AAC Therapy: Putting Parents in Charge

July 7, 2013 by - Leave your thoughts


AAC Therapy: Putting Parents in Charge

In this week’s video, we share the thoughts of Australian SLP Gail Bennell. In this video, Gail provides some interesting perspectives on helping families take charge of the AAC and other therapies in which their children participate. Gail offers professional online support to parents of nonverbal children and is on a mission to help nonverbal children everywhere learn how to communicate so they can reach their full potential. You can find her handouts and get more information at Gail’s website, www.RaisingNonverbalChildren.com . –  

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Video of the Week: Intimacy as a Human Need (2012 ISAAC-Words+ Consumer Lecture Award)

June 30, 2013 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: Intimacy as a Human Need (2012 ISAAC-Words+ Consumer Lecture Award)

This week’s video features a presentation by Lisa Lehman, winner of the 2012 ISAAC-Words+ Outstanding Consumer Lecture Award. Presented in Pittsburgh at ISAAC’s Biennial Conference last summer, Lisa addresses the topic of intimacy in the human experience.  

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Video of the Week: “I Just Want to Belong” Meaningful Inclusion

June 23, 2013 by - 2 Comments


Video of the Week: “I Just Want to Belong” Meaningful Inclusion

For school-aged children, few things are more painful that being excluded from a group. Today we’re excited to share a series of videos from SET-BC on the topic of social inclusion. Laurie Smith and Lorraine Kamp produced two substantial videos entitled Speaking Out and Joining In. They also have links with shorter videos on some of the strategies. Quick Soapbox: Fellow SLPs, this is important stuff. All the AAC in the world won’t matter if people are isolated or lonely. The communication and social skills it takes to develop and maintain meaningful relationships outside of the family is something that we can address in the goals we write and the therapy we provide. We can do something about this.

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More than Speech: Communication & Aphasia

June 9, 2013 by - Leave your thoughts


More Than Speech: Communication & Aphasia

Life is Larger Than… APHASIA  is the title of the Aphasia Institute’s 30th anniversary video made by group members, volunteers, and staff. Although life is larger than… APHASIA, the power of communication and sharing stories is so apparent. Enjoy the video, but check out the Aphasia Institute’s website for resources, information and a visual support for understanding the mission: “Giving hope to people with aphasia and their families by developing and sharing innovative solutions that reduce language barriers to full life participation”.

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Presuming Competence and Using the Least Dangerous Assumption

May 26, 2013 by - 2 Comments


Presuming Competence & Using The Least Dangerous Assumption

One of our core language posts from last month referred to the criterion of the least dangerous assumption (Donellan, 1984). This week we’re pleased to be able to expand on that topic and share a video by Dr. Cheryl Jorgensen, a former project director at the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire. As we near the end of a school year in the US and begin IEPs that will direct the activities for the next academic year, we’re all reminded how critical it is to set high but attainable goals. Sometimes, that means making the least dangerous assumption. You can view the video here. Donnellan, A. (1984). The criterion of the least dangerous assumption. Behavior Disorders, 9, 2, 141-150.  

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AAC for Students with Intellectual Disabilities: Basic Strategies for Immediate Results

May 12, 2013 by - 2 Comments


AAC for Students with Intellectual Disabilities: Basic Strategies for Immediate Results

A good number of SLPs in school settings serve students with intellectual disabilities, some of whom who use or need AAC. In this video by ASHA, Dr. Krista Wilkinson and Ellen Kravitz of Easter Seals in Massachusetts, discusses many prAACtical issues that arise in doing this work. A number of years ago when I was the Coordinator for the ASHA Special Interest Division on AAC, I had the opportunity to work with a team of SLPs who were fully committed to educating SLPs about AAC.  Ellen spearheaded the effort to create this webinar, along with the support of Diane Paul, Karen Niles, and many other wonderful people at the ASHA National Office. We were delighted to host ASHA’s media team at our university SLP clinic to do some of the taping for this program. Thanks to the generosity of ASHA and ASHF, this presentation is offered both in the free version and... [Read More...]

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