Living with a communication disability can be exhausting, and AAC practitioners often fail to recognize the complex calculations involved in daily AAC use. In today’s video, we feature AAC user Isaac Baldry, who discusses the practical challenges and helps raise awareness about these issues. Many thanks to Isaac and MonTECH MT for this important presentation. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGp3tqlBKzA
Happy August, CAA friends! Each month, we feature a Spanish version of our AAC Link Up called CAA con Links. If you have AAC-related announcements, materials, or videos in Spanish that you would like others to know about, we’d love to have you add that information below. Also, please share this with anyone who might be interested in contributing to or using the materials that get added to these posts. You’ll find the place to add that information at the very bottom of this post. Claudia Marimón organizes these monthly posts, which feature AAC work being done in Spanish-speaking countries and offer translations of material that can help families and service providers. In today’s post, Claudia tells us about the activities of ISAAC Español, a chapter that represents many parts of the world where Spanish is spoken. Learn about this group’s activities, and see how you can get involved. Don’t... [Read More...]
Each month we feature a Spanish version of our AAC Link Up, CAA con Links. If you have AAC-related announcements, materials, or videos in Spanish that you would like others to know about, we’d love to have you add that information below. Also, please share this with anyone who might be interested in contributing to or using the materials that get added to these posts. You’ll find the place to add that information at the very bottom of this post. Organized by Claudia Marimón, these monthly posts also feature AAC work being done in Spanish-speaking countries and offer translations of material that can help families and service providers. In today’s post, Claudia shares some wonderful stories that feature AAC users as the main characters. Don’t miss her wonderful videos of AAC in AACtion. Take a look at the information, and don’t forget to scroll to the bottom to add your... [Read More...]
Many years ago AAC pioneer Dr. David Beukelman challenged us to write about our AAC work in his editorial aptly called “The weakest ink is stronger than the strongest memory.” Today, we turn to ISAAC and a panel discussion with important information for those who have considered submitting a manuscript to ISAAC’s AAC Journal. In this post, we learn from AAC Journal Editors Dr. Rose Sevcik and Dr. Mary Ann Romski, who are joined by AAC Editorial Assistant Jackie Brown and Melody Harris, the Taylor and Francis portfolio manager. Whether or not you would like to publish in the AAC Journal, this archived webinar will give you valuable insight into the process of manuscript preparation, submission, review, and publication. Many thanks to the presenters, the moderator (Dr. Sarah Blackstone), and to ISAAC for this helpful presentation. Direct link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7PEyguGGTs&ab_channel=InternationalSocietyforAugmentativeandAlternativeCommunication%28ISAAC%29
People with AAC needs are more vulnerable than others in times of emergency, disaster, and violence. Today, we feature a set of communication boards, visual supports, social narratives, videos, and other AAC-related resources curated by ISAAC and ISAAC Israel. You can view the resources here. We encourage PrAACtical AAC readers to add to this collection with relevant resources of their own. If you are able, please translate any resources into Hebrew, Arabic, and English. Here is a link where you can submit your resources: https://did.li/ISAAC-4SOS.
Established in 2007 by ISAAC’s LEAD Committee, AAC Awareness month invites us to spread the word about all things AAC, and it’s pretty exciting to think back on all we’ve done and also to plan for the current year. Each week during AAC Awareness Month we’ll share suggestions for things to do to help others learn about a field that emerged to support children and adults with complex communication needs. This week, we’ll focus on hands-on activities. A popular approach to AAC Awareness Month is to invite a group of colleagues or families to come together and communicate only through AAC for the event. Some years, we’ve held ‘Silent Snack’ events before class where we put out a variety of board games and invited some of our AAC clients to come in and play along. They enjoyed serving as our AAC Ambassadors, meeting new people, and ‘wow-ing’ the crowd with... [Read More...]
We are back with another Spanish version of our AAC Link Up, CAA con Links. If you have AAC-related announcements, materials, or videos in Spanish that you would like others to know about, we’d love to have you add that information below. Also, please share this with anyone who might be interested in contributing to or using the materials that get added to these posts. You’ll find the place to add that information at the very bottom of this post. Organized by Claudia Marimón, these monthly posts also feature AAC work being done in Spanish-speaking countries and offer translations of material that can help families and service providers. Today, Claudia helps us celebrate AAC Awareness Month. Enjoy the post, and remember to scroll to the bottom to add your link and see what others are sharing. ¡Feliz mes de la CAA! Octubre el Mes Internacional de Concientización sobre CAA fue... [Read More...]
AAC Awareness Month is here, and we join ISAAC in celebrating people across the globe who communicate with AAC. If you’re on a mission to help people with complex communication needs get access to AAC, join our efforts to boost the presence of AAC on your social media feeds. Today’s post has a selection of AAC Awareness Month graphics to choose from. These are not branded or watermarked so you can use them freely. Download some Facebook banners and profile images for AAC Awareness Month by clicking on the images below. Facebook Banner Image Prior Images Facebook Profile Image Facebook Banner Image Facebook Profile Image You can grab another style of Facebook banner here. Is Instagram your jam? We’ve got you covered. (Click on the images below to download.) Twitter Are you more of a Twitter fan? No worries. We’ve got something for you,... [Read More...]
In memory of Christine Wright-Ott (1951-2023), we are reprising her guest posts on the importance of effective mobility strategies for young AAC users. Christine was an Occupational Therapist and consultant at The Bridge School in Hillsborough California. She authored the chapter, Mobility, in several editions of the book, Occupational Therapy for Children. Christine lectured at universities and conferences including ATIA, Closing the Gap, ISAAC, ISS, and AAC by the Bay. From Wheelchair to Walker: The Cascading Benefit of Hands-Free Mobility How We Do It: AAC Strategies & Adaptations for Students in Support Walkers, Assessment & Funding From Wheelchair to Hands-free Walker for Preschool Children with AAC Needs How We Do It: A Support Walker Mobility Program for Elementary Students with AAC Needs We are grateful to Christine for her contributions to the AAC community and the powerful legacy she leaves behind.
We are back with another Spanish version of our AAC Link Up, CAA con Links. If you have AAC-related announcements, materials, or videos in Spanish that you would like others to know about, we’d love to have you add that information below. Also, please share this with anyone who might be interested in contributing to or using the materials that get added to these posts. You’ll find the place to add that information at the very bottom of this post. Organized by Claudia Marimón, these monthly posts also feature AAC work being done in Spanish-speaking countries and offer translations of material that can help families and service providers. Today, Claudia shares some of the wonderful experiences at the ISAAC Conference in Cancun. Enjoy the post, and remember to scroll to the bottom to add your link and see what others are sharing. Este mes los invitamos a compartir la experiencia... [Read More...]