May 18, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Even experienced clinicians and educators sometimes struggle in writing goals for children and adults who are learning to use AAC. In today’s featured video, we learn from AAC SLP Katie Threlkeld who reviews a 5-step process for identifying target skill areas and writing goals for skill acquisition. Many thanks to Katie and Forbes AAC for this helpful information. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKmpJtVSqnE&ab_channel=ForbesAAC
Filed under: Video of the Week
May 11, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
How can we help people with ALS go beyond the basics of communication and use AAC in ways that allow them to connect fully and deeply with others? In today’s featured video, Nachum Lehman and Eddy Erhlich discuss an approach to supporting AAC in people with ALS used by Bridging Voice, a US non-profit organization that provides virtual AAC support to people with ALS. Many thanks to Nachum, Eddy, and Bridging Voice for making and sharing this helpful presentation. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHbAp-2SEZc&ab_channel=ATACNJ
Filed under: Video of the Week
April 6, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Although systems of delivering healthcare vary widely around the globe, even the strongest systems put AAC users at a disadvantage. In today’s featured video, public health professional Donnie TC Denome helps us understand these important and complex issues so that we can provide stronger advocacy and better support to those who use AAC. You can obtain the handout for this session here. This is an archived session from AAC in the Cloud, a free online AAC conference hosted by CoughDrop. Many thanks to Donnie and the fine team at CoughDrop for this impactful session. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3rqS1OT96Y&ab_channel=CoughDrop
Filed under: Video of the Week
March 30, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
How can we overcome the many barriers to AAC learning? In today’s featured video, Erin Sheldon offers a fresh perspective on this topic. Reframing the barriers and our role in addressing them leads us to creative solutions with practical applications for families and professionals. This is an archived presentation hosted by ECHO Voices of the Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP). We are grateful to OTAP and Erin for this important and thought-provoking presentation. You can access the handouts for this session here. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1egQthpZe_93RNefGgqNXT8k-58nHL_bf/view?usp=sharing
Filed under: Video of the Week
March 23, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Teaching communication partners how to interact in ways that support AAC learning is one of our most important roles. Years ago, Jill Senner and Matt Baud dug into the research on AAC partner training and developed the SMoRRE approach. You can learn about that here. In today’s featured video, Matt provides a practical example of using that approach. Take a look. Many thanks to Jill and Matt for their fine work with SMoRRE and to Matt for this helpful video. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUt180-XzY8&ab_channel=TALC
Filed under: Video of the Week
March 16, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
When someone is unable to point or physically access a communication device, they use some form of alternative access to select the words and messages they want to say. Technological solutions, like switch scanning and eye gaze, are wonderful but there are times when we need an alternative to those alternative access methods. They may be in a recliner or on a hospital examining table, for example, and unable to use their motor skills to run the AAC device. In some instances, the communication partner has to take on the role of scanning through the message options. Partner-assisted scanning (PAS) is a wonderfully flexible strategy that sounds harder than it is. Learn more about it from AAC SLP Dr. Cheri Dodge, of Super Power Speech, in today’s featured video. Direct link to video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7CiYP56oYw&ab_channel=CheriC
Filed under: Video of the Week
March 9, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for an overview of AAC practices in school settings. Today, we turn to a presentation hosted by the Connecticut Parent Advisory Center (CPAC) featuring AAC SLPs Nicole Natale and EJ Piccirillo for information on this topic. Many thanks to CPAC, Nicole, and EJ for this helpful presentation. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9q2ep5Jwd0&t=260s&ab_channel=CPAC-ConnecticutParentAdvocacyCenter
Filed under: Video of the Week
March 2, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
For people with significant motor challenges, having a team who can help figure out the best way to access their AAC device can make all the difference. In today’s video, we feature the work of OT and AT specialist Karen Kangas, who created this presentation as part of PaTTAN’s series, A Closer Look at Access. Even those highly familiar with the topic will learn something new. Many thanks to Karen and the team at PaTTAN for this informative presentation. Enjoy! You can learn more from Karen here. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx1z2Cpn4NU&ab_channel=PaTTAN
Filed under: Video of the Week
February 23, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Today, we’re excited to share the work of Lance McLemore, winner of the 2022 Edgar and Esther Prentke Distinguished Lecture award. Sponsored by PRC-Saltillo with the support of Semantic Compaction Systems, and hosted at the annual ATIA Conference, this award has a rich history. AAC pioneer and master clinician Gail Van Tatenhove reviews the history of the award at the start of the session. Lance addresses a topic that is relevant to us all, so please take some time to watch this session. You won’t be disappointed. Many thanks to Lance, PRC-Saltillo, Semantic Compaction Systems, and Gail Van Tatenhove for this important presentation. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJfPeZ3slo0&ab_channel=ATIA
Filed under: Video of the Week
February 16, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
AAC professionals know that you can’t have too many parent-friendly AAC training videos at your disposal so that you have just the right one to share with families who are ready to expand what they know about AAC. Today, we learn from Robert Woodbury, special educator and AT Specialist at Cache County School District in Utah. Many thanks to Robert and the team at the Utah Parent Center for creating this video and making it available. Take a look. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbbS4Wei1Ok&t=6s&ab_channel=UtahParentCenter You can find other videos by the Cache County AT Team here.
Filed under: Video of the Week