November 9, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Let’s face it. Good AAC implementation takes commitment and requires a lot of effort from those who are with the AAC learners throughout the day. Sometimes an AAC tool or strategy that seemed promising at first, doesn’t pan out to be as successful as expected. Other times, it’s a challenge to keep up with the demands of the classroom, therapy session, and life and still find the energy to consistently implement good AAC practices. In the real world, teams struggle with these issues every single day. So when Rachael Langley, a Michigan-based SLP and AAC specialist, offered to provide insight into what that process has been like in classrooms she supports, I was thrilled. Rachael’s original post about using PODD in the classroom and her follow-up post on implementation tips gave us insight into the journey that one elementary school classroom team is taking to better serve their students with little or no... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: classroom, PODD, Rachael Langley
November 8, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Monday – From Activity-based AAC to Robust Language: Part 2 Tuesday – Make It PrAACtical: New Life for Talking Switches Wednesday – Video of the Week: Apps and Resources for Language and Literacy in Young Children with Disabilities by Beth Poss Friday – Autism and AAC: 5 Pinterest Boards to Follow
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
November 6, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Pinterest has just exploded as a curation venue for content related to AAC and autism. Here are some boards to check out and consider following. Considerate Classroom by Lindy McDaniel Autism Teaching Tools Visual Supports by Christine Reeve Visual Supports and Social Stories by the Michigan Association of School Social Workers Visual Schedules by Brandi Shinn Behavior Management Strategies by The Autism Helper Do you have favorite Pinterest boards that we should know about?
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: ASD, Pinterest
November 3, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Walk into almost any program that has been serving people with AAC needs for awhile, and chances are that they have a box or cupboard with AT that is a little past its prime. Among all those treasures, you’ll probably find a few talking switches or single message voice output devices that no longer work like they used to. These little workhorses are too valuable to toss without at least trying to repair them. Many thanks to David Selover, AT Coordinator of the TRAID/Project Adapt Library, for the wonderful guide to repairing these beauties. http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-repair-a-Big-Mack-AAC-device-and-upgrade-/
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: DIY, low tech, single message voice output device, talking switch
November 2, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Last week, we talked a bit about activity-based communication displays (ABCDs), and the role they play for AAC learners. The analogy of feeding someone (with ABCDs) versus teaching them to fish for themselves (with robust AAC), resonated with many of you. In some cases, ABCDs can be a good way for therapists, educators, and families to take steps forward in their implementation of AAC. They allow students with little or no functional speech a way to participate in activities by making choices and comments, and that is a very good thing for those who don’t have a better option. There are a few drawbacks to ABCDs, though. Here are some of them. ABCDs limit language development. The learner can only experience the exact words and configurations that appear on a particular display. The learner has no way to expand his/her utterance by including other words or concepts. ABCDs are time-consuming... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: activity-based intervention, language intervention
November 1, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Monday – Selecting AAC Apps for Students with ASD Tuesday – From Activity-Based AAC to Robust AAC, Part 1 Wednesday – Video of the Week: Visual Supports on the Fly Friday – PrAACtically November: Resources for a Year of Core Vocabulary
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
October 30, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for some ways to help your AAC learners become more competent in using core words? Need to get staff on board with modeling core vocabulary? Trying to get familiar with where core words are stored in a particular SGD or AAC app? Here’s an approach you may want to try: Choose a dozen or so core words to focus on each month. In previous years, we shared lists of some core words to help you do just that. 2013: A Year of Core (12 words/month 2014: A(nother) Year of Core (16 words/month; Note: These are different than the core words covered in 2013) Those posts have links to downloadable grids with the core words for each month that can be used as a focal point for lesson planning. Our words for November are listed below. Set 1 (2013): body, dress, full, guess, hi, live, maybe, one, ride, tired very, walk... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: core vocabulary, download
October 27, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
As far as I can tell, most AAC learners are taught by people who don’t specialize in AAC. Their school SLPs may have caseloads of 50, 60, 70, or more students with IEPs, 90% of whom have goals for articulation, language, and fluency. Their classroom teachers serve students whose disabilities range from none at all, to dyslexia to cerebral palsy, to significant intellectual disabilities, and everywhere in between. In all likelihood, neither group had much AAC training. What little AAC they know, they’ve picked up on their own from reading, going to workshops and conferences (usually self-funded), talking to colleagues, and exploring online resources. Many times, their first foray into AAC is with things like choice boards and visual supports, such as daily schedules and first/then boards. From there, they may begin labeling the environment with pictures symbols (e.g., ‘table’ on the table, ‘on/off’ near the light switch), using mini-schedules... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
October 26, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
“What’s the best AAC app?” I’m starting to think that every AAC SLP has been asked this question at least a dozen times. And with over 200 AAC apps for mobile devices to choose from, it’s no wonder that families and professionals are looking for guidance. So when USSAAC (the US Society for AAC) invited me to participate in their webinar series, I knew just which topic I wanted to tackle. In today’s post, you can see the archived version of that webinar, get the handout, and pose some questions using the ‘Comments’ feature at the bottom of the page. Before we get to that, though, I’d like to encourage those of you with strong interests in AAC who live in the US to become members. USSAAC is our national chapter of the International Society for AAC (ISAAC), and if you are not already familiar with the organization, please consider checking... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Apps, ISAAC, USSAAC
October 25, 2015
by Carole Zangari -
Wrapping up a wonderful month of building awareness and acceptance of AAC! Every voice matters. Monday – An AAC Journey: From ‘No AAC!’ to ‘AAC All Day, Everyday’ with Desirae Pillay Tuesday – AAC on Facebook: 10 Groups to Check Out Wednesday – Video of the Week: Preventing Problem Behavior in Schools by Dr. Barry Prizant Thursday – Beyond “Train and Hope” 5 Ways to Support Carryover of Skills by AAC Learners
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking