375 Search Results for complex communication
November 21, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
As usual, the ASHA Annual Convention was so chock full of AAC learning opportunities that there was no way to get to everything of interest. Here are some handouts on AAC topics from the first day of the conference. Aided Language Stimulation for All Communication Partners of Children Who Use AAC by Eric Sailers of Expressive Solutions and Jhoselle Padilla at Chula Vista Elementary School District AAC Multidisciplinary Treatment for Communication & Functional Participation by Amy Sonntag of Ohio State University and Lindsay Ripple of Akron Children’s Hospital “A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words.” An AAC Intervention for Children With Complex Communication Needs by Jamie Boster and John McCarthy of Ohio State University Expanding & Customizing Spanish Core Vocabulary for Augmentative & Alternative Communication by Amy Munekata, Bridget Carlile, and Lisa Domby of the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill An Analysis of Conversational Interaction of an Individual With... [Read More...]
October 5, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
With Hurricane Matthew bearing down on us, we began thinking about ways to support people with significant communication challenges. Here are a few resources that you might find helpful. Hurricane Matthew is Coming! by UCF CARD It is Hurricane Season by Autism Educators Hurricane Preparation by Mary Grace Hektner via Boardmaker Online (need Boardmaker to use) What Is A Hurricane? by Mary Grace Hektner via Boardmaker Online (need Boardmaker to use) Tornado Vocabulary by Mary Grace Hektner via Boardmaker Online (need Boardmaker to use) Storm Social Narrative by Sandy K via Boardmaker Online (need Boardmaker to use) Making a Thunder Box from the Practially Speeching blog Webinar on Disaster Preparedness for People with Complex Communication Needs by AAC RERC Emergency Preparedness for Children with Autism from the Preparedness Mama Emergency Communication Board by Temple University Institute on Disabilities English Spanish Haitian Creole Stay safe out there!
October 4, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
We’re back with another post featuring learning resources about AAC apps, software, and SGDs. This week, we’ll look at CoughDrop, an open source AAC program, and hear from a young clinician who uses it in her work. If you are new to CoughDrop, consider taking a little time to get to know it using the links below. Ready to explore? Here are some resources to get you started. Video overview Links to various versions: iOS app; Android app; Windows 64-bit; Windows 32-bit; Kindle app Video Tutorials Where to go for help: Support Requests; Contact page; Frequently Asked Questions My Experience with CoughDrop by Samantha Cutler Primarily, I’d like to issue a disclaimer that I am in no way affiliated with CoughDrop nor do I receive any financial gain from them. It is merely a program that I enjoy using and I wanted to share my experience with the AAC community. In the... [Read More...]
October 2, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
As many of you know, October is AAC Awareness Month, a time when the AAC community comes together to build understanding of complex communication needs in their communities, schools, and workplaces. It’s exciting to see how this movement is growing in every part of the world. If you share news of your events on social media, please tag us (@PrAACticalAAC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) so that we can help you spread the word of your AAC awareness activities. Also, feel free to use the buttons and banners in this post in your own social media profiles or posts. In the meantime, here are links to a few posts you may have missed. Monday: Five Places for Shared AAC Materials Wednesday: Video of the Week: Shared Writing and AAC Thursday: PrAACtically October: A Year of Core Vocabulary Resources Social Media Images (PC users: right click to save image to your computer; Mac users: control... [Read More...]
September 22, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
We are so happy to welcome back SLP Karen Natoci who graciously agreed to continue writing about how she uses interactive book reading to build language skills with beginning communicators. You can see her earlier posts in the PrAACtically Reading series here. In this post, she shares activity ideas for two books on apples. You can learn more about Karen and download her materials toward the bottom of the post. Enjoy! ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Books: Apples by Ken Robbins and Apples for Everyone by Jill Esbaum Adapted and simplified Powerpoint Book Apples by Karen Natoci Core Vocabulary focus: here, in, where Additional Vocabulary focus: Body parts; red, round, yellow, green, COMMUNICATION Matrix (Rowland, 2009) Level: I-VII (all levels!) ————————————————————————————————————————————- It is September and apple time! I chose to feature these books from which to adapt material suitable for students with complex communication needs. I have a simplified power point... [Read More...]
August 15, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
It was so wonderful to meet and learn from so many colleagues and families at the 2016 ISAAC Biennial Conference last week. What an amazing experience to participate in an AAC event withcolleagues from 40 countries! ISAAC 2016 really was the world’s AAC conference. There was an active Twitter thread with a running account of the activities in sessions, social events, and the exhibit hall (see tweets from #ISAAC2016 here). The opening ceremonies started off strong with Vic Valentic’s performance (using AAC) of “I’ve Got a Lot to Say,” a song written by Vivian Butch. You can learn more about their collaboration and see an earlier performance of that song here. Keynote speaker John Draper, founder of Together We Rock, then gave a funny, engaging talk that addressed the contributions of clinicians, educators, researchers, and technologists alike. I was honored to be invited to present two pre-conference sessions on Day 1... [Read More...]
May 23, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Even veteran clinicians and educators find themselves looking for resources to help others better understand what AAC is and why it may have been recommended in a particular situation. Today, we welcome back SLP Lauren Enders to introduce us to the information she has collected for this purpose. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: This month on PrAACtically Pinteresting, we’ll be taking a look at the board AAC: Why Use AAC?/Benefits of AAC. Very often, I am asked if I have resources that can be shared with team members or families who are reluctant to implement AAC. Often this reluctance results from of simple lack of information or beliefs in a variety of myths surrounding AAC use. I created this board to serve as an easily accessible repository of resources that can be shared with parents, professionals, or support staff who are hesitant to use AAC with their child/student/client. The board contains pins with information that... [Read More...]
May 12, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
SLP Karen Natoci has always promoted multi-sensory paths to learning. In this month’s installment of PrAACtically Reading, she dives into the topic of our senses, something that is part of many curricula used in special and general education. You can read about her ideas for implementation, see her students’ work, and download the lesson plan and supporting documents in this engaging post. Happy reading! ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::; PrAACtically Reading with Karen Natoci: The Five Senses Book Series: For students at the emergent reading level: The Five Senses: Touching, by Rebecca Rissman The Five Senses: Smelling, By Rebecca Rissman The Five Senses: Hearing, by Rebecca Rissman The Five Senses: Seeing, by Rebecca Rissman The Five Senses: Tasting, by Rebecca Rissman For learners at the Conventional Reading Level: Hearing, by Sharon Gordon Smelling, by Sharon Gordon Seeing, by Sharon Gordon Touching, by Sharon Gordon Core vocabulary focus: LOOK, SEE, TOUCH, LISTEN/HEAR, GET, THAT, MORE, MY/MINE,... [Read More...]
March 24, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
It’s gratifying to hear from so many of you who are including storybook reading in your AAC instruction and therapy. We welcome back Karen Natoci, Assistant Professor and SLP Oregon Health and Science University’s Child Development Rehabilitation Center. She serves on the Neurodevelopment and Rett Evaluation teams and has a caseload of children with Complex Communication Needs and AAC. Karen tells us that “I know very well the feeling of being overwhelmed by the high needs of students with complex communication needs and will readily admit that you have to have a very large ‘toolbox’ of ideas!” Currently, she is on the charter development team to create the Communication Matrix- Virtual Community of Practice with Charity Rowland. At the end of the day, Karen enjoys running, practicing piano, and exploring Portland and the Oregon coast. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Book: April Fool’s Day Written and Illustrated by Dee Smith (Also available from Deesignery.com) Core Vocabulary focus: Look,... [Read More...]
January 25, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
It’s never too early to start thinking of ways to strengthen the IEP to better support students with AAC needs. Here are some resources that may be helpful. AAC in the IEP by Gail Van Tatenhove AAC Goals, IEP, and Beyond by Margaret Perkins Examples of IEP Goals with Communication Devices by Cara Batema and Sample AAC Goals by the Utah Speech and Hearing Association Writing IEP Goals for Authentic Communication for Children with Complex Communication Needs by Linda Burkhart Implementation in the Classroom by Amy Conover, Julie Packer, and Dan Mills What strategies have you found for building IEPs to support students’ development of AAC skills? We’d love to hear about them.