May 31, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Typically developing children acquire language not through direct instruction but by immersion in an environment where the language of the community is modeled all day long. When they eat and when they play, in care routines at home and in exchanges in the community, children are continually hearing the language they are learning to produce. When parents of Deaf or hard of hearing babies learn of their children’s disability, many clamor to learn sign language and use it as they bathe, feed, and play with their children. These parents may not be perfect sign language models, but they understand that their efforts to learn and use sign language will play a critical role in helping their children learn to communicate effectively. Thus, they strive to sign all day long as they talk to their kids. The pervasive, contextually-driven exposure to language is the foundation on which children build skills in... [Read More...]
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: aided language input, language development, modeling, play
May 24, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
It is so exciting to see how AAC is being implemented around the world. In this week’s video, we travel to Guatemala to feature the work of Isabel Orellana de Chang. The video is in Spanish, but you can use the closed caption buttons at the bottom of the video to turn on English subtitles. This is a great resource to share with our Spanish-speaking friends. Enjoy!
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Spanish, video
May 17, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
For people who are learning to use AAC, therapy is important. Good instruction matters. But you know what else really matters? Having the chance to build relationships and talk with other people just like you. Today’s featured video highlights a group that has been offering this opportunity to the community for several years. Dr. Nancy Robinson and her students in the Communicative Disorders Clinic at San Francisco State University have been hosting a social opportunity group that brings together people who use AAC. Let’s take a peek into Conversation Club. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1YzBsriqRU
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: Conversation, group, social, video
May 10, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Better Hearing and Speech Month (#BHSM) is all about reaching out and advocating for access to communication supports. As professionals, advocacy is part of our core roles, though we generally struggle with finding the time to do as much as we’d like to. Few of us, however, have the opportunity to speak about behalf of AAC on the floor of the United States Senate. In today’s post, we share the recording of Rick Creech, lifelong user of AAC, speaking to the Special Committee on Aging. In the first part, we hear Rick’s prepared remarks to the Senate. Rick takes questions from the committee in the second video. Aging Without Community: The Consequences of Isolation and Loneliness Rick Answers Senators’ Questions
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: advocacy, public policy, video
May 3, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
There aren’t many formal assessment instruments designed expressly for people who need AAC, so it’s important to know about the ones that are available. In today’s post, we feature two videos on the Test of Aided Communication Symbol Performance (the TASP). Authored by Dr. Joan Bruno (creator of the Gateway programs for SGDs and AAC apps), this test helps us answer some of the questions we have when selecting or creating AAC systems for people with complex communication needs. In this first video, we get a brief overview of the TASP from Dr. Lori Geist. Next, let’s hear more about it from practicing clinicians and see a demonstration of some of the subtests. Do you use formal testing in your AAC assessments? We’d love to hear about those experiences.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC assessment, formal tests, TASP, video
April 26, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
At school In clinics and hospitals At home In restaurants and shops People are supporting children with complex communication needs by speaking AAC and building opportunities for communication learning. Here are a few short videos showing what they’ve been up to. Vanderbilt’s Early Intervention Program are getting some communication in while playing and making music in preschool. Check out Shelane Nielsen and her handsome guy gooping it up in AACtion at home. Jill Baldessari explains how Miguel and his SLP get their eye gaze on. Take a peek at Deb using both prestored messages and single word vocabulary at a restaurant. Let’s see how these classmates are working together in their general education classroom. Ready for a bit of reading instruction, AAC style? Do you have videos of AACtual communication? We’d love to have you share them!
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: communication, Multimodal, video
April 19, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Having trouble getting AAC integrated throughout the classroom day? Veteran SLP Maureen Castillo took a creative approach to this common problem in the classrooms she supports. In this video, she discusses a project she created to foster AAC learning and use in the context of literacy activities. Learn how she combines the teaching of core vocabulary and Dolch sight words using aided language input, peer modeling, anchor books, and more. The video was made possible by Saltillo and is part of their free webinar series. Many thanks to Maureen and to Saltillo for making this available. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epQ3QlBg0hs
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: core vocabulary, intervention, literacy, reading, sight words, video
April 12, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Do you work in or support preschool classrooms? Are you interested in infusing more AAC teaching throughout the day? If so, the TELL ME program may be of interest. This post has an overview of the program I developed with my friend and colleague, Lori Wise, in order to give teachers and therapists a better understanding of ways that they can integrate AAC learning throughout the classroom day. Many thanks to the fine folks at Saltillo for inviting me to do this webinar and for allowing us to share the recording. We are grateful for the support of SLP Joni Nygard and the wonderful team at Attainment for helping us bring this work to fruition. You can download the handout for the video here and see some samples of the TELL ME program here. What works for you in teaching AAC in the preschool classroom? Share your ideas so we can... [Read More...]
Filed under: Video of the Week
April 5, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Why do we work so hard to support effective communication through AAC? In the end, the real goal is to help people live rich and enviable lives. Working toward that starts with a vision and that’s the subject of Erin Sheldon’s talk, Including Maggie. Many thanks to Kathy Howery and the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia for making this available. If you think you know inclusion and if you think you know what the end game is in AAC, don’t skip this. All of us have something to learn from this family’s journey toward an inclusive life. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkf3LD6047s&list=PL6P1FySUgEPR1aG-ZRYi363jtaniNJFqC&index=13
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: inclusion, Inclusive Education, planning
March 29, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Ensuring that AAC systems include high frequency words sets the stage for us to teach language that is flexible and functional across a variety of settings. For whom is that appropriate? How many words? Which ones? In today’s featured video, master clinician Gail Van Tatenhove tackles all of these issues and more. This video and the accompanying resources (which can be found here) were part of the Power AAC series Gail created for PaATTAN to support their efforts in building capacity for high quality AAC services. We’re indebted to them for making this available so all can learn from it.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: core vocabulary, PaTTAN, vocabulary selection