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
October 16, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
One of the most widely shared concepts in AAC is the notion of communicative competence. In this hallmark article, published over 20 years ago, Dr. Janice Light started the dialogue by suggesting that there are four domains to competence in AAC: linguistic competence, strategic competence, social competence, and operational competence. The dialogue continues, but you can read the original article here. Thanks to ISAAC for making this free to all. Edited: You can also get it here. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Light, J.C. (1989). Toward a definition of communicative competence for individuals using augmentative and alternative communication systems. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 5,4, 137-144.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Janice Light, reprint
October 15, 2013
by Robin Parker -
We participated in a silent tea. We used no tech, low tech, and high-tech AAC. For 1 hour. With a group of graduate students, families, and clients. We only communicated with AAC, no natural speech. It was enlightening to say the least. We have done silent teas before, but not recently and as it turns out, a lot was forgotten. Lessons Learned: Communication Takes Longer. Communication takes much longer when using a speech generating device. This is true even when you know the message you are trying to compose, even when you know where the symbols or words are located. We are pretty good at using pause time and waiting expectantly but realized we need to probably wait even longer for messages to be composed. As long as the interaction is continuing, waiting 45 seconds is not too long and if you see someone in... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
October 14, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
That’s a question we hear from time to time, and it often stops us in our tracks. The good thing about this question is that is signals that the clinician recognizes a stumbling block and is searching for a way around it. Like many things in our lives as SLPs, it’s all about problem-solving. So, how DO you make learners like their AAC? Well, for starters, we don’t like ‘making’ people do anything. Offer, entice, tempt? Yes, frequently. ‘Make’? Not our first, second, or third choice. If we have a really strong rationale and we’ve run out of other options, we may go there. When it comes to helping our clients learn to like their AAC systems, here are some things we think about. 1. We like what we’re good at: Until someone is proficient at aspects of their AAC system, it will feel like work. Why? Because it is... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: client perspective, client-centered
October 11, 2013
by Robin Parker -
It’s time for the 2nd 2013 AAC Awareness Month celebration! It is so exciting to see all of the AAC activities and plans from around the country and world to help spread AAC Awareness. There has been sharing of AAC information, AAC decorations, Silent teas, and much more. We hope that with increased awareness, there is increased ACCESS for ALL who need it. Keep spreading AAC information and keep teaching & learning. HAPPY INTERNATIONAL AAC AWARENESS MONTH! Celebrate with us by entering our AAC giveaway. Good Luck Everyone! The PrAACtical AAC Celebration is made possible by the very generous and awesome people at the organizations listed below: : Ablenet, Inc Abilipad Alexicom BeeVisual/ChoiceWorks 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 Verbally How Does It Work?... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC Awareness Month
October 10, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
It’s been an exciting beginning to AAC Awareness Month! There were many lucky winners in Celebration #1! The winners for PrAACtical AAC Celebration are # 1 are Susan J., Linda K., Tracey Z., Lauren E., Jeanne T., Krista C., Alison A., Robin S., Laura K., Cassandra S., Becky K., Claire G., Susan G., Melissa S., Felicia W., Alecia W., Diane F., Danette P., Doug M., Shannon L., Jeannie M., & Barbara F. Congratulations to the winners! Please join us in giving virtual round of applause to these generous companies: Ablenet, Inc Alexicom BeeVisual Choice Works Dynavox Hump Software Mozzaz News-2-You Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company Safe N Sound Mobile Silver Lining Multimedia Smarty Ears Speak For Yourself SpeechPathology.com TapSpeak TherapyBox/TBoxApps Look for a new PrAACtical AAC Celebration on Friday (tomorrow).
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: celebration, Giveaway
October 9, 2013
by Robin Parker -
Playing is fun!- Adapting Toys for Switch Access.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Playing, Switch Access, toys
October 8, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
Teach Me Tuesday is a new feature that offers prAACtical resources for our colleagues who are looking to learn more about SGDs and AAC apps. Each week, we’ll share training resources that we’ve found to be helpful for those of us teaching ourselves how to use these things. There is no rhyme or reason to which ones we share each week, and endorsement should not be implied. As always, it’s up to each SLP and team to make recommendations based on their assessment data and other relevant factors. If you have devices or apps that you need to know more about, feel free to contact us and we will put that on our list. If you are an author, vendor, or developer who wants to share materials with us, we certainly welcome and appreciate that, but they must come with no strings attached. The product may or may not get... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Alexicom, Teach Me Tuesday, tutorial
October 7, 2013
by Robin Parker -
Strategy of the Month Infusing Literacy Learning Opportunities into AAC Therapies AAC & Literacy: Setting the Stage Literacy Lessons for Beginning AAC Learners Literacy for Everyone with Adapted Books PrAACtical Thinking PrAACtical Resources: A Look at the NJC The PrAACtical Power of Contrast 31 Posts You May Have Missed in August Literacy: Cookies & Core 5 Things to Love About the SETT Framework 10 Tips to Encourage Love of Literacy 5 Easy Ways to Add Authentic Writing Experiences to Your AAC Therapy AAC & Dinosaur Apps for Literacy & Language 5 AAC Strategies and the Use It of Loose It Philosophy 10 AAC Intervention Apps We Can’t Live Without 5 Things to Consider About Prompts in Teaching AAC Loving Literacy in AAC Keep Calm & Write ON.. fro All Writers Thoughts on Involving Our Clients in AAC Vocabulary Selection Presuming Competence & Teaching AAC 5 reasons We Don’t (Typically) Use... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: literacy, past posts