help us prepare them to cope with things to come. This simple version, by Amanda Sajac, can be a good starting point for introducing the concept through modeling. Kelli Proulx’s visual support has full messages that can be used as a manual communication board or made into an overlay for a low tech SGD. We can’t assume that AAC learners share our idea of what it means to be ready, so teaching this in an explicit way makes a lot of sense. AAC Lab created several visual supports to show what ready looks like and what behaviors indicate that we are NOT ready. Sometimes it can be helpful to create... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: ready, visual support
December 27, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
It’s prAACtically a new year! Hope your holiday season is bringing you fun times with friends and family. Monday – Tri-fold Love: 5 Visual Supports for AAC Learners Tuesday – PrAACtical Resources: Fix the Problem Wednesday – Video of the Week: Conversations with Adults who Have Intellectual Disabilities Thursday – 12 Days of an AAC Christmas
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
December 24, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
A song for the season, and many thanks for allowing me to be a part of your AAC journey. Happy holidays, all!
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Christmas
December 22, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Joel Shaul, of Autism Teaching Strategies, has been so generous in sharing the creative resources that he has developed over the years. In this post, we take a look at Fix the Problem, a game that he created to support learners who have difficulty in social situations. The game board, playing cards, tokens (play money), and other materials are all free downloads. You can get them here. If you download and use these materials, please consider heading back to Joel’s website to leave a comment, provide feedback, or share a photo. Enjoy! You can see more of Joel’s work here.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: download, games, Joel Shaul, resources, social skills
December 21, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Tri-folds are visual displays that are folded in thirds to make a triangular shaped display that can sit on a desk or table top. Like any other visual support, they can be created to suit a variety of purposes. We love them having these visual reminders out and available for quick use. Here are some we found on the amazing sharing site for Boardmaker Online that you may want to check out. First-Then Tri-fold by Alissa Plaisance Story Grammar Marker by Marcia Piersall Picture Schedules by Stephanie Besio: Side One has symbols for the individual activities. Side Two has ‘finished’ symbols that can be folded over each activity symbol when that task is completed. Work First, Then Play by Clavelle Behavior support by TASN Autism and Tertiary Behavior Supports Do you use this format for visual support with some of the AAC learners in your life? We’d love to hear... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: trifold, visual supports
December 20, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Monday – Laugh It Up: 5 Resources for Using Jokes and Riddles in AAC Therapy Tuesday – PrAACtical Resources: Presume Competence Guide Book Wednesday – Video of the Week: Apps Across the Curriculum
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
December 15, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
What’s better than a team who believes in the notion of presuming competence in AAC learners? One who knows how to translate that belief into action. In today’s post, we share a resource from the Hussman Institute for Autism. Presume Competence, A Guide to Successful, Evidence-based Principles for Supporting and Engaging Individuals with Autism, is full of prAACtical suggestions appropriate for a range of individuals with developmental disabilities. Enjoy!
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
December 14, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Looking to add some laughter to your therapy session? Here are some ideas and resources that may be of interest. UKloo Riddle Edition Treasure Hunt Game Teaching about Jokes by Ashley Sheehan via Boardmaker Online Christmas Riddle by Jennifer Holvoet and Knock-knock Jokes by The Dream Team, both via Boardmaker Online Riddle Poems by Melissa Taylor Silly Pirate Song Communication Board by Ashley Haber via Boardmaker Online
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: humor, jokes, riddles