116 Search Results for enders

Begin AAC Now: 10 Things To Do

May 28, 2013 by - 4 Comments

Begin AAC Now10 Things To Do

If you know someone with significant speech difficulties, BEGIN AAC NOW…. If you know someone,  try something… Doing something, even if it isn’t perfect, is infinitely better than doing nothing at all…. There is no specific order for these suggestions, try what is appropriate and doable for you… A year from now you may wish you started today (K. Lamb)… So begin now at any level.. for someone, a class, a clinic, for a few… Create a Visual Language & AAC Environment: Visual Immersion Program, Meaningful Language Experiences, Importance of Using Visual Supports Speak AAC to the AAC Learner:  Use Aided Language Input (ALI), Learning to Use ALI Get Assessment Information:  Communication Matrix ,  AAC Evaluation Genie, Thoughts & Ideas, AAC Assessment Forms, Write & Implement Some AAC Goals: Goals That Matter, AAC in the IEP by Lauren Enders,  PrAActical Goals Learn and Use a Core Word Approach: Core Word Communication Board Samples, About Core Words- First... [Read More...]

Posts You May Have Missed For Autism Awareness Month

May 3, 2013 by - Leave your thoughts

30 Posts You May Have Missed in April

PrAACtical Thinking Happy April: Celebrate Autism Acceptance Month and National Poetry Writing Month Happy World Autism Day! 5 Ways to Get More Popular AAC Style 133 Free or Lite Versions of AAC Apps & App Selection Resources 5 Things To Do If You Are Not Confident Teaching Core Vocabulary 31 Posts You May Have Missed in March Communication Circles:With A Little Help From My Friends Core Vocabulary: Making Sense of Symbols AAC & RTI 5 Reasons for Using Pre-Stroed Messages in AAC Systems Speak To Me With Your Eyes My Love Keep Learning About Core Words: 8 More Things to do for Autism Acceptance Month A PrAACtical Look: AAC at the Baldwin Wallace Speech Center PrAACtical Goals That Matter 5 Ways to Use Powerpoint in AAC Intervention Strategy of The Month Teaching Core Vocabulary The First 12: Getting Started with Core Words More on Teaching Core Vocabulary More on Core... [Read More...]

PrAACtical AAC Goals

April 24, 2013 by - 4 Comments

Practical AAC Goals That Matter

We can not say enough about writing AAC goals that are meaningful to the AAC user, but sometimes this is easier said than done.  During discussions in a graduate seminar class, it was apparent that goal writing is not necessarily intuitive or even specifically taught.  Goals are also the foundation behind any toy, app, or materials we use to set the stage for meaningful language experiences. Sample goals can serve as inspiration to develop specific, measurable, individualized AAC goals. For comprehensive information on a range of AAC goals, check out our PrAACtical Goals That Matter or How I Do It- AAC in the IEP by Lauren Enders.   But to get started,   here are some selected expressive language goals written AAC style. Expressive Language Using Prestored Messages (i.e., multiple words/sentences on one cell/button; E.g., a button with “I want music”) Request a turn using prestored messages (e.g., “Hey, don’t forget me! I... [Read More...]

Keep Learning About Core Words- 8 More Things to Do For Autism Acceptance Month

April 22, 2013 by - Leave your thoughts

Keep Learning About Core Words 8 More Things to do for Autism Acceptance Month

April is Autism Awareness/Acceptance month.  It is exciting that there have been so many positive messages and activities around schools, communities, the country, and even the world.  It has been great that AAC and visual supports have been incorporated into many educational and communication programs (hopefully soon a ‘tipping point’, so that ALL students who need AAC systems will have them). One of the next ‘tipping points’ that would also be great to see is with the use of core words on communication displays. ‘Core Words’ are our Strategy of the Month and we are writing about the first 12 through the first 36. But, if you want more background information or to go well beyond 36 core words (which is the goal), Here are 8 More Things To Do For Autism Acceptance Month: Take a look at AAC Language Lab for Core Word Information Read ASHA- A Few Good... [Read More...]

Happy World Autism Day!

April 2, 2013 by - Leave your thoughts

Happy World Autism Day

Enjoy! Voices of Autism- The SongStream Project explores the role of music in the lives of four young musicians on the autism spectrum. This project contributes to the conversation about autism beyond statistics and into the domain of appreciation and celebration. AAC Image Links (Great for training and education)- Speak for Yourself – Autism & AAC Awareness (bonus- enter to win Speak for Yourself AAC App) AAC Do’s & Dont’s by Lauren Enders AAC It’s Easy as 1,2,3 by Marcia Sterna World Autism Day Free or Discounted Apps-  These are worth checking out! Look for more at the Appy Mall.      

Happy April! Celebrate Autism Acceptance Month and National Poetry Writing Month!

April 1, 2013 by - Leave your thoughts

Happy APril- Celebrate Autism Acceptance & Poetry Month

There are a lot of celebrations this month. It is officially Autism Awareness Month.  A new name for this that has popped up & taken hold is Autism Acceptance Month. Awareness and/or  Acceptance seems to mean different things to different people but hopefully the intent is similar. We hope that this month is filled with great ideas to support ALL people with autism and their families. We hope that  educators, clinicians, and whole communities are inclusive, that they presume competence, and that they support communication and language using best prAACtice information and research. We do know that there is more to hope for than just this, like better employment outcomes, more appropriate accommodations, and more individualized support but if focus stays on the former, it seems then that the latter would improve. Plus we have more control (if there is such a thing) on facilitating inclusivity, presuming competence, and of course... [Read More...]

30 Things to Do During Autism Awareness Month

March 26, 2013 by - Leave your thoughts

30 Things To Do During Autism Awareness Month

We love getting EVERYONE  involved in Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month.  We like to take a goal focused approach to our autism  activities by choosing projects that facilitate autism awareness & acceptance, positive attitudes, and  autism & communication learning.  We pass out materials, have contests, go to events, do extra talks, and try and engage EVERYONE we know and even some we do not know.  We do a lot of shopping (with small amount of money, but we have to EAT and accessorize).  Our families, pets, friends, and students all participate.  It is a month filled with purposeful fun.  Here are some of the things we will be doing. Please share any activities or projects that you know about. Read & share 5 references that support the use of AAC & Autism (evidence based research) Check out the Online Autistic Carnival which is currently accepting submission of various video documentaries (music, art, writing,... [Read More...]

How I Do It: AAC in the IEP

March 7, 2013 by - 7 Comments

How I Do It-AAC in the IEP

We’re happy to welcome back, Lauren Enders, an AAC specialist from Pennsylvania. You can read her earlier post here. This month, Lauren shares some of ways she addresses AAC learning in the IEP. Frequently, SLPs and teachers contact me in a complete panic because they need to generate an IEP and write IEP goals for a student who is using (or beginning to use) Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).  These folks have lots of questions and most often, have no idea where to begin.  There are a number of questions that come up repeatedly in these panicked requests.  When approached by PrAACtical AAC to write a post about IEPs and AAC, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the most common questions I hear along with the answers I provide.  I will structure the post in a Question & Answer format in the hopes that the post... [Read More...]

10 AAC Things to do for PrAACtically Free in 10 Minutes or Less

March 6, 2013 by - Leave your thoughts

10 AAC Things to do for Free in 10 Minutes or Less

  Subscribe to a blog with an AAC focus– Spectronics Blogs, Uncommon Sense, Jane Farrall Consulting, PrAACtical AAC Program a one hit message device and use it for a new reason– 101+ Things to do with a Big Mac or Other Single Message Communication Devices Follow an AAC topic Pinterest board– PrAACtical AAC, AAC by Katie Ahern, AT/AAC/Adapt/Modify/Accessibility/Accommodations, AT for Communication, AAC by Constantly Speaking, Communication-AAC Print out and hang up or give someone an AAC Awareness Image– 10 Commandments of AAC Devices, AAC It’s as Easy as 1,2,3 Register for a free AAC professional development webinar from Ablenet Print out an AAC Poster– AAC Boot Camp-Getting AAC Users to Communicate, The Periodic Table of AAC, Learn about technology and apps for AAC and learning from Pinterest– Lauren Enders Pinterest Boards, Tech in Special Education Print out song visual supports Read a Tar Heel Reader Book with an AAC learner... [Read More...]

ATIA 2013 Orlando- More PrAACtical Information

February 11, 2013 by - Leave your thoughts

ATIA 2013 Orlando More PrAACtical Information

In a previous post,  PrAACtical Pictures, we hopefully illustrated that we had an amazing time at the ATIA 2013 Orlando conference. We laughed, learned, and loved meeting so many ‘on-line’ friends.  So, of course there is a  little more to share…   It was great stopping by the Attainment booth and learning about a soon to be released iPad app-   Community Success.  Community Success has learning tools to teach about community activities (i.e., riding the bus, shopping, movie theater, etc).  Learning is made  accessible through video modeling, photo-based directions, talking stories, and illustrations of social behaviors.  Can’t wait to get this.  Everyone at the booth was great but we missed seeing John Sajdak. Also, we got to learn more about My Talk Tools.  There is so much to this AAC application.  Try it out with My TalkTools Mobile Lite (free), and Workspace (free 30 day trial).  We watched some app demos through the  My Talk Upgrades.  It... [Read More...]