February 11, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
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...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Boston Children's Hospital, communication vulnerable, healthcare, hospital, John Costello, Medical, Research Tuesday
February 8, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
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
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
February 7, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
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
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: access, adaptive firmware card, AFC, assistive technology, AT, history, Judy McDonald, Paul Schwejda
February 6, 2014
by Robin Parker -
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...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Missed Posts
February 5, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
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...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: experience, Facebook, wisdom
February 4, 2014
by Robin Parker -
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...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Proloquo4Text, tutorial
February 1, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
What fun seeing so many prAACtical friends at ATIA in Orlando this week! Here are some of the posts you may have missed. Sunday: Video of the Week – AAC Strategy for Scanning by AAC Chicks Monday: Using Aided Language Input to Build Communication Opportunities Tuesday: A Totally Different Life Wednesday: Watch It Wednesday-I Hear Them All Thursday: SPEAKAll! A PrAACtical Research-to-Practice Project Friday: What Went Well – A Look Back at January, 2014
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
January 31, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
The holidays are over and we’ve all been back in AACtion for awhile now. That makes it a good time to share What Went Well. Did you ‘reach’ a colleague with an AAC message? Is a parent or caregiver becoming more accepting or involved? Did an AAC learner do something new or more or better? Did an administrator stop hounding you about minutiae? Reflecting and acknowledging small successes puts much-needed wind in our collective sails. We’d love it if you took a moment to share some positives from your month. Inchstones, not milestones. Let’s do this together. What went well in your prAACtical month?
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: inchstones, self-reflection, sharing, success, What Went Well
January 30, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
It is a pleasure to welcome back Dr. Oliver Wendt, who graciously agreed to give us an update on the SPEAKall! app designed by faculty and students at Purdue University. You can see the original post here. There is a proud tradition of AAC research at Purdue, and we’re delighted to see that their latest prAACtical contributions. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: We wrote the first announcement about SPEAKall!, a therapy app for AAC in autism and developmental disorders, over a year and a half ago. SPEAKall! was originally created by the Purdue Program for Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) in conjunction with the Purdue AAC Research Lab and the Purdue Speech-Language Clinic. SPEAKall! is specifically designed to start AAC intervention in prelinguistic learners. It has a very intuitive and “sensory-friendly” interface that reduces cognitive load, which makes it ideal for individuals with severe, non-verbal autism or severe developmental speech and language delay.... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Oliver Wendt, Purdue, SpeakAll
January 29, 2014
by Robin Parker -
More evidence for presuming competence. http://youtu.be/u2HD57z4F8E
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Hearing, Insprational, presume competence