Sunday: Video of the Week – Understanding PECS Monday: Strategy of the Month – Using Positive Reinforcement to Support AAC Learners Tuesday: Supporting Children in the Pediatric ICU Wednesday: 5 Things to Try When AAC Learners are Inconsistent Thursday: PrAACtical Peek at Wheels on the Bus Friday: Happy Valentines Day!
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
We want to wish everyone a HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! We love writing about, thinking about, and using AAC strategies! Thanks to everyone for being part of the adventure!
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Valentine's Day
We were in a classroom awhile back, supporting a little fellow in circle time, and it just felt like something was missing. Engaging materials and activities? There seemed to be plenty. Schedule? Nope, those were in plain view. Communication devices? They were all within reach of the children who used them. As we watched the teachers and kids interacting, it seemed like something got forgotten. Then it hit us – song boards! We used to see large visual displays, like this wonderful one made many years ago by a fantastic young clinician, that had fun, interactive elements. We love songboards because they help the children focus and give us added material for building communication opportunities. We’re not sure why songboards aren’t in as many classrooms as they used to be, since they are so helpful in keeping children engaged. – Do you have favorite sources for songboards? Please share so... [Read More...]
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We’ve had some interesting conversations recently with colleagues who firmly believe that AAC learners have to be consistent in the use of their new skills before it’s appropriate to move on. We disagree. There are times when consistency is essential. Crossing the street? Fine. No parent or professional is going to let a learner do that alone until they’re 150% consistent. But for most other things that we teach, it doesn’t make sense to focus on consistency. Here are some of our prAACtical ideas for what to do if you work with learners who are inconsistent in using their AAC skills. 1. Understand it. Inconsistency is a part of the learning process, and not a sign of failure, incompetence, or ‘stubbornness.’ (Ugh! I can’t even write that without that prickly feeling at the back of my neck.) Think about developmental norms for speech sound acquisition. Remember those charts of when... [Read More...]
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Tagged With: consistency, five
If there is anything scarier than having a very sick child in the ICU, it has to be when that child has no means of communication. In this Research Tuesday post, we join the efforts spearheaded by Rachel Wynn of Gray Matter Therapy to share an article that discusses the issues and presents some solution strategies. When we think of research studies in SLP, we think of experimental designs and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In AAC, group research designs are uncommon because of the immense heterogeneity of this clinical population. Even limiting the study to one single disorder and age group, say teenagers with dysarthria secondary to cerebral palsy, contains too much heterogeneity for most group research. Instead, we see more single subject design experimental studies (SSEDs) in AAC. When well-designed, SSEDs have strong experimental control and allow researchers to answer causal questions, such as “did the treatment (e.g., teaching... [Read More...]
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Tagged With: Boston Children's Hospital, communication vulnerable, healthcare, hospital, John Costello, Medical, Research Tuesday
Sunday: Video of the Week: Angling Switches for Better Access Monday: Strategy of the Month – Some PrAACtical Thoughts on Positive Reinforcement Tuesday: Teach Me Tuesday – Proloquo4Text Wednesday: PrAACtical Experiences Thursday: 31 AAC Posts You May Have Missed, January 2014 Friday: Fast FAACt Friday – Accidental Access
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What was the first technology that allowed teachers and SLPs to use personal computers in their work with students who had significant physical disabilities? Probably the Adaptive Firmware Card (AFC). Developer Paul Schwejda and SLP Judy McDonald discuss in this wonderful video from the AT Oral History Project at the University of Connecticut. How interesting that this wonderful tool stemmed from an accidental meeting by two forward-thinking people! Direct Link to Video: http://youtu.be/xu40fnC94Hk
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Tagged With: access, adaptive firmware card, AFC, assistive technology, AT, history, Judy McDonald, Paul Schwejda
Strategy of the Month: PrAACtice Opportunities Building a PrAACtice Routine PrAACtical Communication Opportunities in SLP Sessions Using Aided Language To Build Communication Opportunities PrAACtical Excercise: Building Fluency with Decontextualized PrAACtice PrAACtical Thinking Ringing in the New Year with an AAC App Giveaway- acorn Another Year of Core Vocabulary Get Organized for the New Year- 5 Visual Schedule Apps A PrAACtical Week: 2014 #1 Watch it Wednesday- Pain in Children with Developmental Disabilities PrAActical Peek: Decorating Cookies 31 Posts You May Have Missed in December A PrAACtical Week 2014 #2 Does AAC Really Work with Infants & Toddlers Watch it Wednesdays- Using and Creating Routines to Promote Interactions Throwback Thursday: Visual Schedule Roundup A PrAACtical Note of Appreciation A PrAACtical Week 2014 #3 Watch It Wednesday: I Hear Them All A Totally Different Life A PrAACtical Week #4 SpeakAll! A Research-to-Practice Project Make It PrAACtical: Make Your Own Battery Interrupter (Without Soldering) ... [Read More...]
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Tagged With: Missed Posts
What do you wish you had known when you started providing AAC services? Awhile back, we posed this question on our Facebook page: “What are two things you wish you had known when you started providing AAC services?” The prAACtical responses got us thinking. Take a look. “The families need just as much training as the kids do.” Yup, and we’ll add something else to that. WE need training, too! We expect so much of ourselves, which is fine, but we also need administrators, agencies, and colleagues to realize that it takes a lot to keep up with changes in the science and technology. That doesn’t come cheap or easy. “Don’t be afraid to ask others in the field. They are so helpful for problem solving.” We couldn’t agree more. Most AAC professionals we’ve met have been incredibly supportive. Reach out to others in your area, through social media, and at... [Read More...]
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Tagged With: experience, Facebook, wisdom
This week in Teach Me Tuesday we’re learning more about Proloquo4Text, a text based AAC app. Here are the learning resources we’ll be using. E-Learning Videos Frequently Asked Questions Quick Start Guides Quick Start Guide English Quick Start Guide Spanish Quick Start Guide French Quick Start Guide Dutch Quick Start Guide German Tutorials Basics on iPad Basics on iPhone/iPod touch Adjusting Appearance on iPad Adjusting Appearance on iPhone/iPod touch Editing on iPad Editing on iPhone/iPod touch Language and Speech Options on iPad Language and Speech Options on iPhone/iPod touch Adjusting Prediction on iPad Adjusting Prediction on iPhone/iPod touch Adjusting Restrictions and Privacy on iPad Adjusting Restrictions and Provacy on iPhone/iPod touch Modifying Pronunciation on iPad Modifying Pronunciation on the iPhone/iPod touch Creating a New User on iPad Creating a New User on iPhone/iPod touch Using Social Sharing on iPad Using Social Sharing on iPhone/iPod touch Save and Restore Backups Using... [Read More...]
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Tagged With: Proloquo4Text, tutorial