July 17, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Cell phones are ubiquitous these days, and almost all of them have a camera. In today’s post, we share some ideas for how to use that for AAC and language learning. If you’re looking for no-prep activities, this post is for you. Create a Collage: Pick a target word or language concept, and walk around looking for things that are associated with it. Snap pictures of a handful of things, then use a free app like PicCollage to create a collage. You’ll find a lot of opportunities to say and practice the target word, both in taking the photos and making the collage. Fun with Filters: Use Snapchat or another app to take photos with playful filters. The discussion about which filter to use and what accessories to add will offer multiple opportunities for you to model and elicit some of the words, phrases, sentences, and questions that are relevant... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
July 13, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Floods, tornadoes, and severe storms have been in the news lately. We can’t predict when extreme weather or other natural disasters will strike, but we can prepare. Here are a few resources that you might find helpful. Reassuring Books About Storms for Children by Heather at Books & Giggles It is Hurricane Season by Autism Educators Preparing for Natural Disasters by Smarty Symbols Hurricane Preparation by Mary Grace Hektner via Boardmaker Online (need Boardmaker to use) What Is A Hurricane? by Mary Grace Hektner via Boardmaker Online (need Boardmaker to use) Tornado Vocabulary by Mary Grace Hektner via Boardmaker Online (need Boardmaker to use) Storm Social Narrative by Sandy K via Boardmaker Online (need Boardmaker to use) Storm Surge Narrative by Mary Grace Hektner via Boardmaker Online (need Boardmaker to use) Webinar on Disaster Preparedness for People with Complex Communication Needs by AAC RERC Emergency Preparedness for Children with Autism from... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
July 10, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Professionals, family members, and AAC users are often frustrated when relevant research is published behind a paywall. Today, we’re pleased to share a number of open-access articles that might be of interest. The effect of aided language stimulation on the acquisition of receptive vocabulary in children with complex communication needs and severe intellectual disability: a comparison of two dosages Laher, Z., & Dada, S. (2023) The effect of aided language stimulation on the acquisition of receptive vocabulary in children with complex communication needs and severe intellectual disability: a comparison of two dosages, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 39:2, 96-109, DOI: 10.1080/07434618.2022.2155566 Direct link to article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07434618.2022.2155566?journalCode=iaac20 A qualitative study exploring the effect of communicating with partially intelligible speech Clarke, Z.C., Judge, S., Fryer, K., Cunningham, S., Toogood, J., & Hawley, M.S. (2023). A qualitative study exploring the effect of communicating with partially intelligible speech, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 39:2, 110-122, DOI: 10.1080/07434618.2023.2206910 Direct link to article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07434618.2023.2206910 ... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
July 3, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
When educationally-based professionals collaborate on improving the communication environment for students who use AAC, everyone benefits. Classroom Observation for Communication Opportunities with AAC (COCOA) is one tool that can be helpful in this process. In the images below, you can see how it might be used for individuals with a significant amount of language and those who are beginning communicators. Scroll to the bottom of the post for a link to download the form. Direct Link to File: https://praacticalaac.org/wp-content/uploads/filebase/assessment/Classroom%20Observation%20for%20Communication%20Opportunities%20with%20AAC%20COCOA.pdf
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
June 25, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have some posts that might be of interest. Monday – AAC Implementation Framework: Step 5 – Talk! Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Activating the Power of Community Partnerships Thursday – Throwback Thursday: Playing with AAC :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Before you go, take a look and see if any of these are of interest. AAC Printables & Downloads AAC Assessment for People with Aphasia AAC Apps for Visual Scene Displays Book Adaptations: Resources and Materials 5 Ways to Use Books to Build Interaction with AAC Learners
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
June 19, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Today we wrap up our series describing an AAC Implementation framework, guest authored by AAC SLP Vicki Clarke. The founder of an AAC-focused private practice, Dynamic Therapy Associates, Vicki is also the Director of DTA Schools. Join us as we explore the results of our efforts in this implementation journey. If you are new to this series you can find the earlier posts through the links below. Steps to Learning Step 1, Determining the Target Step 2: TRAIN Step 3: Take In Step 4: Try It AAC 101: Steps To Learning Step 5: Talk! We have finally reached the finale! Our students are ready to talk. Now by “talk” we of course, mean “communicate using their AAC system, sign language, picture symbols or the communication devices!” We expect our students to now be able to choose what to say, when to say it, and remember how to say it... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
June 14, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
For several decades, the feature matching process has been the gold standard for selecting AAC devices. In today’s featured video, we learn about this from Katie Threlkeld, of Forbes AAC. This recorded session is part of the pre-conference offering in the AAC in the Cloud conference, a wonderful online event hosted annually by CoughDrop. If you haven’t registered for this year’s AAC in the Cloud conference, you can do that here. Many thanks to the fine team at CoughDrop and to Katie for this helpful presentation. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-_9WxCK7b8&ab_channel=ForbesAAC
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
June 8, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
June is Aphasia Awareness Month, so we’re reprising some past articles and videos on supporting people with aphasia through AAC. When Language Is Lost: AAC Supports for Individuals with Aphasia Making It Work: 6 AAC Strategies for People with Aphasia Low Tech AAC for Adults with Aphasia: What Does That Mean? Bridging the Gap: Helping People with Aphasia to Compensate for Their Language Difficulties Aphasia, Supported Communication, Written Choice Strategy, + Variations 5 Questions about Aphasia & Communication Books A Fresh Look at AAC & Aphasia with Dr. Kristy Weissling Communication Books & Aphasia Aphasia & Supported Communication: What’s Volunteering Got to Do With It? AAC Assessment for People with Aphasia AAC & Aphasia: Resources in Support of National Aphasia Awareness Month Video of the Week: Life Participation & AAC Device Personalization for Adults with Aphasia Video of the Week: AAC & Aphasia Video of the Week- AAC Supports for... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
June 5, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
In the US, Juneteenth is one of our newest federal holidays and many are now getting ready to celebrate it. Whether you are relatively new to an understanding of Juneteenth or have been honoring it for decades, we hope today’s post has some ideas for integrating it into the AAC work you do. First published a few years back, we’ve updated it with some additional books, videos, and other resources. PrAACtically Juneteenth In the US, June 19th is a day that commemorates the ending of slavery. Although the Emancipation Proclamation became effective on January 1, 1863, it took an additional two and half years for it to take root in all of the states. It wasn’t until June 19th, 1865 that Texas became the final state to uphold the proclamation. There are other days that memorialize the freedom of enslaved people, but Juneteenth is the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration. Traditionally marked... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
May 30, 2023
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