October 30, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
We love writing posts about AAC topics, but we also love hearing about the AAC experiences of SLPs, both experienced and new to the field. In honor of AAC Awareness Month, we thought it would be fun to reach out to you and find out what is happening in your part of the world. Today, we’re asking our PrAACtical AAC friends to comment below to tell us about a positive AAC-related experience that you’ve had recently. It could be learning about a new SGD, an experience with a client, a webinar you attended, working with a family or colleague, of anything else related to AAC. We’re calling it ‘What Went Well.’ We’d love it if you took a moment or two to share your WWW news below.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
October 29, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
Work with someone who uses AAC but not as consistently as you would like? Here are some thoughts on how to make an impact in that area. 1. Write goals that help you fight this battle. E.g., Janie will use her AAC system to ask for help at least once per activity; Jimmy will use his AAC system to answer 2-3 curriculum-related questions in each class period; Given her AAC system, Jenny will use the correct morphological endings for plurals and past tense at the beginning or ending of each group activity. 2. Be an AAC cheerleader. In most settings, it is the adult who sets the tone for how communication will proceed. If it isn’t important to US, then it will never be important to the AAC learners. So, we try our best to use AAC every time we see the learner. It takes some work to build... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: consistency, intervention, support
October 28, 2013
by Robin Parker -
A Few Great Posts From Around the Web to Illustrate This: His Body Does His Feelings by A Diary of A Mom We Knew She Understood but Now We Know She Minds by Living with Rett Syndrome Yellow- Living with Rett Syndrome Life with Lief: We are Different But Same by Sunshine Bodey Perception Drives Everything – Uncommon Sense Share your stories of perception and competence.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: presume competence
October 25, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
Here in the US, debates about health care funding are ongoing. It’s a bit baffling that healthcare is considered to be a commodity rather than a right, but that’s a story for another venue. What we want to address here is the cost of AAC to insurers. Most people assume that insurance companies don’t cover AAC because it is enormously expensive to do so and would raise the costs of the premiums substantially. Not so, according to Lew Golinker, of AAC Funding Help. He cites the work of a highly-respected actuarial firm, and reported the following: “On September 19, 2006, Milliman, Inc., one of the nation’s most respected health actuary consulting firms reported that the cost of covering SGDs in a typical commercial insurance policy or health benefits plan was at most 2 cents per member per month or 24 cents per member per year.” Let’s say that again: 24... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: funding, insurance, Lew Golinker
October 24, 2013
by Robin Parker -
Cooking is a great activity as the platform for meaningful language experiences for both children and adults. Halloween often involves candy and tasty treats. However, there are also plenty of healthy Halloween foods (e.g., carrot pumpkins, tangerine & celery pumpkins, or apple teeth to name just a few). Then comes Thanksgiving and all the recipes that go along with it (e.g., lots of opportunity for repetition with variety). Everyone can be involved with cooking, although just because you cook doesn’t mean you need a stove. From spooky chex mix to more elaborate cookie and cake decorations, there is a ton of active participation and conversation that can be incorporated into cooking. And the fun and rewards (eating) are built-in. Although there are plenty of Halloween recipes, many recipes can be turned ‘spooky’ with an addition/modification of Halloween shapes or colors. You can cook using core words and/or focusing on the... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: cooking, Halloween
October 23, 2013
by Robin Parker -
A really great explanation of assistive technology by RSLSteeper Assistive Technology . We will definitely will use it in training and education.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: assistive technology, communication
October 22, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
This week in Teach Me Tuesday we’re learning more about Proloquo2Go (P2G) by AssistiveWare. Here are the learning resources we’ll be using. Getting Started Webinars (on the right) Overview/Intro to P2G 3 Core Word Vocabulary-How to Customize It and Basic Communication Vocabulary: How to Customize It P2G Options, Part 1 and Part 2 Buttons, Clues, & Resources Making Back Ups and Saving: Save, Transfer & Restore a Backup Using iTunes for Windows Save, Transfer & Restore a Backup Using iTunes for Mac OS X Save, Transfer & Restore a Backup Using Dropbox Save, Transfer & Restore a Backup Using Using WiFi Getting Help within the P2G App Beyond the Basics Advanced Customization VocaPriority: Prioritize Vocabulary by How Frequently It Gets Used For those who Used the Original P2G Upgrading to P2G 2 Moving from the Old Vocabulary to the New Ones Discussion board/forum by AssistiveWare Manuals and documents by AssistiveWare Connect with AssistiveWare... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Teach Me Tuesday
October 21, 2013
by Robin Parker -
More core word prAACtice ideas. Whether you are just getting started or have been working with core word vocabulary for a long time, the teaching strategies you use to TEACH, helps turn regular words into real communication and language. Provide Aided Language Input- ALI in Meaningful Language Experiences. PrAACtice USING core words in many, many opportunities. Authentic, meaningful prAACtice is fun for everyone. This core word prAACtice is for November. There is a lot of food, leaves, changes of weather, thankfulness, sharing, and holiday spirit. Here are some ideas of activities that can go with the core word words, phrases and sentences: Do art project– Make a turkey because there are many opportunities to use body. From asking for the ‘body of the turkey” and asking for “feathers of the body” there can 50-100 opportunities for prAACtice. You can do this with a beginning communicator who can ask for a... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
October 18, 2013
by Robin Parker -
Celebrating AAC Awareness Month is fun and exciting. We are hearing great stories about how AAC is impacting students, children, adults, families, educators, & SLP’s. Our PrAACtical AAC celebration could not happen without the generosity of so many companies and developers. We have been overwhelmed by their continued support. We could not be more THANKFUL. Their apps, software, and products help AAC users learn communication and language with optimal success. Be sure to enter for a chance to win awesome prizes that will help you teach AAC to ALL people who need it. From AAC, assessment , continued professional development, literacy, to communication everywhere there are amazing options. GOOD LUCK! Ablenet, Inc Abilipad Alexicom BeeVisual/ChoiceWorks Close 2 Home Apps Dynavox/Mayer Johnson Handhold Adaptive Hump Software MarbleSoft Mozzaz News-2-You Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company Safe N Sound Mobile Silver Lining Multimedia Smarty Ears Speak For Yourself SpeechPathology.com SpeechTree TapSpeak TherapyBox/TBoxApps TouchChat... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Giveaway
October 17, 2013
by Robin Parker -
Core Word Round-up! Core Word PrAACtice Ideas Magic Moments: AAC Intervention with Stop and Go App Magic Moments with Toca Store Magic Moments with Sentence Builder Magic Moments with Verb Circus HiJAACked! Putting an AAC Twist on Gen Ed AACtivities: The Hallelujah Flight AAC Goes to PreSchool 5 PrAACtical Uses for Flashcard Apps Visual Language, Core Words, & Martin Luther King Can I Ask You A Question? Breakthroughs with Bubbles with Tanna Neufeld 14 Valentine’s Day Activities, Love, Literacy, & Learning AAC Learning with Play Dough by Jamie Cooley 5 Ways to Use Power Point in AAC Intervention 5 PrAACtical Thoughts on Catch-Up Conversations How I do It- Marlene Cummings Shares an Implementation Toolbox AACtual Theray with Tanna Neufeld- Use Your Best Spud To Teach Vocabulary How I Do It- Marlene Cummings On Strengthening the Communication... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: resources, teaching