May 21, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
We are so thrilled to have a guest post today, from Australian SLP Harmony Turnbull. Harmony is a Consultant Speech Pathologist for Ageing, Disability and Home Care in NSW, Australia. In her role, she provides support and supervision to senior speech pathologists, carries a small caseload of people with complex needs and provides expert consultancy for management. She has specialised in supporting people with disabilities including complex communication needs for 11 years and is addicted to networking. She can often be found sharing her knowledge and asking many questions on Facebook and Twitter (@SP_Harmony). Harmony is passionate about the work speech/language pathologists can do to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. The Importance of Support and Supervision when Providing AAC Services Scenario – Jane Jane is an SLP who has been working with people with disabilities for over 5 years, including people with complex communication needs. Her caseload... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Australia, Harmony Turnbull, supervision, support
May 20, 2014
by Robin Parker -
Learn all about the TouchChat apps. There are a range of great options with the TouchChat Suite of apps. Keep calm and learn on with these great resources. TouchChat Introduction Video TouchChat Manual and Quick Reference Guide Spanish TouchChat User’s Guide TouchChat Editor (for programming on computer that runs Windows) Where to Go for Help (see Support Topics on right side), blog, email, and newsletter
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC app, resource
May 17, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Sunday – Video of the Week: Disaster Preparedness and AAC Monday – Strategy of the Month: Home Programming with AAC Tuesday – More Core Words Visualized Wednesday – 10 AAC Things to Do For Better Hearing and Speech Month Thursday – Throwback Thursday: Posts on Core Vocabulary Friday – Connecting by Phone
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
May 16, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
In the US, we just celebrated Mother’s Day and the phone lines were busy with people connecting with moms, grandmothers, aunts, and friends. In this short video, Jennifer Lindner, reminds us that not everyone has an easy time making a phone call. AAC is a great option for some, but others prefer to use their natural speech, even when there is diminished intelligibility. Everyone in the US with a significant speech impairment is eligible for a free service connecting speech impaired people with trained communication partners who can assist them in making phone calls. Speech-to-Speech is a nonprofit organization that has helped promote this concept and make it available throughout the country. Take a look. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKaK2cV8Km8
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Jennifer Lindner, phone, speech to speech, telephone
May 15, 2014
by Robin Parker -
About Teaching Core Words Teaching Core Vocabulary Core Vocabulary All Day Long 5 Things To Do If You’re Not Confident Teaching Core Vocabulary Joining Core and Fringe Vocabulary What’s The Connection: Visual Schedules and Core Vocabulary Core Words and the Curriculum Core Words, Direct Vocabulary Instruction, & The Beginning Communicator Core Vocabulary: Making Sense of Symbols More on Teaching Core Vocabulary Thoughts on Teaching Core Vocabulary Teaching Core Vocabulary with Direct Instruction Strategies Core Vocabulary- Specific Teaching Ideas PrAACtical AAC Core Words & July Fourth: Get Ready, Get Set, Go Cookies and Core August Core Word PrAACtice Ideas September PrAACtice With A Year of Core Words October PrAACtice With A Year of Core Words November Core Word PrAACtice Ideas December Core Word PrAACtice Ideas Core Word Vocabulary Words A Year of Core Vocabulary Another Year of Core Vocabulary The First 12: Getting Started With Core Words More on Core Words:... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: core vocabulary, resources, teaching strategies
May 14, 2014
by Robin Parker -
Learn with AbleNet University. Watch excellent free AAC webinars. There are live and recorded webinars so you can learn at your convenience. Share the information with colleagues and families. Give an AAC Gift. Create AAC informational bookmarks and distribute to educators, staff, and families. Print some free communication boards. Go to the PrAACtical AAC e-Tool Box and print out some great core word or activity specific communication boards. Put in your AAC clinic tool box or share with educators or families. Debunk AAC Myths. Use our AAC Myth buster quotes. Print and hang in public spaces so everyone can be an AAC myth buster. Learn and PrAACtice a New AAC System (device or app). Go to prAACtical AAC’s Teach Me Tuesdays and choose an app or device to learn- (Alexicom, Proloquo2go, PRC Accent, The Grid, Tap Speak Button & Sequence, Avaz, Tobii C8, Proloquo4Text, Go Talk Now Text, Nova... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Learning, resources
May 13, 2014
by Robin Parker -
As promised when we posted the January-May core words with PCS, here are June-December core words visualized with PCS. You can print, laminate, and keep them handy as you are teaching core vocabulary. Better Hearing and Speech Month is a great time to give them to educators and families to help everyone stay focused on the core words of the week or month. We would love if you share these core words in any other symbol sets you have created. Have fun with 2014 core vocabulary words. 2014 June Core Words 2014 July Core Words 2014 August Core Words 2014 September Core Words 2014 October Core Words 2014 November Core Words 2014 December Core Words
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: A Year of Words, core vocabulary
May 10, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Sunday – Video of the Week: Shared Book Reading Monday – Strategy of the Month: Understanding and Supporting Families of AAC Learners Tuesday – Teach Me Tuesday: Sounding Board by AbleNet Wednesday – Watch It Wednesday: Visuals Everyday by Mariacarmen Saleta Thursday – AACtual Therapy: On Motivation and AAC with Samantha Weatherford Friday – Core Words Visualized 2014
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
May 9, 2014
by Robin Parker -
At the beginning of 2014, we posted another year of core vocabulary words. If you did not have time to plug in symbols, here are the January through May core words with PCS symbols in PDF format. You can print, laminate, and keep them handy as you are teaching core words. We also often give them to educators and families as a reminder to help everyone stay focused on the core words of the week or month. In fact, it was a parent request for these that got us motivated to get the PCS portion completed (Thanks, Liz). Look for June – December early next week. January 2014 Core Words February 2014 Core Words March 2014 Core Words April Core Words May Core Words You can download a PDF file with all the words from January-June, 2014 here. All of these resources can also be directly printed from the... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: 2014 Core Words, PCS
May 8, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Motivating clients to use and learn more about their AAC systems can sometimes be a challenge, particularly if the learner has had decades of life experience before being introduced to AAC. In this post, we welcome SLP Samantha Weatherford, who works in the areas of early intervention and adult rehabilitation. She blogs at So To Speak regarding the educational, professional, and clinical processes of becoming an SLP. She resides in Delaware with her cat Simon, and took some time to share her thoughts about helping adult clients get motivated to use AAC. On Motivation and AAC Have you ever started the AAC training and trialing process with an adult client and realized, “This person is just not interested in being here or doing this?” Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like this happens quite often. I would never rule-out the possibility for AAC eligibility as a result of an... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AACtual therapy, adults, motivation, Samantha Weatherford