Without the vision of what is possible, it is hard for some families and teams to set the bar high enough for AAC learners. Kevin Enners helps us see some of the possibilities in this short video. Direct link to video: http://vimeo.com/110529238
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: college, Kevin Enners
Communicator, developed by Tobii and Viking Software, is found on several SGDs. Come learn along with us! Introduction Overview Setting the Home/Main Page Changing the Voice Changing the Text, Sound, or Picture on a Cell/Button Creating New Pages Making Buttons on a New Page Linking Pages or Page Sets
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Communicator, Tobii, Viking Software
Sunday: Video of the Week – ASK in the Mentoring Process Monday: From HOH to HUH: Physically Supporting AAC Learners Tuesday: Teach Me Tuesday: Verbally Wednesday: Watch It Wednesday – Freed by Technology, Thwarted by Policy Thursday: How I Do It: Preparing AAC Learners for Their First SGD Friday: Choicemaking – 5 Things to Think About
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
We’ve all worked with beginning communicators who are just starting to get the hang of this interaction thing. For some, making requests and choicemaking, something we’ve written about before, is an early goal. Judit is a student like that. At 19 years old, she is just beginning to be able to attend to picture symbols and use them to express herself in a few situations. When we have kids like that, here are some of the things we think about. Autonomy is related to happiness. The more opportunities we have to give input into what happens during our day, the more content we tend to be. It’s not just for snack and mealtimes. If you are working on making choices and only providing options when Suzie is eating, you’re doing her a disservice. There are opportunities for choices everywhere. Even when it is snack/mealtime, the choices should not be limited... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: choice board, choicemaking, requesting
One of the greatest privileges of being an AAC SLP is getting to see kids grow and mature when they are given the appropriate communication tools and supports. The other day, I observed a tall, strong young man with significant autism arrive at this therapy session carrying a padded case. Once in the room, he gently laid it on the table, carefully opened it, took out his SGD, and gingerly placed it on the table in front of him. He had gotten his first SGD this summer as a tween, after having used the one in our AAC lab in his therapy sessions for the preceding months. There were some concerns that when he got his own SGD, he might be a little confused initially since this would be the first time he could actually take the device home. Additionally, some were worried that he might be rough with it... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: expected behavior, How I Do It, SGD, social narrative
Tony and his team talk about the ways in which AAC makes living a full life possible, and the disastrous consequences of the Medicare policy implementation that restricts SGD features, among other things. The policy is on hold for now, and we have an opportunity for public comment. Take a look. Then take action. You can add your voice to the advocacy effort here. Public comments are open until December 6th.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
It’s a great week to learn more about the app, Verbally. which has both a free and premium versions. General Product Information Video Overview Where to Go for Help: Email verbally@intuary.com
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Apps, Teach Me Tuesday, text-to-speech, Verbally, word prediction
We’ve talked a lot about prompting strategies in previous posts, but today we look at one specific type: Physical assistance. Whether it is pointing to a symbol, activating the message window, turning pages in a communication book, or other early skills, beginning users of AAC often need a good deal of physical support to exhibit the desired behavior. Our first inclination may be to help the learner by using hand-over-hand (HOH) prompting, which is certainly effective in guiding them through the behavior. An even better way to support them, though, is hand-under-hand (HUH) prompting. With HUH, we guide learners by placing our hands under their hand (or just next to their hand) as we complete the desired behavior. HUH is frequently used with learners who have vision impairments and those who are deafblind. We find that it has much broader utility and can be a superior way of supporting some students... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: beginning communiator, deafblind, dual sensory impaired, hand under hand, physical guidance, prompting
Sunday: Video of the Week – On Using Symbols with Bbeginning Communicators Tuesday: PrAACtical Questions: “Can I Work with Device Manufacturers and Vendors in an AAC Evaluation?” Wednesday: Watch It Wednesday: An AT Perspective on 3-D Printers Thursday: One Mobile Device or Two? Things to Consider About iPads/Tablets as Communication Devices Friday: Fast FAACt Friday: Bruce Baker on the Origins of Minspeak
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Some of the most powerful AAC devices in the world were inspired by hieroglyphics. We’re wrapping up the week by going back to the beginnings…of Minspeak, that is. In this video, Bruce Baker takes us back to 1980 when he used his background in classical languages and hieroglyphics to develop ‘Minimum Effort Speech,’ or Minspeak. Take a look.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AT history, Bruce Baker, fast fAACt, Minspeak