168 Search Results for karen
November 2, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Developing effective communication systems for individuals with significant motor challenges is a challenging process. Ultimately, the goal is to provide them with tools and strategies that allow them to communicate independently and help them develop the skills needed to say what they wish to throughout their daily life experiences. As we all know, this can be a long journey. And while we work toward systems that allow them to communicate independently, they need access to language and communication now despite their motor limitations. Partner assisted scanning (PAS) is one option that works for many AAC learners. In this post, we feature a video overview of this strategy presented by SLP Maureen Nevers as part of the Communication Training Series by the Angelman Syndrome Foundation and the Foster Family Charitable Foundation, and a video of PAS in action by the Dynamic Learning Maps Professional Development (DLM PD) group under the direction... [Read More...]
October 12, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Despite their differences, one thing that many people who use AAC have in common is their need for additional supports to develop strong literacy skills. In today’s featured video, Dr. Karen Erickson, of the Center on Literacy and Disability Studies, introduces the concept of alternate pencils and discusses ways in which teachers, therapists, and families can begin using them to provide alphabet access to people with cognitive or physical disabilities. Let’s write! Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1WgtZClfL8&feature=youtu.be
September 29, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Know any AAC learners like these? Jeremiah has an SGD with thousands of core and fringe words, but he uses less than 100 of them in day-to-day life. Bella used an AAC app with visual scene displays to interact at playtime and during daily routines for the past several months. Her team just added an app with grid-based vocabulary so that she can begin to create novel sentences and expand her language abilities. Mason was recently evaluated for an AAC device, but it will likely take a few months to get the funding situation straightened out. In the meantime, his team created a manual communication board that mirrors the main screen of the SGD’s language software. Each of them need lots of practice to become fluent with the core words in their AAC systems. Are you looking for resources to support your use of core words in therapy, in the... [Read More...]
September 25, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Meetings, therapy, assessments, paperwork, teaching, and more. It’s been a busy week for many of us. Here are some AAC posts you may have missed. Monday – Site of the Month: Project Core Tuesday – Teach Me Tuesday: Snap Scene and Pathways Thursday – PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: Apples
July 3, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Busy week? Here are some AAC posts you may have missed. Monday – PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: Hello Baby Wednesday – Video of the Week: Activity Schedule Action Thursday – PrAACtically July: Resources for a Year of Core Vocabulary
May 16, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Looking for ideas on how to strengthen language learning by students with AAC needs in the classroom? Here are some presentation handouts that may spur your thinking. Start Talking in Class: Helping Students Using AAC Devices by Gail M. Van Tatenhove Incorporating AAC Use into the Classroom by Karen Vinson and Eleanor Thompson Aided Language Stimulation and the Descriptive Teaching Model by Gail M. Van Tatenhove Communication Peeled and Cored for the Classroom by Jennifer M. Ro and Amy Thomsen Score with Core: Implementing Core Vocabulary in the Classroom by Janet S. Lehr
May 15, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Better Hearing and Speech Month! Monday – AAC Core Vocabulary Instruction: Indirect Teaching Strategies Wednesday – Video of the Week: Assessing Communication Needs in AAC Learners Thursday – PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: The Five Senses
March 27, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, prAACtical friends. Hope you’re taking some time to recharge, Monday – PrAACtically Pinteresting with Lauren Enders: AAC Video Examples Wednesday – Video of the Week: Boosting Communication with Video Modeling Thursday – PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: April Fool’s Day Above everything else, AAC is a person’s communication tool. If it’s not always available, it’s not AAC.
March 14, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Today we launch a new series, PrAACtical Teaching in an ASD Classroom, which will address the nuts and bolts of infusing AAC throughout the school day. I couldn’t be more delighted to introduce you to two talented special educators, Amy Devin and Lauren Pawlowski, who work in the public school system in Michigan. Amy and Lauren began teaching in self‐contained ASD elementary classrooms in 2009 and taught in resource rooms prior to that. When they first started with their own classrooms, there was not much talk about core language, let alone how to implement it on a classroom-wide basis. They started with a 32-cell core board on a digitized speech device and now use a 64-location core vocabulary on a manual communication board, large instructional core boards, and individual AAC devices. They are passionate literacy teachers and believe that every child can read, write and communicate. Enjoy their post and... [Read More...]
February 29, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Why spend valuable intervention time teaching words that relate only to one specific activity or environment when you could be teaching words that the learner can use all day long? Building competency with a robust base of 300-500 core words gives people the vocabulary they need to function in any environment. (Try that with AAC systems that are mostly nouns and action verbs!). How can we continually increase our clients’ competence with core words? A few years ago, we decided to approach this by focusing on 12-16 core words each month. Each month, we would highlight those words in our conversation (aided language input), direct intervention, and home programming activities with AAC learners. The repeated experiences with those 12-16 words helped the learners develop new skills, and kept the team focused on the same things. An added bonus: We were less likely to be overwhelmed. It’s gratifying to see many... [Read More...]