Video of the Week: Implementing Visual Supports

January 14, 2016 by - 2 Comments


Today, we return to The Watson Institute for information on the implementation of visual supports. Their style of creating brief video explanations focused on specific strategies makes these clips perfect for sharing with colleagues and families. Visual Support    Power of Pairing: Reinforcers with Visual Supports Build Your Own Schedule: A Structured Choice Strategy You can browse through previous posts featuring the work from this fine team here.

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Video of the Week: Developing an AT Implementation Plan

January 7, 2016 by - 5 Comments


Gianna’s teacher uses a visual schedule app successfully in the classroom to support comprehension and reduce problem behaviors. Although she’s shared the strategy and the app with the SLP and OT, neither one consistently use the visual schedule app in their sessions with this student. Jordan’s SLP does her best to use aided language input to provide a competent model of linguistic expression using his SGD when she pushes in to provide services in the classroom. Once she’s gone, classroom staff rarely implement that strategy or create opportunities for Jordan to use the SGD at other times during the school day. Evan’s parents have made an enormous investment in learning about AAC and modeling core words at home to help their son develop stronger skills with his AAC app. They do their best to follow along with the Year of Core Vocabulary Words approach, and are understandably dismayed when the... [Read More...]

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Video of the Week: Using Structure to Minimize Behavioral Challenges

December 30, 2015 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: Using Structure to Minimize Behavioral Challenges

Good AAC therapy is marked by meaningful goals, well-planned instruction, and engaging activities. But for a session to be successful, interventionists also need to be able to manage any problem behaviors that threaten to derail the instruction. Many of the strategies we use to prevent or minimize these behaviors would also be helpful to parents and caregivers. In this week’s featured video, we turn to The Watson Institute in Pittsburgh. This short video is designed to help parents learn about strategies they can use to reduce problem behaviors at home, and can be a great one to share with some of our AAC families. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t13ia4_ZImY

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Video of the Week: Conversations with Adults who Have Intellectual Disabilities

December 23, 2015 by - 2 Comments


Video of the Week: Conversations with Adults who Have Intellectual Disabilities

There is much to love about these video segments showing adults with intellectual disabilities interacting with their peers and caregivers in a supported community living environment. For starters, we love seeing successful interactions that focus on social connectedness, sharing information and true participation, as opposed to requesting and behavior regulation. Notice the tone of these conversations and the supportive strategies that the caregivers use. The residents are respected, empowered, and successful. And, of course, we love seeing the use of multiple modes of communication! Many thanks to the staff and residents of Inner South Communication Service of Victoria, Australia for making these videos available.    

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Video of the Week: Apps Across the Curriculum

December 16, 2015 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: Apps Across the Curriculum

For some learners, AAC is essential in order for them to have access to the curriculum. Access, though, is a bit of a low bar. What we REALLY want is for them to have the supports they need in order to learn and achieve. In this post, we feature a trio of videos to help us look further into apps that will do just that. Thanks to the Center on Technology and Disability, and AT Specialists Diana Petschaue and Luis Perez for these wonderful webinars. http://www.ctdinstitute.org/library/2015-11-06/apps-across-curriculum-and-platforms-support-struggling-learners-series

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Video of the Week: Engineering Environments to Support AAC

December 9, 2015 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: Engineering Environments to Support AAC

It has been so exciting to see the amazing supports for AAC implementation sponsored by The Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF). In this week’s featured video, Erin Sheldon talks about the process of modifying the environment to be conducive to AAC learning. This is full of great content and prAACtical tips that will be helpful to families and professionals alike. Many thanks to the ASF for making this available.  

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Video of the Week: Communication Access as a Social Justice Issue

December 2, 2015 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: Communication Access as a Social Justice Issue

Curb cuts and ramps are standard accommodations in many parts of the world to reduce barriers to mobility. That’s important, of course, but what about the millions of people who are handicapped by barriers to communication? As AAC practitioners, we generally get so wrapped up in addressing the needs of individual clients on our caseloads that we rarely take time to consider the ways in which we can impact systemic barriers to effective communication. We are quite mindful that people with AAC needs struggle to communicate when they leave our therapy sessions and go about their lives and onto the business of learning, playing, and working. We are cognizant of the barriers they face and put on our best problem-solving hats to help them cope. Client by client. Issue by issue. If you’ve lamented “There has to be a better way,” you’re not alone. It seems overwhelming to think about... [Read More...]

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Video of the Week: Classroom Support for the Beginning Communicator

November 25, 2015 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: Classroom Support for the Beginning Communicator

Gabriella doesn’t seem to notice what her teachers and peers are doing in the classroom. When offered a choice of toys, she seems to reach for one rather randomly, has little interest in the one she chose, and knocks it to the floor after 30 seconds. Elliot is assertive in greeting visitors to his classroom, and eagerly leads them around the room, vocalizing excitedly as he shows them around. When he needs help with a toy or material, he hands it to an adult with clear intent and expectation. He’s not using actual words just yet, and his interest in PECS has been limited. Alyssa uses a communication board to make requests and answer questions, but only with a lot of prompting. She uses single symbol utterances in planned communication opportunities during a few activities during the school day. Team members have observed spontaneous use of her AAC tools a... [Read More...]

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Implementing AAC with Children by Kate Ahern

November 11, 2015 by - 1 Comment


Implementing AAC with Children by Kate Ahern

Expectations without demands Communication boards vs choice boards Too many words?? For whom?? Increasing AAC use at home Motivate, model, and move out of the way Special educator and AT specialist Kate Ahern discusses these concepts and more at this wonderful talk hosted by the Angelman Syndrome Foundation. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYJcvTYQST4

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