50 Search Results for angelman
July 20, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
Finding ways to engage AAC learners is important to professionals across disciplines and service delivery settings. In today’s post, we feature guest author Kate McLaughlin, who is an SLP serving individuals with AAC needs in Connecticut. She shares a perspective on building engagement through the perspective of meaning making. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: “Motivating” Emergent Communicators through Shared “Meaning-Making” & Communication Responsibility Are you a speech-language pathologist (SLP), teacher, or parent supporting an emergent AAC learner? Maybe you are just starting AAC with a learner who has a complex profile (for example, significant motor impairments, difficulties with motor planning, and/or sensory processing differences)? Maybe you have a learner who has learned to ask for some favorite things, but is not communicating beyond that? Do you struggle to “motivate” them? You’re not alone. I’ve met many kids who have been described as “not motivated to communicate.” I’ve also met many parents and professionals... [Read More...]
May 4, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month here in the US and in celebration of that, today’s post features an important resource from the American Speech-Language-Heating Association. The AAC Evidence Map was launched a few years ago and has been growing steadily since that time. ASHA’s Evidence Maps call attention to the three pillars of evidence-based practice (EBP): scientific evidence, clinical expertise, and client values/perspectives They were created for many different areas within the field of speech-language pathology and address clinical services across disability and age groups. Each of the 40+ evidence maps includes information on assessment, intervention, and service delivery for that specific communication difficulty. The information in each one comes from a variety of sources, including refereed journals and professional organizations in several countries. The AAC Evidence Map includes two types of external scientific information, Clinical Guidelines, and systematic reviews. Individuals studies are not included here. There are... [Read More...]
February 26, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
How can we help learners with significant learning challenges advance their communication skills? In today’s video, we feature AAC SLP Jane Farrall who provides an overview of good practices in AAC and suggestions for how to implement them successfully. This video stems from Jane’s presentation at the 2019 Angelman UK Conference. We are grateful to them for making this available to those who were unable to attend. Direct Link to Video – https://vimeo.com/367105163
February 5, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
How can we create educational settings that support the communicative development of children with AAC needs? Today, we turn to Angelman UK for a presentation on this topic by Rosie Clark, Carly Hynes, and Livvy Hepburn. This session was recorded during the Angelman UK Communication and Literacy Conference in 2019. Our thanks to the presenters and to the team at Angelman UK for this wonderful video. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://vimeo.com/372462297
December 15, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts that may be of interest. Monday – PrAACtical Resources: Creating Interactive Images for AAC Learning Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Starting AAC with Individuals with Angelman Syndrome Thursday – How We Do It: AAC Strategies & Adaptations for Students in Support Walkers, Assessment & Funding ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Have a little more time? You might want to check out some of these posts from the archives. PrAACtical Questions with Vicki Clarke: What’s the Role of Core Vocabulary? Supporting AAC Learners in Emergent Writing: 5 Helpful Resources Let Me Tell You Something- Narratives for the Beginning Communicator
December 12, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Today’s video features the work of Mary Louise Bertram (Australia) and Caroline Musselwhite (US), both of whom are well-known to PrAACtical AAC readers, and focuses on journal writing, a writing activity that takes places in homes and classrooms around the world. In this video, we learn ways to make it meaningful and successful for beginning communicators who use AAC. Many thanks to the presenters and to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation for making and sharing this helpful video. To learn more about literacy and communication for early communicators from Dr. Musselwhite and others, check out the AAC in the Desert Conference. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoHlga-xemU
November 1, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Today, Tabi Jones-Wohleber shares the last module in the MASTER PAL training series, which provides tips and strategies for working with children who don’t yet demonstrate joint attention. This module should take 30-40 minutes to present. Join us next week as we do a final wrap-up with suggestions on using this training series in your AAC work. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Model as a MASTER PAL Module 11: Let the Child Lead Facilitator Guidelines It can be really difficult to get communication started with a child who does not demonstrate joint attention. This module explores tips and strategies for traveling with a child on their journey from preoccupation with seeking sensory input/inattention to learning, engaging, and communicating. Because learning emerges from meaningful social emotional experiences, letting the child lead can go a long way toward being invited into their world. Then learning can happen! Here are some things you will need for this... [Read More...]
October 4, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Welcome back to our AAC partner training series, Model as a MASTER PAL, created by SLP Tabi Jones-Wohleber. Today, we continue with materials to help communication partners interact with AAC learners in a supportive fashion. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Model as a MASTER PAL Module 7: Engage Naturally Facilitator Guidelines This module covers a lot of territory. From the behaviors of communication partners that support the process of language development to creating communication opportunities, to the language we use with a child to talk about their device, to fostering communicative competence, naturalistic engagement is shaped in many ways. The importance of this conversation lies in the fact that genuine engagement and mutual respect are where learning happens. It is also how meaningful social relationships are built. This module invites participants to reflect on factors that shape the quality of interactions in order to maximize the potential for communicating, learning and creating meaningful social,... [Read More...]
September 20, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Our AAC Training Series continues today and we are incredibly grateful to Tabi Jones-Wohleber for sharing these presentation materials with us. Today’s training materials center on a topic that is near and dear to my prAACtical heart: Using statements more often than questions. The instructional time for Module 5 is about 90-120 minutes which allows time for discussion and practice. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Model as a MASTER PAL Module 5: Statements More Than Questions Facilitator Guidelines STATEMENTS MORE THAN QUESTIONS Questions are necessary to help us learn about the things, people, and activities in our environment and beyond. However, interactions heavily weighted with questions do not often yield the quality exchanges required to build relationships, gain understanding, foster autonomous communication or facilitate initiation. This module explores the power of statements (aka nondirective language and descriptive teaching) in shaping meaningful engagement for learning and socially interacting. It includes interactive activities, video links, lots... [Read More...]
September 6, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Our training series continues with West Virginia-based SLP Tabi Jones-Wohleber, who works with the AT Team for Frederick County Public Schools in Maryland and provides services to infants and toddlers in the West Virginia Birth to Three programs. In the first two posts, Tabi shared the Overview and Modeling modules and their accompanying resources. In today’s post, the training focuses on an important topic, motivation. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Model as a MASTER PAL Module 3: Motivate Facilitator Guidelines Genuine motivation goes well beyond gummies and goldfish; reinforcers are only one small part of the picture as we endeavor to understand what truly drives an individual’s desire to learn and communicate. So much of the time it is the quality of the relationship and the meaningfulness of the interaction. This module discusses the importance of motivation in learning and engaging, whether intrinsic or extrinsic, as well as the undesirable consequences that occur when lack of motivation... [Read More...]