843 Search Results for core vocabulary

PrAACtically Juneteenth: AAC Ideas for Learning & Celebration

June 15, 2020 by - 4 Comments

PrAACtically Juneteenth: AAC Ideas for Learning & Celebration

In the US, June 19th is a day that commemorates the ending of slavery. Although the Emancipation Proclamation became effective on January 1, 1863, it took an additional two and half years for it to take root in all of the states. It wasn’t until June 19th, 1865 that Texas became the final state to uphold the proclamation. There are other days that memorialize the freedom of enslaved people, but Juneteenth is the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration.  Traditionally marked primarily by African Americans, there is a growing awareness of Juneteenth across a broad spectrum of people. In modern times, it has become a day to gather, reflect, and celebrate African American freedom and achievement. In these troubled times, it offers us an opportunity to learn about the history and lived experiences of black Americans, examine our own commitment to build a just society, and challenge ourselves to dismantle racism at all... [Read More...]

TELL ME About It: AAC Learning with ‘If You’re Angry & You Know It’

June 8, 2020 by - Leave your thoughts

TELL ME About It: AAC Learning with 'If You're Angry & You Know It'

Welcome to a new edition of TELL ME ABout It, a series looking at ways to use children’s trade books to build AAC core vocabulary and literacy skills. Maggie Judson and Jeanna Antrim are back with more great ideas for AAC intervention, this time focusing on the book, ‘If You’re Angry and You Know It.’ Maggie and Jeanna are speech-language pathologists who work in the Assistive Technology Department for the Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative (BASSC) in central Illinois. They are AT/AAC facilitators and provide evaluations, direct therapy, consultations, and trainings. You can see their previous posts in the TELL ME About It series below. The Lunch Box Surprise Come Out and Play, Little Mouse No, David Go Away Big Green Monster What Do You Like? Here Are My Hands From Head to Toe I Went Walking Brown Bear, Brown Bear TELL ME AAC Literacy Kits Don’t miss their videos... [Read More...]

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week #20: May 2020

May 17, 2020 by - Leave your thoughts

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week #20: May 2020

Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some AAC posts that you may have missed in your busy week. Monday – TELL ME About It: AAC Learning with ‘The Lunch Box Surprise’! Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: AAC Explainers for Parent & Staff Training Thursday – Zooming, Masking, Distancing, & More: AAC-friendly Resources for Managing Coronavirus Challenges ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: While you’re at it, here are some previous posts that may be of interest. Helping Beginning Communicators Expand Their Sentence Length 5 Ways to Make Semantic Maps More Effective in AAC Therapy PrAACtical Questions with Vicki Clarke: What’s the Role of Core Vocabulary? Communication Boards: Colorful Considerations Let Me Tell You Something- Narratives for the Beginning Communicator

TELL ME About It: AAC Learning with ‘The Lunch Box Surprise’!

May 11, 2020 by - Leave your thoughts

TELL ME About It: AAC Learning with ‘The Lunch Box Surprise’!

Reading with preschoolers is a great way to build language and AAC skills. Today, we share another post in the TELL ME About It series on incorporating AAC, language, and literacy support with young learnes.. Maggie Judson and Jeanna Antrim are back with more great ideas for AAC intervention, this time focusing on the book, Come Out and Play, Little Mouse. Maggie and Jeanna are speech-language pathologists who work in the Assistive Technology Department for the Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative (BASSC) in central Illinois. They are AT/AAC facilitators and provide evaluations, direct therapy, consultations, and trainings. To read more about how this team prepares for a TELL ME week, check out their previous posts in the TELL ME About It series. Come Out and Play, Little Mouse No, David Go Away Big Green Monster What Do You Like? Here Are My Hands From Head to Toe I Went Walking... [Read More...]

AAC at a Distance: 5 Ways to Use Video Chat & Videoconferencing to Boost Engagement

April 23, 2020 by - Leave your thoughts

AAC at a Distance: 5 Ways to Use Video Chat and Videoconferencing to Boost Engagement

Like many of you, I have a love-hate relationship with video chat and videoconferencing these days. On one hand, we are immensely grateful for the technology that allows us to teach classes and hold meetings remotely so that we can continue with some semblance of our daily obligations. On the other hand, there is just no substitute for being in the same physical space as our co-workers, students, friends, and relatives. We are all adapting to this new reality of social distancing and experimenting with new ways of teaching, learning, and working. Across the globe, people are using video chat and videoconference technology, like FaceTime, Google Hangouts, and Zoom, in creative ways. If you’re looking for some ways to support AAC learners using these technologies, here are a few ideas. Hold a virtual Friendship Friday meeting: Invite a few classmates or friends to join an online meeting space to do... [Read More...]

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week #16: April 2020

April 19, 2020 by - Leave your thoughts

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week #16: April 2020

Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts that may be of interest. Monday – TELL ME About It: AAC Learning with ‘Come Out and Play, Little Mouse’ Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Telepractice in AAC – Working with What You’ve Got Thursday – PrAACtical Conversations About Hand Washing Friday – A Coronavirus ‘Must-Do’ for AAC Users —————————————————————— And while you’re here, check out some of these past posts. 5 Ways to Promote Consistent AAC Use Twin Powers Unite: Teaching AAC and Sight Words Pragmatic Skill Instruction and AAC with Matthew Baud and Dr. Jill Senner Parent Collaboration in AAC Therapies PrAACtical Questions with Vicki Clarke: What’s the Role of Core Vocabulary?

PrAACtical Conversations About Hand Washing

April 16, 2020 by - Leave your thoughts

PrAACtical Conversations About Hand Washing

The other day, a friend posted something on social media that many of us can relate to. “Between all the hand sanitizer and cleaning solution that my skin absorbs,” she said, “I’m probably disinfecting the toilet with every trip to the bathroom!” While that’s a bit of a stretch, it is true that most of us are washing our hands more often now than ever before. And for good reason. But some of our AAC learners don’t really like hand washing and it can be a struggle to have them do that several times a day. In today’s post, we share some ideas that can help keep those hands clean. Not everyone will need every strategy, but we included several ideas so that you can select those that are most beneficial for the AAC learners in your life. Teach the skill and use a visual schedule to illustrate the steps.... [Read More...]

PrAACtical Resources: Online AAC Support for Families During School Closures

March 19, 2020 by - 13 Comments

PrAACtical Resources: Online AAC Support for Families During School Closures

The AAC field is peppered with amazingly dedicated professionals who come up with creative solutions to the day’s latest challenges. In this guest post, SLP Laura Boates, a graduate of McGill University, shares some web-based materials that were created when her school system, Edmonton Catholic School District in Alberta Canada, announced school closures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Laura is incredibly passionate about helping every student find their voice through AAC. She is currently part of a multidisciplinary AAC team for assessment, trial, implementation, and funding of communication devices as well as supporting teachers and families using AAC. On Sunday, March 15th, the government of Alberta Canada announced the cancellation of all classes from Kindergarten to Grade 12, as well as the closure of all preschool and licensed childcare centres. However, it’s business as usual for staff, so teachers and therapists are working on creatively delivering curriculum and supports.... [Read More...]

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week #11: March 2020

March 15, 2020 by - Leave your thoughts

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week #11: March 2020

Happy Sunday, AAC friends! Here are some posts that may be of interest. Monday – TELL ME About It: AAC Learning with ‘No, David!’ Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Art Therapy and AAC Thursday – 5 Things to Avoid in Core Vocabulary Teaching :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: In the mood for some more AAC reading? Here are a few suggestions. SGDs for People with ASD “What Should I Program on the SGD?” Feature Match Chart 5 Features to Look for in SGDs and AAC Apps Making a Back-up for High-tech AAC

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week #9: March 2020

March 1, 2020 by - Leave your thoughts

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week #9: March 2020

Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you may have missed in your busy week. Monday – PrAACtically March: More AAC Resources for a Year of Core Words Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Communication-The Sky’s the Limit! Thursday – PrAACtical Resources: Tar Heel Shared Reader :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: If you have the time, here are a few more posts to check out. PrAACtical Teaching in the ASD Classroom: Predictable Chart Writing with Core Vocabulary PrAACtical Resources: AAC Assessment Modules A Tool for Identifying Features for AT Selection Supporting People with Significant Communication Challenges in Medical Encounters AAC Apps and Devices: Thoughts on Conducting AAC Trials