Video of the Week: Activating the Power of Community Partnerships

June 21, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: Activating the Power of Community Partnerships

How can we leverage the power of our communities to support AAC access and acceptance? In today’s featured video, SLP and AAC/AT specialist Sara Ware shares ideas for how to improve AAC implementation by partnering with community members. This recording is part of the AAC in the Cloud conference sponsored by CoughDrop. You can learn more about that here. Thanks to CoughDrop for this fine conference and to Sara for this helpful presentation. You can access the handouts for this session with this link. Direct link to video –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l2emLdSUWU&ab_channel=CoughDrop 

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Video of the Week: Modeling & an AAC Implementation Plan

June 7, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: Modeling & an AAC Implementation Plan

After a new SGD arrives, attention shifts to helping the AAC user integrate it into daily life. Shannon Archer discusses how having an AAC implementation plan can promote communication and language learning in today’s featured video. This session was originally presented at AAC in the Cloud, a free online conference organized by Coughdrop. Many thanks to Shannon and the CoughDrop team that puts on the AAC in the Cloud Conference each June for this helpful presentation.   Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYZNEjwF-G4&ab_channel=CoughDrop 

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Video of the Week: Mental Health & AAC

May 31, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: Mental Health & AAC

How does AAC intersect with issues related to mental health? In today’s featured video, hosted by SmartBox, a group of AAC stakeholders discuss this important topic. Many thanks to Chris Gibbons, Melanie Gylling, Alicia Alverson, and Ashley Mohesky for a helpful presentation on a topic of great significance. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acq4D9LOPL0&ab_channel=SmartboxAssistiveTechnology

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Video of the Week: Fostering Effective Self-advocacy Skills in AAC Users

May 24, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: Fostering Effective Self-advocacy Skills in AAC Users

Communication plays a vital role in self-advocacy for all individuals, including those who use AAC. In today’s featured video, Melonie Melton and Heather Patton share thoughts on ways professionals and families can facilitate self-determination and build skills in self-advocacy. Their practical suggestions include activities and intervention tools for students with AAC needs. This is an archived presentation hosted by ECHO Voices of the Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP). We are grateful to OTAP and the speakers, Melonie and Heather, for this presentation. You can obtain the handouts for this session here.  Enjoy! Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFRX4A4MG4I&ab_channel=OTAP-RSOI 

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Video of the Week: AAC Learning with Pets & Animals

May 17, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: AAC Learning with Pets & Animals

Calling all animal lovers! Whether caring for pets, visiting a farm or zoo, or just watching funny critter videos together, the animal kingdom offers many ways to gain language and AAC skills. In today’s featured video, Courtney Maholtz and Heather Prenovost from PRC Saltillo share thoughts on how to capitalize on experiences with animals in building communication skills. Here are the links to the handouts they discuss in this presentation.  Stepping Stones to AAC Organization Tool Stepping Stones to AAC Reference Tool WordPower 96 location Board Unity 84 Sequenced Board LAMP Words for Life Board Many thanks to Courtney and Heather for these great ideas and for the support of PRC Saltillo in hosting this fun session. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FRpra4jyVc&ab_channel=Saltillo 

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Video of the Week: A Focus on Self-advocacy

May 3, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: A Focus on Self-advocacy

Learning from the lived experiences of people who use AAC is informative, insightful, and enjoyable. Today, we hear from Krista Howard, an AAC mentor from We Speak AAC, who was a featured speaker for ECHO Voices. ECHO Voices is a part of the Oregon Technology Access Program. You can obtain the handout for this session here.   Many thanks to Krista and ECHO Voices for this wonderful session. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Faly16OjkCE&ab_channel=OTAP-RSOI

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Video of the Week: AI Language Models & AAC

April 26, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: AI Language Models & AAC

Curious about the role that artificial intelligence (AI) can play in AAC? In today’s featured video, we learn about a Google Research project on this topic conducted by Stephanie Valencia, Richard Cave, Krystal Kallarackal, Katie Seaver, Michael Terry, and Shaun Kane. This session was part of the Association for Computing Machinery Computer-Human Interaction (ACM CHI) Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems   Many thanks to the presenter, Stephanie Valencia, and ACM CHI for this intriguing session. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbbU68156K0&ab_channel=ACMSIGCHI

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Video of the Week: AAC for Students with Visual Challenges

April 19, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: AAC for Students with Visual Challenges

How can we support students with AAC needs who also have visual impairments? Today, we feature a recorded session on this topic from the 2023 Wisconsin Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired (WCBVI) Preschool and Elementary Conference. In this presentation, AAC SLP Jennifer Schubring, of Building AAC, provides important information and many helpful resources. Many thanks to Jennifer and WCBVI for making this archived session available.  Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72EVkUvzdKg&ab_channel=WCBVIVIDEOS 

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Video of the Week: Mindset Shifts that Empower Communication Partners & AAC Users

March 29, 2023 by - 1 Comment


Video of the Week: Mindset Shifts that Empower Communication Partners & AAC Users

Experience is a wonderful teacher that inspires us to grow and evolve. In today’s video, we feature AAC and AT specialist Lauren Enders Gonzales, who shares some important lessons about our mindsets that either inhibit or support AAC learning. You can access the slide handouts for this presentation here. Many thanks to Lauren for sharing this recording of her session at the Inclusive Classroom Conference with us. Enjoy!  Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIsWwj_9ySc&ab_channel=LaurenS.%28Enders%29Gonzales%2CM.A.%2CCCC-SLP You can learn more from Lauren here.

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Video of the Week: Helping Parents Model AAC at Home

March 8, 2023 by - Leave your thoughts


Video of the Week: Helping Parents Model AAC at Home

Looking for ways to support families who are strengthening their AAC practices? There’s no one better than Jill Senner and Matt Baud to guide us with research-supported strategies and prAACtical tips. Thank you to Jill, Matt, and the Oregon Technology Access Program ECHO Voices for this informative presentation. You can obtain the handouts for the session here.  Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGK0JzjInOg&ab_channel=OTAP-RSOI 

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