June 26, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
There are so many wonderful things about reading with kids, and practicing AAC is one of them. Every month, we’ll try to pick a book and provide some prAACtical suggestions for how to read it and sneak in some opportunities for receptive and expressive AAC use. You can make book-specific screens, overlays, or boards, but we favor a more powerful approach: use core vocabulary as your base and supplement with words specific to that book. Need some core language displays? There are many floating around, but here’s a link to ours if you need some more. We thought we’d start off this series with a book that is familiar to most, if not all, of you. Pull it off your shelf, find your prAACtical pal, grab that core language board, get to a cozy spot, and let’s get started. PrAACtically Reading with Brown Bear Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Brown Bear, core vocabulary, literacy, reading
June 25, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
We love seeing ways in which clients are ‘heard’ in the course of AAC evaluations. Today, we return to the ACE Centre North, to see a specific example. In Shelley’s case, the need to use for the AAC device to be compatible with other technology was a driving force in the recommendations. Take a look! Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UzV-x7vF84&list=UUMCsugUQwzWK3mOzuVSSmaw
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: ACE Centre, assessment
June 24, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
If you’re like most SLPs, you didn’t learn a lot about teaching clients to use alternative access in your graduate program. This resource document from the ACE Centre North provides a great overview of switch skills and includes a number of prAACtical intervention tips. Take a look! Direct link to handout: http://acecentre.org.uk/Websites/aceoldham/images/InfoSheets/DevelopingSwitchingSkills.pdf
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: access, ACE Centre North, alternative access, resources, switch
June 21, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Sunday: Video of the Week – Development of Literacy Skills by Individuals with Angelman Syndrome Monday: Strategy of the Month: Tell Me More: Increasing Sentence Complexity by AAC Learners Tuesday: Teach Me Tuesday – AACORN Wednesday: Watch It Wednesday: A Right to Communicate Thursday: PrAACtically SLPs – Working with Children with Complex Medical Conditions Friday: 5 PrAACtical Suggestions for New SLPs
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
June 20, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
It’s graduation time where we live and a whole new cadre of SLPs is off to spread their wings. We’ve been so inspired by the enthusiasm and dedication of some of the graduate students we’ve met this year that we thought it would be a good time to write a post just for them. So here are a few words of advice for the new grads. Don’t be afraid of AAC: We get that you may feel that you don’t know enough, but the truth is that we’ve all felt that way. You can do this, and, honestly, we desperately we need you. There aren’t nearly enough good AAC interventionists to go around. Reach out: There is an amazing community of professionals and parents who are willing to help you get up to speed. If you’re willing to branch out into social media you will find a ton of help... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: graduation, new SLP
June 19, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
We are pleased to be sharing another post by a graduate student SLP. Stephanie Amundsen attends the SLP program at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and has worked for the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology (FAAST) Atlantic Regional Demonstration Center (ARDC) since May 2012. She is currently completing an externship working with children with complex communication needs, and is writing her thesis on AAC access in acute and sub-acute facilities. She has presented posters on service learning using AAC intervention and grammatical intervention using AAC under the direction of Dr. Kent-Walsh at the 2013 ASHA Convention, and has volunteered at the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Conference in 2013 and 2014. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: As a graduate student placed in my first externship, I encountered multiple clients with AAC needs from day one. Because one of my placement sites is a Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) facility, many... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: FAAST, Jennifer Kent-Walsh, Stephanie Amundsen, UCF, University of Central Florida SLP
June 18, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Get ready to smile and enjoy this video produced by the Dumfries and Galloway National Health Service. Lots of great advice and tips for communication partners! Direct link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx338vnATIA
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: rights
June 17, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for an app with a very different approach to AAC? Join us in learning about AACORN, developed collaboratively with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. General Product Information Video Overview Facebook Page Twitter: @aacorn Where to Go for Help: devteam@aacorn.co
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC app, aacorn
June 14, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Sunday: Video of the Week – AAC App Selection Help Monday: Strategy of the Month – Building Sentence Length Tuesday: Research Tuesday – Comparing PECS and SGDs Wednesday: Watch It Wednesday: Effective Communication Strategies Thursday: How We Do It: Using the Pocket Calendar With Heather Buhr and Dr. Kristy Weissling Friday: Evidence-Based AAC Strategies for Students with Autism with Betsy Corporale
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
June 13, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month may be over, but our interests in providing empirically-supported AAC services are long-lasting. In this post, we are pleased to be able to share the work of Betsy Caporale, an SLP with more than 20 years experience working in AAC, AT, and ASD. She has worked in a variety of settings including public schools, private hospitals and clinics. Currently, Betsy works at for the California Department of Education, Diagnostic Center in Northern California. Betsy has graciously agreed to share a presentation given a few months back at the California Speech Language and Hearing Association conference. You can download and view it here or in the AAC e-Toolbox.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: ASD, Bety Corporale, EBP