May 4, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
‘Bad’ words are fairly common in conversations among non-disabled individuals but we often censor the words available to AAC users based on what we think is appropriate or proper. In today’s featured video, SLP Hali Strickler helps us think through the decisions about curse words, profanity, slang, and more. This archived webinar is made possible through a collaboration between USSAAC and ISAAC. We are grateful to them both, and to Hali for this important presentation. You can obtain the handouts for this session here. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDbs7ogNHLw&ab_channel=InternationalSocietyforAugmentativeandAlternativeCommunication%28ISAAC%29
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
May 3, 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
May 2, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
It’s hard to imagine how our professional work would change without access to technology tools that make our work easier, more accessible, and better. In today’s post, we’re sharing a few tech tools that might be of interest. Editing YouTube Videos Need to do some quick and easy edits on your YouTube videos? YouTube Studio allows you to control the thumbnail, add hashtags, edit the captions, add end screens, and more. Learn how from Richard Byrne of Free Tech For Teachers. Direct link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bbNd4JyxNk&ab_channel=RichardByrne Word Clouds Word Clouds are incredibly useful in language intervention and academic instruction. There are a number of tools for creating them, and we’re listing a few of those here. Tagxedo has been around a long time and is popular for the ability to put the word cloud in pre-selected shapes or design your own shape. WordClouds.com is another website option for displaying... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
May 1, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts that may be of interest. Monday – May Year of Core Vocabulary & School Year of Core Vocabulary Words Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Making and Using Communication Books Thursday – Throwback Thursday: Thinking About AAC Materials ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Before you leave, here are a few more posts for you to browse. Aided AAC & the IEP How I Do It: AAC in the IEP AAC & the IEP: 5 Resources to Explore 5 Reasons to Put AAC Training for Staff and Parents into the IEP How I Do It: Writing IEP Goals for Students Who Use AAC with Lauren Enders Environmental Communication Training – Strategies for Implementation
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 28, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
In today’s edition of Throwback Thursday, we’ve rustled up some posts that address AAC materials in some fashion. Take a look. When Materials Aren’t Effective in AAC Teaching: 5 Things to Try Making AAC Core Vocabulary Materials Book Adaptations: Resources and Materials PrAACtical Resources: AAC-friendly Materials for Hurricane & Storm Preparation Five Places for Shared AAC Materials Goodbye, Summer! A Clinician Preps AAC Materials for the New School Year PrAACtical Resources: Activities and Materials to Download or Explore How I Do It: Using an App to Create AAC Materials & Visual Supports AAC Fair Testing Practices: Test Materials
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 27, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
It lacks the bells and whistles of a speech-generating device and doesn’t have the excitement of an AAC app, but there is much to love about using a well-designed communication book. Today, we feature two videos from the Barnsley Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Team which is part of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. In these videos, you’ll learn how to make communication books and how to facilitate their use. Many thanks to the therapists from the Barnsley Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Team for this fine work. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHyTs98RG_k&ab_channel=Barnsleyspeechandlanguagetherapy Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32aIbpTzt-k&ab_channel=Barnsleyspeechandlanguagetherapy
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
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