January 2, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
There’s no better way to start off a New Year than with this simple story that has a profound message. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dLEO8mwYWQ&t=452s Visit the Ian Foundation to learn more about their mission and initiatives (click here).
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Inclusive Education, inclusive society, play, video
December 26, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
As the end of the year approaches, we’re looking back to see which posts you liked best. Here are the most popular videos from our 2018 posts. AACtually Doing It: Core in the Classroom Aided Language Input: How Much Language Should We Model? Using Apps to Engage Young AAC Learners Strategies for Helping Early AAC Users Engage and Interact iPad Apps for Learners with Complex Needs Make a Core Vocabulary Folder Teaching Peers to Interact with Young Children Who Use AAC Putting Aided Language Input Into Practice Be More with Core Getting Started with PODD Do you have a suggestion for a video we should feature in 2019? We’d love to hear about it.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: video
December 19, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Along with special foods, decorations, and gifts, the holiday season brings changes in our daily routines that can cause anxiety and other challenges for some people with AAC needs. In today’s featured video, Peggy Lawrence addresses why these challenges may occur in students with autism, and presents strategies we can use to provide instruction and support. This archived presentation is available through the Tri-State ASD Webinar Series, which receives support from the Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN), the Nebraska Autism Spectrum Disorders Network, and the Colorado Department of Education. You can explore more offerings from this collaborative here. Direct link to “Preparing for Non-Routine Events: Strategies to Support Students with ASD”
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: anxiety, schedules, structure, visual supports
December 12, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Today’s video features the work of Mary Louise Bertram (Australia) and Caroline Musselwhite (US), both of whom are well-known to PrAACtical AAC readers, and focuses on journal writing, a writing activity that takes places in homes and classrooms around the world. In this video, we learn ways to make it meaningful and successful for beginning communicators who use AAC. Many thanks to the presenters and to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation for making and sharing this helpful video. To learn more about literacy and communication for early communicators from Dr. Musselwhite and others, check out the AAC in the Desert Conference. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoHlga-xemU
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC in the Desert, Caroline Musselwhite, literacy, writing
December 5, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Interested to learn more about how AAC is implemented in classrooms at the elementary level? In today’s featured video, Colorado-based special educator Sarah Fischer shares thoughts, examples, resources, and reflection on her journey to support AAC learners. Many thanks to Sarah and to Saltillo for making this video available. In her presentation, Sarah refers to a video about another project that was implemented in her classroom. You can learn more about Twin Powers here. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZHchn6T1z0&t=231s
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: classroom, school
November 28, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Transitions usually seem a bit daunting, but the move from the school system to post-school life is one fraught with a great many challenges. For people who use AAC, a group with unemployment rates exceeding 90%, the path to a rich and fulfilling life in adulthood requires a great deal of support. In many cases, the systems and individuals who are in the position to provide that support lack the information, experience, training, and resources they need to be effective. In today’s video, we hear from Dr. Rackensperger, Vice President for Persons who Use AAC and Their Families at USSAAC, who has a unique perspective on these issues. She shares ways that we can address these challenges by using person-based panning and strengths-based approaches in our efforts to foster self-determination and build self-advocacy. This video is part of the USSAAC webinar series and is made possible with the support of... [Read More...]
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: adulthood, post-school, self-advocacy, self-determination, transition
November 21, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Today, we continue to learn from the AAC in the Cloud conference, hosted by CoughDrop AAC which organizes and runs this wonderful professional development event each spring as a service to the AAC community. In this post, former teacher and veteran AT and Education Consultant veteran Kelly Fonner gives us a variety of suggestions for creating and using alphabet books to build language and literacy skills in AAC learners. We are grateful for CoughDrop’s generosity is organizing their annual AAC in the Cloud Conference and offering it for free so that so many parents and professionals can advance their knowledge. Kelly’s engaging style and top-notch content in this session are not to be missed. Enjoy! You can obtain the handout for this session here. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTAfiW-pMKw
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Books, Kelly Fonner, literacy
November 14, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
As AAC practitioners, we sometimes lose sight of how our prognostications impact the individuals we serve. In today’s featured video Rob Rummel-Hudson provides some perspective on this important issue. Many thanks to Mr. Rummel-Hudson, the AAC RERC, and the AAC team at Penn State for making this video available. Direct Link to Video – https://aac-learning-center.psu.edu/2018/10/14/the-folly-of-fortune-telling/
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: authentic relationships, inclusion, predictions
November 7, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Hearing the AAC stories of people with complex communication needs is always enlightening, but even more so when the narratives are told directly by those individuals. In today’s featured video, we hear from South African teenager Zainab Omar. Enjoy! Many thanks to Zainab for sharing her story and to ISAAC for making this available to all of us. Please consider supporting this wonderful international organization (here’s how). Communication is everyone’s birthright. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrAe7oc-Rjo
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Faces of AAC, Zainab Omar
October 31, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Sometimes the internet brings unexpected smiles. When this one crossed my inbox, it was too good not to share. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAl6zZXyHUg&app=desktop
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: first person account, music