April 26, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Tuesday, AAC friends! Once a week we invite you to share your own AAC-related content, product news, or anything else that you’d like others in the AAC community to know about. It may be a recent post you’ve written, a slide deck from your AAC presentation, a handout, video, or meme that you’ve posted online, an AAC product you’ve created, an announcement for an AAC course or conference, or any other prAACtical content you developed and want to share with the AAC community. To post your own link, scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post and complete the form. Enter the URL and the name/title in the boxes provided below. If you are on a mobile device, click over to the full website version to do this. The AAC Link Up is moderated to keep us from being spammed so it may take a little... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 25, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
We’re back with core vocabulary resources and focusing on a new set of words for May. In 2013, when schools and other clinical programs were expanding their emphasis on teaching core vocabulary words, PrAACtical AAC published a set of resources for families and professionals that included symbol cards, sample sentences to model, activity suggestions, and more. All of these were based on a small set of core words for each month (see that post here). We followed that with a second set of Year of Core Vocabulary Word resources for a new list of words (click here for that post). Over the years, the resources were expanded and grew to include a wonderful series of calendars with daily activity suggestions developed by AAC SLP and co-founder of Talking AAC, Rachael Langley. There were many other contributors over the years who added to these efforts. In 2020, a new series was... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 24, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. If you had a busy week, you might have missed some of these AAC posts. Monday – HIE Awareness Month Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Top Tips for Using AAC at Home Thursday – Alternative Access for AAC ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Have time for a little more? Here’s a small selection for you to peruse. “Can I Ask You a Question?” Language Experience Surveys Language Experience Surveys: 8 Fun Ideas Strengthening the Communication Environment Barriers to Access for AAC Learners Living an Accessible Life AAC at a Distance: 5 Ways to Use Video Chat & Videoconferencing to Boost Engagement
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 21, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Working with individuals who have AAC needs and can’t use their hands and fingers for direct access? Here are some past posts on alternative access that may be helpful. Articles PrAACtical Research: Improving Accessibility for People with Significant Speech Disabilities Fast FAACt Friday: Accidental Access Let’s Play! Using Switch-accessible iPad Games for AAC Learning Make It PrAACtical: Modify a Battery-Operated Toy to Make It Accessible by Switches AAC Assessment Corner with Vicki Clarke: The Eyes Have It-Assessment Considerations for High Tech Eye Gaze Access Videos Stepping Stones to Switch Access, Part 1 Stepping Stones to Switch Access, Part 2 Methods of Accessing AAC Systems Alternative Access for AT & AAC Angling Switches for Better Access Deep Dive into the Hardware for iPad Switch Accessibility Accessing the World with a Head Switch Seating and Positioning for AT Access AAC Access for Individuals with Significant Motor Limitations Through Partner Assisted Scanning
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 20, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for a short video to help families new to AAC get started using it at home? In today’s featured video, SLP Liv Meriano of the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation offers concrete suggestions for how to support children with AAC needs at home. Take a look. Many thanks to Liv and the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation for this helpful and engaging video. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKffahOXTGo&ab_channel=DSRFCANADA
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 19, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Tuesday, AAC friends! Once a week we invite you to share your own AAC-related content, product news, or anything else that you’d like others in the AAC community to know about. It may be a recent post you’ve written, a slide deck from your AAC presentation, a handout, video, or meme that you’ve posted online, an AAC product you’ve created, an announcement for an AAC course or conference, or any other prAACtical content you developed and want to share with the AAC community. To post your own link, scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post and complete the form. Enter the URL and the name/title in the boxes provided below. If you are on a mobile device, click over to the full website version to do this. The AAC Link Up is moderated to keep us from being spammed so it may take a little... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 18, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
It doesn’t get as much attention as other disabilities in the AAC community, but some people with complex communication needs can trace the cause of their disability to Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). April is HIE Awareness Month so today we’re sharing information and resources for those who want to learn more. Let’s start by breaking down the term HIE. Hypoxic = lack of oxygen Ischemic = restricted blood flow Encephalopathy = affecting the brain Whether diagnosed as newborns or later in development, this form of brain injury is frequently associated with other conditions, such as cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, limited hearing and vision, feeding difficulties, and developmental challenges. There are many causes of HIE, including uterine ruptures and placental issues, near drowning, cardiac arrest, and other things that interrupt oxygen flow to the brain. By some estimates, 75-80% survive HIE, 50-70% experience seizures, and 40-50% develop a permanent developmental disability.... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 17, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends! Here is some AAC reading and viewing that may be of interest. Monday – (Re)Building a Desire to Use AAC: 3 Activities to Try Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Partner Assisted Scanning to Spell Messages Thursday – Throwback Thursday: Ideas for an AAC-friendly Earth Day —————————————————————— And while you’re here, check out some of these past posts. 5 Ways to Promote Consistent AAC Use Twin Powers Unite: Teaching AAC and Sight Words Pragmatic Skill Instruction and AAC with Matthew Baud and Dr. Jill Senner Parent Collaboration in AAC Therapies PrAACtical Questions with Vicki Clarke: What’s the Role of Core Vocabulary? Video of the Week: Telepractice in AAC – Working with What You’ve Got
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 14, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
For today’s Throwback Thursday, we’re reprising a past post with ideas for an AAC-friendly Earth Day. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Looking for some fun Earth Day activities that can be used for AAC practice and language learning? Here are some ideas for you. Learn about the importance of Earth Day with this book from Boardmaker. Getting to the Core of Earth Day Let’s Read Let’s Create Write an acrostic poem like this one by Donna O’Reilly. Make infused water for a planet-friendly drink using these resources from the AAC Language Lab. Play Earth Day BINGO with these LessonPix materials by Liz Sturgill. Let’s Go Outside! Make some Earth Day waffles with this recipe from Shevi Greebel. Create a language experience survey. Here are some possible questions for your survey What are your favorite outdoor activities? Tell me about a time when you had an outdoor adventure. What are some ways that you reuse and... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 13, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Partner-assisted scanning is a versatile access strategy that can be extremely beneficial for people with significant motor challenges. In today’s featured video, AAC expert and master clinician John Costello discusses how to use it for spelling and demonstrates this powerful strategy. You can learn more and download a copy of the communication materials here. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyBkofHqBkY&t=6s&ab_channel=JohnCostello
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking