January 20, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Planning, designing, creating, teaching. Helping students become more proficient with their AAC systems often involves teaching core vocabulary and it can take considerable effort to integrate that into the daily routines of a busy classroom. In today’s featured video, we hear from Special Educator April Weitkamp who describes the process she used to support core vocabulary in an elementary school classroom. She shares her experiences and many lessons learned through the process of collaborating with the SLP and paraprofessionals to support core vocabulary learning in this multi-age group of students. Many thanks to April and the Special Education Technology Center (SETC) in Washington for this helpful presentation. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVbeHg2Vl2Y&ab_channel=SETCSpecialEducationTechnologyCenter You can see another video from April here.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: classroom, core vocabulary, education
January 13, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
AAC assessment is a complex process that takes the support of many stakeholders. In today’s featured video, SLP Rachell Johnson discusses the steps involved in these evaluations and provides suggestions for streamlining the process. Many thanks to Rachell and to Ablenet for creating and hosting this presentation. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcW1Hd_VZTI&ab_channel=AbleNetUniversityRecordedWebinar You can learn more from Rachell here.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC assessment, video
January 6, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
In today’s featured video we learn from AAC SLP Sara Ayars from Bellevue, Washington about their district’s experience in supporting core vocabulary across many schools and classrooms. Hosted by the Special Education Technology Center (SETC), “Big Core Roll Out: One District’s Plan for Implementing Core Vocabulary” will be very insightful for school districts and AT specialists who want to improve access to supports for core vocabulary. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-7a9WpGj-w&ab_channel=SETCSpecialEducationTechnologyCenter You can learn more from Sara on her Instagram, @saraayars_slp, account here.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: core vocabulary, video
December 30, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
In our final Video of the Week for 2020, we’re honored to share a video recording of an AAC user chat with civil rights legend Judy Heuman hosted by CommunicationFIRST. Moderated by two AAC users, Bob Williams and Hari Srinivasan, this discussion was held in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://communicationfirst.org/aac-users-chat-with-judy-heumann/?fbclid=IwAR0Rr68qPyqSd4W-9GBfbe7tXgLIThSfF5cl1Jss0b0gSQWwQGCAie-XNqg —
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Communication Bill of Rights
December 23, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
It’s a busy week so we thought this would be a good time to share some short videos by New Zealand Speech and Language Therapist Sophia Cormack. Enjoy! Introduction to AAC Direct link to video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmsdLzQW5G0&list=PLSWI226_FFQVvnW5Jv6PeZoX8wTK99FZN&index=2&ab_channel=SpeechinaSec Introduction to Core Boards Direct link to video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB_brGVYg7w&list=PLSWI226_FFQVvnW5Jv6PeZoX8wTK99FZN&index=1&ab_channel=SpeechinaSec How to Use a Core Board in 7 Games Direct link to video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4FGg3-W_gk&list=PLSWI226_FFQVvnW5Jv6PeZoX8wTK99FZN&index=3&ab_channel=SpeechinaSec
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: core vocabulary, explainer, video
December 16, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
Writing goals for various aspects of communicative competence can be tricky, even for experienced professionals. Today, we’re pleased to share a video on this topic by Melanie Melton, Heather Patton, and Jaime Lawson. This session was part of the 2020 AAC in the Cloud Conference hosted by CoughDrop. You can download the handout for this session here. We are grateful to the presenters and to CoughDrop for this helpful video. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zcMSmcdZcE&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=CoughDrop
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC goals
December 9, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
It’s a good day for learning from people who use AAC. In today’s featured video, Karanveer Singh shares his journey in using AAC via different access methods. Many thanks to Karanveer and the Special Education Technology Center for this helpful presentation. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq0iLIviL-o&ab_channel=SETCSpecialEducationTechnologyCenter
Filed under: Video of the Week
December 2, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
Even before we can create full sentences or create grammatically correct utterances, we are driven to tell the stories of our lives. Being able to share where we’ve been, what we’ve done, and how that felt is important for both children and adults. In today’s featured video, special educator April Weitkamp discusses how she helps students who use AAC develop their skills in writing personal narratives. Many thanks to April and the Special Education Technology Center (SETC) in Washington for this helpful presentation. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-QqBhtQF4M&ab_channel=SETCSpecialEducationTechnologyCenter
Filed under: Video of the Week
November 25, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
Helping paraprofessionals become skilled AAC partners is a priority for both school-based professionals and families for students with complex communication needs. In today’s featured video, we hear about this topic from Robby Vickery and Kyle Delahanty, SLPs at the Colorado Facility School. The handout for this presentation can be downloaded here. Many thanks to Robby and Kyle, as well as to CoughDrop for this archived presentation from AAC in the Cloud 2020. Direct Link to Video -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF1iQrUEz-U&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=CoughDrop
Filed under: Video of the Week
November 18, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
AAC and literacy apps are a great combination. In today’s featured video, Deanne Shoyer, of Small But Kinda Mighty, shows us how her son uses one of his AAC apps along with Book Creator to build language, literacy, and academics. Take a look. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdZoDIdol_A&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=SmallButKindaMighty You can learn more from Deanne here and through these free resources that she created. Learn & Play Outside Guide Planetary Sensory Walk Recipes
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Literacy & Literacy Instruction, Mobile Devices Phones & Apps