November 7, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Access to robust AAC tools? Check! Consistent use of aided language input? Check! High-interest activities or materials? Check! Supportive interaction style? Check! Kudos to those professionals whose AAC practices include these important elements. In today’s post, we offer a suggestion for those who seek to strengthen their support and boost AAC learning even further: To maximize gains, be thoughtful in selecting or creating instructional activities and pay special attention as to how those activities are sequenced. Create and use well-planned instructional sequences to help AAC learners gain linguistic competence. Language learning is complex. We don’t go from 1-word utterances to complex sentences in a single step. Our language doesn’t progress from basic to advanced in one swift leap. It happens over time and with the right opportunities for learning and practice. Instructional sequences are a powerful means of providing those opportunities. These are specific processes that professionals use to teach... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
November 6, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have some great AAC reading for you this week. Monday – Halloweening, AAC Style Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: The Wonder of Wait Time Thursday – After the Candy is Gone: Post-Halloween Ideas for AAC Learning Friday – PráctiCAAmente Conectados: CAA Con Links ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: If you’re still in the mood for browsing, check out the selections below. PrAACtical Thoughts on Mastery 5 Things to Do When AAC Learners are Inconsistent PrAACtical Teaching in the Autism Classroom: Instructional Activities for Core Vocabulary Core Values: Suggestions for Language Building with AAC Learners More Words, Please! Expanding Our Manual Communication Boards AACtual Therapy: Chaining in AAC
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
November 3, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
We’re sharing some ideas for AAC learning based on a previous post by the late Dr. Robin Parker. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Language learning involves talking about events in the past, present, and future. Since Halloween is over, it is a perfect opportunity to help AAC users talk about past events. Here are 5 tips for getting started. Use a weekly or monthly (calendar) schedule to ‘remember’ Halloween, or if you are sticking to core words to remember the “great day” or “bad day” depending upon the experience. Use photos of the Halloween festivities to discuss what happened and what everyone did. You can use these to discuss costumes, decorations, the best/worst part of the day, etc. Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast Halloween experiences. This can be done by comparing two people, places, or anything else. For some learners, you can use images to put Halloween things that everyone saw... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
November 2, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Pause time is powerful. Learn more about this easy-to-use strategy for supporting AAC in this short video by SLT Sophia Cormack of Speech in a Sec. Many thanks to Ms. Cormack for this helpful resource. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaCjpah8Btw&ab_channel=SpeechinaSec
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
October 31, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Pumpkin Day! We’re reprising this post for anyone in need of some additional resources. Holidays are special and Halloween is a favorite among many. As much fun as it is to dress up and get candy, though, there are lots of ways that Halloween can be stressful for AAC learners. From the change in routine, to the costumes and scary decorations, to talking with neighbors and other less familiar communication partners, to the overabundance of sugar, there are lots of ways in which Halloween can trip us up. If the AAC learners in your life celebrate Halloween, Fall Festival, Harvest Parade, or any other celebration with similar traditions, we SLPs can help them to have a positive experience. Here are some ideas. Use a social narrative to prepare everyone for what to expect on and around Halloween. Read them often in the weeks leading up to the school dress-up parade,... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
October 27, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
It’s prAACtically November and we’re reprising some past posts in two popular series, Year of Core Vocabulary Words and School Year of Core Vocabulary Words. The initial 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. There were many other contributors over the years who added to these efforts. The School Year of Core Vocabulary Words, authored by guest contributors Michaela Sullivan, Alisa Lego, and Beth Lytle, was first published in 2020. If you’re following along and utilizing these resources, which were developed by quite a few people in the AAC community, you can access the content for... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
October 24, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
In homes and clinics, at schools and community centers, people are getting ready for the spookiest holiday of the year. In today’s post we’re sharing some resources that you can download for anyone who needs a bit of communication support. Take a look. AAC Trick or Treat Bracelet, Switch and Bucket Labels from The AAC for ALL Trick-or-Treat AAC Bracelet and Visual by The Alternative Way to Pre-K Halloween Bracelet by Brittany Harmon Halloween Social Story by Natalie’s Nook Visual Supports for Trick-or-Treating by Kathy Kathy Babineau Monster Halloween AAC and Token Rewards by Speech Therapy with Lenden-Holt Trick or Treat Social Story & Communication Bracelets by Breezy Special Ed Halloween Social Narrative and Awareness Cards by TLC Talk Shop – Tamatha Cauckwell Boom Cards™ Halloween: Open Ended Language for Speech Therapy by Beautiful Speech Life Halloween-Themed Interactive Song and Circle Time Activities by The Singing SLP
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
October 23, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you might like. Monday – AAC at the 2022 ASHA Convention: Presentations to Get Excited About Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: How Do AAC Apps Compare? Thursday – Throwback Thursday: AAC in the Community ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Looking for a few more posts to browse? Take a look. PrAACtically Halloween! Considerations for an AAC-Friendly Holiday Halloween Recipes for Cooking AAC Style 5+ Fun AAC Things to Do to Get Ready for Halloween The Communication Book is Ready! Now, What? AACtual Therapy: Teaching the Use of Social Phrases and Comments How I Do It: Functional Ideas for AAC Use at Home
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
October 20, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for ideas on AAC use outside the home and school environments? Today’s edition of Throwback Thursday has some posts that might be helpful. Thumbs Up for AAC Support in The Community AAC-friendly Library Visits: 5 PrAACtical Ideas AAC Goes to High School: Community-based Instruction Community Participation Let’s Go Outside! Five PrAACtical Ideas AAC Goes to the Library AAC in Secondary School: AACcessibility during Community-Based Instruction
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
October 19, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
When considering which AAC apps to trial as part of the feature match process for SGD assessment, it’s helpful to do some side-by-side comparisons. The team at the Simon Technology Center, which is affiliated with the Pacer Center, recorded a webinar on this topic that might be of interest, Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ4u6vKxJN8&ab_channel=SimonPacer —
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking