Happy Thanksgiving!
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Thanksgiving
3 Presentation Handouts with an Important AAC Message
We don’t get to as many AAC conference presentations as we would like to, and are always appreciative when the speakers generously post their handouts online. Here are some that we think you might appreciate, too. Cathy Binger and Jennifer Kent-Walsh: What works in training partners of children who use AAC? Penn State: We need more SLPs who are well-trained in AAC. Sarah Blackstone, Krista Wilkinson, and colleagues: We are not paying enough attention to the emotional development of children with AAC needs. Development of Emotional Competencies in Children with Complex Communication Needs: Implications for Practice and Research Sarah Blackstone, Krista Wilkinson, Jen Thistle, with Gabriela Rangel, Dale Epstein, & Jacob Feldman If you know of other presentation handouts that prAACtical professionals might enjoy, please share the link below.
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Tagged With: emotional competence, handouts, partner training, presentations, SLP training
5 Ways to Build Understanding
Teaching language can be a sticky business. The concepts can be quite abstract, and that’s a challenge for many AAC learners. It can take some real thought to figure out how to simplify complexity. Beyond that, we have to teach in a way that helps learners retain the new information. Here are some of the things we think about when we’re running the our mental checklist of teaching options. 1. Graphic Organizers: There are so many ways to use graphic organizers to help simplify complex concepts. Use them to show relationships between things, sequences, and component parts. 2. Use a Story: Social narratives are somewhat like social stories, but don’t adhere to the same strict design parameters as a true social story. The TASN project in Kansas has almost 150 of them on a variety of topics on their website. You can check them out here. Most are in .doc,... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: comprehension, contingency map, Graphic Organizers, social narrative, understanding
PrAACtical Thoughts on Supporting Reluctant Communicators
As any experienced AAC professional will tell you, people who are learning to use AAC systems don’t produce as much verbal output as their speaking peers. And, every once in awhile, we run into an AAC learner who communicates VERY infrequently even though they are capable of doing more. They’re often described as shy (perhaps) or stubborn (cringe! shudder! clench teeth!), but, in our view, their reluctance to communicate is probably related to a few other things. We generally don’t like to do things that are difficult for us, particularly if the pay-off is not in proportion to the effort, or if there are insufficient supports. If the learner has had a history of being unsuccessful or associates communication with a high level of effort, it makes sense that they are not rushing to interact with us. It doesn’t always pay to rush things. Sometimes we get better outcomes by building... [Read More...]
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Tagged With: AAC intervention, intervention strategies, reluctant communicator, self-confidence, trust
Make It PrAACtical: Display Stand for Visual Supports or Books
In an earlier post, we shared a wonderful video on making a portable stand for a communication book. Today, we look at a different approach to book stands, which would be great for the reading material or visual supports that the communicator needs to see. We love that it is lightweight, easy to transport and store, and inexpensive to make. Hats off to the wonderful team at AT in New Hampshire for this terrific video. The direct link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EeX7bIKiEU.
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Tagged With: ATinNH, book stand, DIY
At the Very Beginning: Working with Pre-Intentional Communicators
Recently, I had the opportunity to work with a first grader who was able to do many things: flash a dazzling smile, grab and hold onto materials on his laptray, vocalize loudly, visually track peers as they moved around the classroom, reach and take a toy that was offered to him, and laugh in such an engaging way that two girls immediately went to his side. What he DIDN’T do, though, was communicate purposefully. How do you address the learning needs of a 7-year-old who is not yet communicating with intent? Here are some initial thoughts. Getting him to learn to communicate purposefully, frequently, and in a way that is obvious (not subtle) is Priority #1. The way we typically approach this is to work with the team (teacher, OT, PT, aide, family) to decide on a motor movement that he can do, and agree to shape that into a... [Read More...]
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Tagged With: PMT, preintentional, prelinguistic
Watch Me Wednesday- Time Timers
Timers can help everyone manage a variety of transitions and learn about the passage of time. Watch this quick review of the time timer for ideas for home, travel, school, and work. Check out all the different versions of time timers (watches, timers, iPad, etc.).
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Tagged With: Timers
Teach Me Tuesday: The Grid
This week in Teach Me Tuesday we’re learning more about The Grid 2 AAC Software. Here are the learning resources we’ll be using. Overview/Introduction Download a 60-day free trial of The Grid 2 Overview of the Grid Page Sets Download The Grid 2 Manual and Training Cards Creating User Files Editing the Speech Output Settings Changing the Text on a Cell/Button Changing the Pictures on a Cell/Button Changing the Spoken Message/Sound on a Cell/Button Linking Pages with Jump Cells Move Pages within Grid The Grid Player Manual (app) If you know of other applicable resources, please add them in a comment below. See you next time!
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Tagged With: AAC software, Grid
How Do You Teach Others To Implement AAC Facilitation Skills?
We’ve learned many ways to do this, but here’s one of our favorites. The idea originally came from a presentation by Dr. Beth Foley, Dean of the School of Education at Utah State University. The process is as elegant as it is simple. I do it, you watch me. I do it, you help me. You do it, I help you. You do it, I watch you. Do you have a favorite strategy for helping others become good AAC partners? We’d love to hear about it.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Beth Foley, partner training
Away for Conference Travel
We are away at the 2013 ASHA convention in Chicago. Check our Facebook and twitter pages for updates.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking