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Kicking Off AAC Awareness Month with Hands-on Activities

September 30, 2021 by - Leave your thoughts

Kicking Off AAC Awareness Month with Hands-on Activities

Tonight we’ll be turning the page on the calendar and preparing to celebrate AAC Awareness Month! For the past decade, October has given us some extra opportunities to spread the word about all things AAC, and it’s pretty exciting to think back on all we’ve done and also to plan for the current year. Each week during AAC Awareness Month we’ll share suggestions for things to do to help others learn about a field that emerged to support children and adults with complex communication needs. This week, we’ll focus on hands-on activities. A popular approach to AAC Awareness Month is to invite a group of colleagues or families to come together and communicate only through AAC for the event. Some years, we’ve held ‘Silent Snack’ events before class where we put out a variety of board games and invited some of our AAC clients to come in and play along.... [Read More...]

AAC Fair Testing Practices: Response Modes

September 23, 2021 by - Leave your thoughts

AAC Fair Testing Practices: Response Modes

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about the concept of Fair Testing Practices and how that might apply to people who use AAC. If you missed those posts, you can check them out using the links below. Introduction to Fair Testing Practices in AAC   AAC Fair Testing Practices: Preparation  In today’s post, we consider how students will respond to a number of testing situations. Teams can explore each of the topics listed below, brainstorm possible solutions, and work together to make decisions about how the student will respond with forced-choice questions, open-ended questions, and test items that require physical manipulation of test materials. Topic 4: How will the student answer forced-choice questions, such as true/false or multiple-choice questions? Many AAC users can answer these types of questions the same way that their speaking peers do.  Adjustments may be needed for individuals with fine motor difficulties, such as... [Read More...]

Video of the Week: Teaching Language in the Classroom to Students Who Use AAC

September 22, 2021 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Teaching Language in the Classroom to Students Who Use AAC

Students who use AAC often need a good deal of support to develop their language skills and be able to communicate complex thoughts and ideas. In today’s featured video, we head to PRC Saltillo to learn from SLP Elyse Pycraft, who shares information that will be helpful to clinicians and therapists who support speaking, reading, and writing. Many thanks to Elyse and the team at PRC Saltillo for this helpful video.   Direct Link to Video – https://www.prentrom.com/assets/articulate/Teaching_Lang_in_the_Classroom/index.html#/lessons/p3AcdbUD4V0zuGfoo0lauuUrsHRUgLP3 

Video of the Week: Text-based AAC Tools

September 15, 2021 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Text-based AAC Tools

How can we support individuals who are literate and prefer a text-based communication app? In today’s video, we travel to Minnesota to learn from AT Specialists Terri Rosen and Elizabeth Barry from the Simon Technology Center at the Pacer Center. In this archived webinar, they discuss important aspects of text-based communication and review a number of helpful AAC apps. You can obtain the slide handout here and a supplemental resource document here. Many thanks to Terri, Elizabeth, and the Simon Technology Center for making this video available. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LEUNQk5cuo&ab_channel=SimonPacer!

Growing AAC Professionals: AAC-friendly Classrooms, AAC for Toddlers, & AAC for Healthcare Providers

August 26, 2021 by - 2 Comments

Growing AAC Professionals: AAC-friendly Classrooms, AAC for Toddlers, & AAC for Healthcare Providers

As one semester ends and a new one begins, we welcome Vicki Haddix back to these pages to share the work of graduate student SLPs who enroll in her AAC classes. Vicki is an AAC SLP and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Memphis. Today, she shares three student projects on a diverse range of topics.  We invite you to explore the work of Vicki’s students, SLPs-to-be Shayla Gaffney, Lori Davis, and Abbie Warr.  ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: When I designed the AAC course, I tried to incorporate elements of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) within the class. One of the elements I’m particularly proud of is allowing the students to choose their own final projects, which are worth 50% of their grade. I give them the following guidelines:  Your final project should: Collect information from a variety of sources (i.e.: not only a survey or only research articles);  Ground itself... [Read More...]

Video of the Week: Introduction to Literacy for Students with Complex Communication Needs

August 25, 2021 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Introduction to Literacy for Students with Complex Communication Needs

As schools ramp up here in the US, many professionals and families are thinking about how to support the reading and writing development of students with AAC needs. In this video, AAC SLP Vicki Clarke covers some important concepts and shares lots of prAACtical suggestions. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2uSL_ymlNo&ab_channel=AACChicksatDynamicTherapyAssociatesInc. —

Video of the Week: Communication Basics in Angelman Syndrome

August 18, 2021 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Communication Basics in Angelman Syndrome

We’re delighted to share this presentation by AAC SLP Tabi Jones Wohleber which was part of the 2021 Angelman Syndrome Foundation Family Conference. In this video, Tabi discusses the role of AAC and multimodal communication and shares strategies for supporting communicative development at home. She also explains the components of robust AAC systems and how to move toward those for individuals with Angelman Syndrome. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td6Xj7YGFFI&ab_channel=AngelmanSyndromeFdn

AAC Goal Writing with Lauren Enders: Laying a Solid Foundation

August 2, 2021 by - Leave your thoughts

AAC Goal Writing with Lauren Enders: Laying a Solid Foundation

Writing goals for AAC learners, whether they are beginning communicators or focusing on more advanced linguistic concepts, can be tricky and intimidating. Today, we introduce a new series authored by PrAACtical AAC friend and AAC/AT expert Lauren Enders to give us insight on the process and tips for developing strong goals and objectives. Throughout this series, Lauren shares her perspective developed from her years of experience in public schools and as a nationally recognized presenter. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Though it may be hard to believe, back-to-school is around the corner! As we get ready to head back into the classroom, now seems like the perfect time to launch a series exploring best practices to consider when writing IEPs for our AAC learners. The thought of crafting IEP goals and objectives for students who are learning to use AAC strikes fear into the hearts of many SLPs, special education teachers, and other school... [Read More...]

Video of the Week: Building an AAC Culture in Schools

July 21, 2021 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Building an AAC Culture in Schools

Creating environments where AAC is readily accessible and widely appreciated is important to AAC stakeholders, whether they are professionals, families, or individuals with complex communication needs. Today, we feature a presentation from AAC in the Cloud by AAC SLPs Amanda Hartmann and Barbara van’t Westende that addresses how we can break down barriers to foster a community of AAC acceptance and support in school settings. Many thanks to Barbara, Amanda, and to CoughDrop for this helpful session.  You can download the handout for this presentation here. Direct link to video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASZ55EWtRv0&ab_channel=CoughDrop

Video of the Week: Inclusive Education for Students with AAC Needs

July 14, 2021 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Inclusive Education for Students with AAC Needs

How can students who use AAC benefit from inclusive education and how can we support them in the process? In today’s featured video, we head to Australia to learn from Dr. Amelia Edwards of Two Way Street and Dr. Leanne Longfellow of Inclusive Education Planning. In this recording, they address barriers to effective inclusive education and how to surmount them. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIm-J4U1s7A&ab_channel=InclusiveEducationPlanning