May 22, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
To help AAC learners be successful, clinicians and educators often focus on training communication partners to use supportive strategies. In this post, we share resources from around the web that may be helpful in those efforts. Communication Partner Profile by OpenAAC Communication Partner Skill Handout by Susan Berkowitz Self-reflection Checklist by Speechy Musings Presentation on Communication Partner Strategies by Cheri Dodge Chin of Super Power Speech & Education Person-centered Communication Partner Checklist by AssistiveWare Many thanks to the authors, presenters, and creators for sharing their expertise.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
May 10, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
How can we support AAC users as they transition to adult life? In today’s featured video, we get some good information and practical tips on this topic from Deanna Morrow, Micaela Smith, and Heather Prenovost. You can download the suggested messages for medical interviews here. You can also obtain the presentation handout. This presentation was hosted by PRC Saltillo. We are grateful to them and to the presenters, Deanna, Micaela, and Heather for this prAACtical session. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqJKxvZ5nBY&ab_channel=Saltillo
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 30, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have some posts that might be of interest. Monday – PrAACtical Resources: Beyond High School Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: AI Language Models & AAC Thursday – May Year of Core Vocabulary & School Year of Core Vocabulary Words ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Have time for a little more? Here are a couple of suggestions. Data Privacy and Security for AAC 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: PrAACtical Thinking
April 18, 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
April 17, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
One of the requests we frequently get at PrAACtical AAC is for sources of continuing education in AAC practices. In this post, we share 5 online learning modules that may be of interest to some readers. AT Internet Modules from OCALI AAC Assessment for Adults with Developmental Disabilities AAC Implementation for Adults with Developmental Disabilities Penn State AAC Learning Modules AAC for Children Developing AAC Systems for Children Alternative Access
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here is some AAC content for you to browse. Monday – AAC Implementation Framework: Step 3 “Take In” Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: AAC & Early Intervention Thursday – Earth Day, AAC Style ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Have time for a little more AAC reading? Here are a handful of posts to browse. How I Do It: Writing IEP Goals for Students Who Use AAC with Lauren Enders Documenting AT in the IEP 5 Reasons to Put AAC Training for Staff and Parents into the IEP AAC and the IEP: 5 Resources to Explore PrAACtical Resources: AT in the IEP
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 13, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
For more than 50 years, people in the US have marked April 22 as a day to honor our planet and demonstrate support for environmental protection. Here are some AAC-friendly ideas and materials to celebrate Earth Day. 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! Do some easy Earth Day crafts with these links curated by Special Learning House. 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... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 12, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
How can we support the youngest communicators with AAC? In today’s featured video, SLP Marci Revelli shares some thoughts. This is an archived webinar hosted by the Northwest Augmentative Communication Society (NWACS). You can download the slide handout here. Many thanks to Marci and NWACS for this helpful presentation. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M57HihVBdvY&ab_channel=NorthwestAugmentativeCommunicationSociety
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
April 11, 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
April 10, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Welcome to the next installment of Vicki Clarke’s AAC Implementation Framework. In today’s post, Vicki focuses on the role of the communication partner, with prAACtical ideas for helping them utilize key support strategies that facilitate AAC learning. New to this series? You find the earlier posts using the links below. Steps to Learning Step 1, Determining the Target Step 2: TRAIN ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: AAC Implementation Framework Step 3: “Take In” In our journey towards teaching autonomous communication, Step 3: “Take In” is dedicated to the partner’s role, which involves modeling the use of AAC to communicate words and messages in real-world situations. The aim of this stage is to help the student learn when and how to communicate using AAC, as well as to develop a clear understanding of the practical application of these skills by watching their partner’s interactions. This process mirrors the way in which infants and toddlers acquire... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking