May 13, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
The University of Miami – Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities recently hosted a number of AAC webinars in Spanish. Today, we’re sharing three of those by AAC SLP Alicia Garcia. ¿Qué es la Comunicación Aumentativa y Alternativa? ¿Ayudará a mi hijo?] Aplicaciones de CAA en español… ¿Gratis? ¿Paga? ¿Suscripción?… ¿Qué necesito saber? Descargué la aplicación… ¿Y ahora qué? Introduciendo CAA a mi niño/a Please share with anyone who might benefit from these recorded webinars.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
May 10, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
It’s time for another set of wonderful suggestions for robust implementation of core vocabulary support using the TELL ME program. Two amazing AAC SLPs, Maggie Judson and Jeanna Antrim, are the guest authors of TELL ME About It series and they’re back with prAACtical ideas for classroom activities, virtual learning tips, supporting AAC learning at home, and more. Also, don’t miss their bonus resources or their video read-alouds of this month’s book with aided language input using three different AAC apps. Maggie and Jeanna are speech-language pathologists who work in the Assistive Technology Department for the Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative (BASSC) in southern Illinois. They are AT/AAC facilitators and provide evaluations, direct therapy, consultations, and trainings with school teams. If you are new to the series, you can check out their previous posts in the TELL ME About It series below. YEAR 1 TELL ME AAC Literacy Kits Brown... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
May 9, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends, and a very Happy Mother’s Day! We have some posts that may be of interest. Monday – PrAACtically Mother’s Day: AAC-friendly Ideas for Celebrating Our Mothers Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Deep Dive into the Hardware for iPad Switch Accessibility Thursday – Throwback Thursday: Reading with AAC Friday – PráctiCAAmente Conectados Con Links Mayo 2021 Have time for a little more? Here are a couple of suggestions. AAC Funding Help Building Your AAC SLP Toolkit: Obtaining Free Apps for AAC Evaluations Check Your Knowledge of AT History AACtual Therapy: Making Core Words Fun for Students with Autism AAC Goes to Summer Camp
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
May 6, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Language and literacy learning go hand-in-hand, so it is no surprise that reading plays an important role in our AAC services. Today, we revisit a number of past posts on this topic. As They Grow: Books for Beginning Readers of Any Age Making Shared Book Reading Awesome for AAC Users Who Don’t Like Books Alphabet Books & AAC Implementation AAC, Literacy, & Squishy Books Books Featuring Children & Youth with Disabilities Asking Good Questions During Interactive Book Reading with AAC Learners AAC & Book Creator Loving Literacy-Let’s Read and Write Storybooks Growing AAC Professionals: AAC-friendly Books 5 Ways to Use Books to Build Interaction with AAC Learners Adapting Books with Visual Scenes AAC-friendly Accessible Books Make It PrAACtical: Display Stand for Visual Supports or Books 5 Books Featuring Children Who Use AAC Reading with AAC Across the Stages of Language Development Using Adapted Books with AAC Learners: 3 Important Questions... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
May 3, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Here in the US, we’ll be celebrating Mother’s Day soon. If you’re looking for resources that you can incorporate into your AAC work, we have some ideas for you. These are great for highlight core vocabulary, such as these: Pronouns: I, you, she, we, her, our Verbs: can, do, give, help, love, make, read, see, write Adjectives: good, nice, pretty, smart, strong Conjunctions: and, because, but, with Time Words: later, now, today, tomorrow Questions: what, who, where ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS Read about Mothers and Mother’s Day with some of these books. From Boardmaker From Tarheel Reader (SDJ) From Tarheel Reader (Nicolaus) Cards and letters are always appreciated and a great way to practice language and literacy skills. Here are a few to check out. From AU-SOME Little Learners From Blooming Kiddos From Education to the Core From Twinkl Printable Resources From Mollie Pouska Add a poem like this one... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
May 2, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you may have missed. Monday – School Year of Core Vocabulary Words: AAC Resources for Month 10 (May) by Michaela Sullivan, Alisa Lego, & Beth Lytle Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Data Privacy and Security for AAC Thursday – PrAACtically May: AAC Resources for A Year of Core Vocabulary Words Have time for a little more? Here are a couple of suggestions. AAC Funding Help Building Your AAC SLP Toolkit: Obtaining Free Apps for AAC Evaluations Check Your Knowledge of AT History AACtual Therapy: Making Core Words Fun for Students with Autism
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
April 29, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Thanks to all who’ve reached out with questions, comments, and words of appreciation for the Year of Core Vocabulary series. In today’s post, we share some ideas for integrating AAC into your daily life. Here are some helpful resources for those who are using the words in Set 1 ( Year of Core Words) or Set 2 (Another Year of Core Words). If you are contemplating this approach, feel free to jump in at any time. The best time to start (or re-start) is right now. Don’t worry about retracing steps, or not ‘doing it right.’ The best way to get better at core vocabulary instruction is just to keep at it. It takes time, practice, and a willingness to keep at it. Our words for this month are as follows. Set 1: all, down, good, little, my, question, sad, she, turn, up, who, why Set 2: bathroom, car, child, confused,... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
April 26, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
It’s almost May so we’re back with another post in the School Year of Core Vocabulary Words Series by guest authors Michaela Sullivan, Alisa Lego, and Beth Lytle. This series focuses on a selected set of words to highlight for the month along with a suggested order in which to teach them. Therapists and teachers will appreciate the Activity Packets, containing suggestions for highlighting these words in a variety of activities. Their Data Collection Forms and tips on using shared reading in our AAC teaching are appropriate for AAC learners of various ages. If you are new to this series, you may want to review the introduction that our series and check out the first 9 months of the School Year of Core Vocabulary Words using the links below. You can find posts for previous months in the School Year of Core Vocabulary Words below. Introduction to the School Year... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: A Year of Core Vocabulary Words, core vocabulary, school
April 25, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends! We have some posts that may be of interest. Monday – AAC & CVI: Can We Chat? Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Getting Started with the Communication Matrix Thursday – Throwback Thursday: Activities for AAC Learning ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: While you’re here, check out some of these past posts. PrAACtically Reading: Over in the Garden with Karen Natoci Talking Mats: A PrAACtical Tool Using Metaphors to Support Vocabulary Teaching AACtual Therapy: “At first I was afraid, I was petrified…” AACtual Therapy: Running AAC Groups
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
April 22, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Looking to add more variety to the activities you use for building language and AAC skills? Today, we’re dusting off the cobwebs and re-sharing posts with activity ideas. Research Project AACtivity Concept Sorts Using Surveys to Support Language Learning Magic Moments with Tellagami New Word Teaching: A Look Inside Some PrAACtical Therapy Sessions Teaming Up to Build Communication with a Treat Cart: Part 1, Part 2 AACtual Therapy: Use Your Best Spud to Teach Vocabulary With Tanna Neufeld PrAACtical Supports for AAC Learners: AT Recipes for Success – Sensorimotor Activities AAC Intervention: 5 Activities with PrAACtical Potential Vocabulary Activities: 5 Sites for Learning with Avatars PrAACtical Teaching in the Autism Classroom: Instructional Activities for Core Vocabulary Why We Love AAC Language Experience Activities 5 Ways to Use Word Clouds in AAC Therapy and Magic Moments with Word Clouds Magic Moments: Painting with Time Teaching the Use of Social Phrases and Comments... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking