Looking for information on how to help people with autism and significant communication challenges become readers and writers? Dr. Janice Light has a full webinar on this topic that will certainly be of interest. Many thanks to the AAC RERC for the support in making this available to all.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: ASD, Instruction, literacy
Have you been tuning into the USSAAC webinar series? If not, this is something to add to your calendar. Offered with the support of ISAAC, this series has had some wonderful speakers and topics. In today’s post, we share the most recent presentation with John Costello as the speaker. Enjoy! US friends, please consider supporting these efforts by becoming a USSAAC member. It is the only US organization to bring together people who use AAC, their families, and professionals from various disciplines. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2vmiH9tqUQ
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: ALS, message banking
Developing effective communication systems for individuals with significant motor challenges is a challenging process. Ultimately, the goal is to provide them with tools and strategies that allow them to communicate independently and help them develop the skills needed to say what they wish to throughout their daily life experiences. As we all know, this can be a long journey. And while we work toward systems that allow them to communicate independently, they need access to language and communication now despite their motor limitations. Partner assisted scanning (PAS) is one option that works for many AAC learners. In this post, we feature a video overview of this strategy presented by SLP Maureen Nevers as part of the Communication Training Series by the Angelman Syndrome Foundation and the Foster Family Charitable Foundation, and a video of PAS in action by the Dynamic Learning Maps Professional Development (DLM PD) group under the direction... [Read More...]
Filed under: Video of the Week
Although guided access has been around on iOS devices for awhile, there are some professionals and families who are just starting to use this wonderful feature. In this post, we share some helpful videos that can be used to familiarize the team with this feature and how to use it. Setting up Guided Access by SENICT Direct link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34_LqW8xgjs How to exit Guided Access when you forget your passcode by iAgents Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHtshhfhNOE
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: accessibility, iPad
Despite their differences, one thing that many people who use AAC have in common is their need for additional supports to develop strong literacy skills. In today’s featured video, Dr. Karen Erickson, of the Center on Literacy and Disability Studies, introduces the concept of alternate pencils and discusses ways in which teachers, therapists, and families can begin using them to provide alphabet access to people with cognitive or physical disabilities. Let’s write! Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1WgtZClfL8&feature=youtu.be
Filed under: Video of the Week
Looking to round out your literacy supports with writing activities? Shared writing using a predictable chart is a great strategy to utilize with students who use AAC because there are so many rich opportunities for learning about print while practicing communication. In this video, SLP and AAC specialist Deanna Wagner describes the process of using core word sentence starters and covers essential elements of implementation. If you are not doing formal writing instruction with AAC learners, this is a great place to start. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll90gwo5rQQ
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: alternative pencil, literacy, writing
Working with learners who use PODD books for communication? Never used PODD but curious about them? Today’s videos show the use of these tools in storybook reading. First, Jane Farrall lets us peek into a session in which she uses this strategy with a paper-based PODD book. Next, Betty Campbell talks about using an SGD, the Compass with PODD, to read and interact with beginning communicators. Many thanks to Betty and Jane for creating and posting these video demonstrations.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Among the many wonderful events at the 2016 ISAAC Biennial Conference was a film festival highlighting the use of AAC around the world. Submissions from around the world centered on the theme of Changing Lives and were entered in the categories of leadership, inspiration, and education. Here is a compilation of the Film Festival videos from around the world. Enjoy! Israel: AAC-Singing About It by Rachel Blum and Tenenbaum Canada: More Than a Voice by Bocar N’Dyaie Sweden: Andreas Speaks Bliss by Anna Stromberg Qatar: Share and Believe by Qatar Assistive Technology Center Canada: 21 Days of Silence by Fiona Campbell Canada: Joseph Never Shuts Up by Kevin Vieira and Joseph Spahn-Vieira Canada: The AAC Zone by Chelsea Hagen Taiwan: Learn from Love by Fu-Hua Chang Russia: Colours for Life by Irina Tekoskaya Canada: A New Hope by Lorenzo Minelli and David Crew Canada: What?!! Are You Deaf? by Helene... [Read More...]
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: ISAAC 2016, video
Those who had the opportunity to attend ISAAC’s Biennial Conference in Toronto undoubtedly left with lots of information and a big dose of inspiration. Let’s keep the momentum for change and growth going as we turn our thoughts to implementing good AAC practices. Godfrey Nazareth’s talk, The Sky is Only the Beginning: Living Life Without Limits, is a great video, both for the information he shares and the way that he shares it. Thanks to the AAC Team at Penn State and the AAC RERC for making this available. Enjoy!
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: employment, video
In the past few years, we’ve written a lot about the value of AAC systems that are rich in single core vocabulary words. Our position has always been, however, that many users of AAC will also benefit from fringe vocabulary words and selected prestored messages. You can read more about that here. To be sure, pre-stored messages, including phrases, sentences, and full questions, have their drawbacks. The main downside relates to the lack of flexibility they offer. Once programmed into a device, the communicator has to use them just the way they are. If he/she wants to say a variation of that message, they are out of luck. In the context of a robust system, however, this isn’t as problematic as it sounds. Individuals who have been provided with robust AAC systems can go to their single word vocabulary to be more precise if the pre-stored message doesn’t capture exactly... [Read More...]
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: prestored messages, therapy