26 Search Results for erin sheldon

How I Do It – AAC in General Education: Incorporating Peer Modeling

September 5, 2019 by - 3 Comments

Decorative image reading AAC in General Education: Incorporating Peer Modeling

Looking for examples of how AAC is successfully incorporated into inclusive education? Today, we head to upstate New York to learn from AAC SLP Sarah Gregory who shares her experiences in supporting students in general education settings. In this post, Sarah shares her ideas for using peer modeling to support AAC learning. Enjoy!     :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: AAC in General Education: Incorporating Peer Modeling Authentic inclusion of students with Complex Communication Needs (CCN) or non-speaking students is essential and can also be difficult to achieve. One of the most effective strategies I have found is involving all students in AAC learning. Folks in my district started a peer modeling program a few years ago and we found this to be a powerful tool in achieving our goals for academic inclusion and social belonging. In this blog post, I will outline the why and the how of our current peer modeling program.... [Read More...]

Video of the Week: Safeguards for AAC Users

September 4, 2019 by - 2 Comments

Decorative image reading Video of the Week: Safeguards for AAC Users

Reducing the vulnerability of people with complex communication needs is something that all AAC service providers should be thinking about. In today’s featured video, which was part of the AAC in the Cloud Conference, AAC specialist Erin Sheldon helps us understand the issues and consider some of the things we can do to help AAC users have more autonomy and be less vulnerable.  Many thanks to Erin and to the wonderful team at CoughDrop for this fine presentation. This is an important topic that we should all learn more about, AAC friends. Erin’s handout is available here. Link to the session on the CoughDrop site: https://presenters.aacconference.com/videos/UVRRelFURTU= Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=4iclspbe774

Video of the Week: Language Development Across the School Day

January 16, 2019 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Language Development Across the School Day

How can we support the language development of AAC learners throughout the school day? In today’s featured video, Erin Sheldon examines ways in which we can facilitate early concept development, build background knowledge, and support vocabulary learning. Many thanks to Kathy Howery and the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium for making this archived webinar available.   You can learn more from Erin here. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILegvpt9bw

Building AAC Awareness: Using AAC to Express a Range of Functions

October 12, 2018 by - Leave your thoughts

Building AAC Awareness: Using AAC to Express a Range of Functions

Most times, the goal of AAC intervention is to help those with complex communication needs be able to express whatever they want at any time. For some individuals, we over-emphasize the tools and strategies they will need to get the things they want, whether it is social engagement (attention), assistance (help), objects, events, or even being able to protest or reject unwanted situations. Michigan-based SLP Rachael Langley works tirelessly to support technologies and services that give access to the full range to communicative functions. When she offered to share her thoughts on this topic with us, we jumped on the chance. Enjoy! :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Four Functions of Language There are many ways to emphasize AAC use and embed aided language into the day. Sometimes we use a core vocabulary approach to teach specific vocabulary. But we can also approach AAC learning by focusing on a specific function or pragmatic use of language.... [Read More...]

Video of the Week: Supporting AAC Learners at Home

October 10, 2018 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Supporting AAC Learners at Home

We ’re headed up to the clouds today, with another visit to the wonderful presentations made possible by CoughDrop AAC, a company that has been innovating from the start. Their free AAC in the Cloud conference, held each June, not only serves as an amazing source of support for the AAC community but has also served as a model for others who have the capacity to provide free online professional development in AAC. In today’s featured video, Erin Sheldon addresses a topic near and dear to our prAACtical hearts: Helping families support their AAC learners. Enjoy this session and if you’re interested in more on this and related topics, check out these posts featuring other work by AAC parent and professional Erin Sheldon here. You can obtain the handout for this session here or visit the conference page on this session here for more information. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ocbBdEy4V4

Video of the Week: Supporting Emergent AAC Learners in Inclusive Education Through Descriptive Teaching

January 17, 2018 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Supporting Emergent AAC Learners in Inclusive Education Through Descriptive Teaching

How can we better support AAC learners in general education classrooms? With great teaching and appropriate supports! In today’s video, Erin Sheldon discusses the rationale and implementation of an important educational/clinical strategy, descriptive teaching, that can be used in a variety of settings.  We are so grateful to Erin and others who willingly share what they know and make that available for all of us to learn from. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQA5RpVXGQo&list=PLlsAGwcMnu5pRo7HCpy77ZqVQEtEqEgbh You can learn more from Erin here and here.

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 30: July 2017

July 23, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 30: July 2017

The hot and hazy days of summer are upon us but the AAC work continues. Here are some posts that may be of interest. Monday: 5 Ways to Make Semantic Maps More Effective in AAC Therapy Wednesday: Video of the Week: AAC Teaching Tips on Scaffolding and Visual Supports ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: If you’re looking for ways to build AAC and language skills during book reading, here are some suggestions from guest bloggers. Erin Sheldon on books for beginning readers of any age Karen Natoci’s series on classroom lessons based on various books Sara Barnhill and the AT Team at Children’s Hospital of Virginia on Pete the Cat Rocking My New School Shoes, Bear Wants More, Bark George, and Sometimes I Feel Sunny. Happy reading!    

Video of the Week: Breaking Down Barriers to Inclusive Education for AAC Learners

June 14, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: Breaking Down Barriers to Inclusive Education for AAC Learners

How can we help our AAC learners become cognitively engaged and participate fully in instructional activities? What can we do to support social connectedness and help them make contributions to classroom learning experiences? In this week’s featured video, which is embedded in a fuller AT Internet Module, Erin Sheldon helps us answer those kinds of questions and shares a framework to help us plan for full participation in learning experiences. We’re grateful to Erin, OCALI, and AT Internet Modules for creating and sharing these wonderful resources.  

Video of the Week: From Presence to Contribution – A Family’s Journey Towards an Inclusive Life

April 5, 2017 by - 2 Comments

Video of the Week: From Presence to Contribution - A Family's Journey Towards an Inclusive Life

Why do we work so hard to support effective communication through AAC? In the end, the real goal is to help people live rich and enviable lives. Working toward that starts with a vision and that’s the subject of Erin Sheldon’s talk, Including Maggie. Many thanks to Kathy Howery and the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia for making this available. If you think you know inclusion and if you think you know what the end game is in AAC, don’t skip this. All of us have something to learn from this family’s journey toward an inclusive life. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkf3LD6047s&list=PL6P1FySUgEPR1aG-ZRYi363jtaniNJFqC&index=13

PrAACtically Reading: A House for Hermit Crab

January 18, 2016 by - 2 Comments

PrAACtically Reading: A House for Hermit Crab

Storybook reading is rich with potential for building AAC, language, and literacy skills. An added bonus: It’s an activity that educators, therapists, and families can all use and enjoy. In this post, we explore ways to use A House for Hermit Crab, by Eric Carle, for AAC and language learning. Key Instructional Strategies Having an engaging book gives us a good start on the lesson, but the learning comes from the interaction. Shared reading can be done in therapy one-on-one or as a group in class. Either way, the adult leading the activity will need to be well-versed in instructional strategies that facilitate AAC learning. These include: Aided language input  RAAP  Feedback  Goal Areas: Language and Communication There are lots and lots of ways to use this book for literacy learning, but in this post we’ll focus more on the development of communication and language skills. Here are some goal... [Read More...]