November 13, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for information about how to incorporate AT into a student’s IEP? Today, we share a helpful guide, Assistive Technology and the IEP. Originally produced by the Family Center on Technology and Disability, this booklet has been republished by the Center on Technology and Disability. It provides a good overview of some of the important issues and is a great resource to share with families of students who use AAC. Click on the image below to review this guidebook.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AT, IEP, schools
November 9, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
In a perfect world, we’d all be able to travel to conferences whenever we wished to soak up the AAC expertise from presenters around the world. Until then, we’ll keep posting links to handouts from conferences, workshops, and inservices with AAC content. Developing Language and Communication Power Usin a Core Vocabulary Classroom Approach by Gail Van Tatenhove Getting and Keeping AAC After High School Considerations for Transitioning Students who Use AAC Now, and Who Will Need AAC in the Future by Kathryn Helland AAC Strategies and Considerations for Children with Severe Speech Disorders: Not a Substitution, Just Part of the Solution by Erinn Fincke Life Before and After PECS: Reflections on Supports for Early Communication and Language by Cathy Binger Is the iPad the Best AAC Choice? by Nykki Montano
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: conferences, handouts
November 6, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
November’s Site of the Month is situated at the intersection of research, clinical/educational practices, and professional preparation. The Centre for AAC, housed at the University of Pretoria, has been serving the AAC community for over two decades. Their site has many helpful resources to explore. Highlights include: Links to many AAC research studies that CAAC has been involved with, including several with full-text access. AAC Resource Manual (selected chapters) AAC in the Home Setting up the AAC classroom for learning How to make an E-tran Talking Mats™ Information on their post-graduate programs in AAC Presentation handouts Communication boards focused on reporting abuse (available in many languages) Communication board for testifying in court Communication Bill of Rights You can learn more about CAAC by perusing past newsletters which are archived here.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: abuse, CAAC, Communication Bill of Rights, Site of the Month
November 2, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Unless you have a family member with a disability, it’s hard to really understand the toll that specialized services and equipment take on their financial well-being. We’re always on the look-out for sources of support that can help these families. This is the first in a periodic series of posts that list some of the AAC-friendly grant resources open to individual families and clients. The plan is to grow this list and update it with new information, so please comment or email me through the blog if you know of other opportunities. Help is particularly needed for those outside the US. Here are a handful of grants that are AAC-friendly to get us started. CASANA: The iPads for Apraxia program funds iPads for children with apraxia in the US and Canada Small Steps in Speech: Funds supplemental therapies and provides some support to nonprofit organizations who serve very young kids with... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: families, financial support, grants
October 30, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
It’s just about time to turn another page on the calendar, and that means we’re busy preparing materials and activities for our November core words. Are you looking for some ways to help your AAC learners become more competent in using core words? Need to get staff on board with modeling core vocabulary? Trying to get familiar with where core words are stored in a particular SGD or AAC app? Here’s an approach you may want to try: Choose a dozen or so core words to focus on each month. In previous years, we shared lists of some core words to help you do just that. 2013: A Year of Core (12 words/month) 2014: A(nother) Year of Core (16 words/month; Note: These are different than the core words covered in 2013) Those posts have links to downloadable grids with the core words for each month that can be used as a focal... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: A Year of Core Words
October 26, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for ways to engage AAC learners in language therapy? Today, we welcome back SLP Rachel Madel to tell us about her experience in using wordless videos. Her prAACtical tips will get you excited about using videos like these, curated by The Activity Tailor, in your lessons. Enjoy! ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Using Animated Shorts to Build Language Skills with AAC Learners We are living in a digital age, where video content is often free and easy to access. Children on my caseload are tech savvy and are constantly dazzling me with how well they can navigate YouTube to find their favorite videos. Motivation is paramount in creating meaningful communication interactions and watching animated videos is highly motivating for both students and clinicians. I’ve had great success utilizing wordless videos in my practice and was lucky enough to present on the topic during “AAC After Work” with a fellow AAC colleague, Susan Berkowitz. In case... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: implementation ideas, language therapy
October 25, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Today, we look to South Africa to learn from AT specialist Desirae Pillay who shares her thoughts on using AAC for communicating at a distance. In an earlier post, Desirae shared her experience as an AAC parent. In the current post, she talks about things we don’t always think about when supporting people with AAC needs. The Power of AAC for Distance Communication I am an Assistive Technology Advisor for a company in South Africa and a parent to a young adult, Savannah Pillay who is cerebral palsied and autistic. As an advisor, it is my job to know of all the communication options that are available which includes knowing about unaided AAC options. I am a big fan of gesture dictionaries as I have seen how impactful it can be especially when using a multi-modal communication system. I am also a fan of AAC software that not only has... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC family, distance communication
October 23, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
How is AAC Awareness Month shaping up in your corner of the world? Our activities for this week involve reading and sharing. Pour yourself a cup of tea, grab a mug of coffee, or just settle into your favorite reading nook for some AAC reading. Get ready to participate in the AAC Read-a-Thon Read and share this AAC information kit Read with kids 5 Books Featuring Children who Use AAC Books for Beginning Readers of Any Age Send home some fun book extension activities that help families use AAC at home Grab a book! Check out the AAC offerings from some of these publishers: Attainment Company Brill Publishing LinguiSystems Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company Plural Publishing Inc. Pearson Rowman & Littlefield Routledge Woodbine House Other/Self-published By Betsy Furler By Susan Berkowitz (resource document) What did we miss? Leave your suggestions for AAC reading material below.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC Awareness Month
October 22, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Between the AAC Awareness Activities, conferences, and preparations for Halloween, you might have missed these posts from our prAACtical week. Monday – AAC Awareness Month, Week 3: Look, Listen, & Learn Wednesday – PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: The Family Book Thursday – AAC Assessment Corner with Vicki Clarke: Ready, SETT, AAC Evaluate! Saturday – Faces of AAC: Making It Work in A Busy Family Need a few more posts to browse? PrAACtically Halloween: Considerations for an AAC-friendly Halloween (downloads) Halloween Recipes: Cooking AAC Style AACtual Therapy: Teaching Comments and Social Phrases How We Do It: Handy Tools for Language Sampling in AAC Aided Language Input with Dr. Caroline Musselwhite
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: summary post
October 21, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Each October, we like to share stories of people who use AAC throughout the day. to gain insight from those who have found a way to prioritize AAC despite their hectic and complicated lives. Today, Erin Compton shares some of the keys to making AAC a priority in her busy family. You can learn more about Erin and her family on their blog, Lotsacomptons and Room for More. In this post, Erin give us some tips on getting started in AAC and keeping up the momentum. Enjoy! Our journey into the world of AAC began last year with the adoption of our two sons from China. Philip and Arthur both have cerebral palsy and developmental delays from years in an orphanage. Just recently they began using communication devices so we have jumped in feet first to all things AAC. We are already having great success so I’m here to share some of the... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC implementation, families