366 Search Results for complex communication
February 27, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Only a small percentage of people with complex communication needs get the AAC support they need. Though AAC is becoming more widely accepted, the huge gap between the people who need AAC and those who get adequate AAC support is longstanding and pervasive across service delivery standards. There are many fine people who work tirelessly to make changes to this unfortunate reality, and we are deeply grateful for their work. They are exhausted, hard-working, frustrated, and represent various stakeholder groups. Still, there are far too many professionals who fail to provide AAC support to those they work with who need to use other means of communication. How can we change their perspective in ways that will steer them in the direction of providing AAC support? How we talk and write about AAC matters. It’s only a small piece of this challenging conundrum, but one that, nonetheless, can contribute to systems... [Read More...]
February 3, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
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. Today’s post focuses on AAC support for individuals with Rett Syndrome. Take a look and don’t forget to scroll to the bottom to add your link and see what others are sharing. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Este mes los invitamos a recordar que la Comunicación... [Read More...]
January 18, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
What are the factors that cause people with complex communication needs to discontinue using speech-generating devices and how can we address those? A panel of AAC specialists was convened by Control Bionics to share thoughts on this issue. Check out this conversation with Vicki Clarke, Carol Page, Sue Redepenning, Shari Willingham, Jill Adlin, and Lane Rials for a fresh perspective. Many thanks to Control Bionics and the panelists for making this video available to the AAC community. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU54-73u2UM&ab_channel=ControlBionics
January 4, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
The work of Drs. Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver on comprehensive literacy instruction in AAC has inspired many educators and therapists to ramp their literacy support in education and therapy. In today’s featured video, SLP Kristin M. Ellis shares her ideas of how to infuse this into clinical work with children and adults who have complex communication needs. Many thanks to AbleNet and to Kristin for making this archived presentation available. You can access the slide handout here and the supplemental resource list here. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zTUoFwbbhA&ab_channel=ableUOn-demandProfessionalDevelopment
December 5, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Data isn’t the only thing we use in AAC decision-making, but it’s a good-sized slice of the pie. Those using the feature match approach to AAC device/app selection, a gold standard for several decades, use direct assessment procedures to guide the selection of AAC devices and apps based on the features they contain. The symbol set(s) or systems(s) available in each AAC tool is one of the features that we consider. In this post, we share some of the assessment tasks that can be used to gain insight into how individuals do with different types of AAC symbols. In each one, the task is repeated with a specific type of symbol, so that we can make an apples-to-apples comparison. This part of the assessment is time-consuming and generally done over multiple sessions. These are drawn from the work of the later Dr. David Beukelman, and his co-authors, Dr. Pat Mirenda... [Read More...]
November 24, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
grat·i·tude /ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/ noun the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness In the spirit of our American tradition of Thanksgiving, we pause to reflect on our blessings and offer thanks. We’re grateful for: The people who use AAC and their families for all they do to help us get better at this business of supporting communication Service providers in homes, schools, clinics, hospitals, and community agencies The university programs that have a dedicated AAC class, especially if they have a permanent faculty member with expertise in this area Bonus thanks to those that also offer supervised clinical or student teaching experiences with AAC mentorship opportunities or an AAC lab with SGDs, AAC apps, switches, and mounts. The professional and service organizations that support AAC through professional development opportunities, grants, mentorship programs The power of e-communication platforms for the AAC support on listservs, blogs, groups, threaded... [Read More...]
November 21, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Welcome to the first of a 5-part series on symbols in AAC. Today, we’re starting off with a simple list of graphic symbols used in aided AAC tools. Graphic symbols are 2-dimensional images used to represent words and ideas visually. Print or traditional orthography is the one we’re using right now for this post, but most AAC apps and SGDs use some form of pictographic symbol in addition to that. Some of those symbols are free and others are available only through an additional purchase option or a subscription service. These are the ones used most commonly in communication books/boards and AAC apps/devices by individuals with complex communication needs around the world. You’ll recognize the most commonly used symbols, but some of these may be less familiar depending on where you live, work, play, and learn. If we missed your favorite symbol set or system, please let us know so... [Read More...]
October 10, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
While our focus each October is on building awareness of AAC and promoting acceptance of those who use it, the month also gives us an opportunity to look inward. Today, we propose 7 activities that we believe to be the hallmark of those who specialize in AAC. If you consider yourself an AAC expert or someone who specializes in AAC, we invite you to reflect on these ideas. Those who specialize in AAC should belong to and engage with organizations in their state or region whose mission focuses on support for people with complex communication needs. Those who specialize in AAC should belong to and engage with national and/or international groups that elevate the role of AAC in society. Those who specialize in AAC should be active contributors to those organizations, whether it be through their time, expertise, or financial support. Those who specialize in AAC should critically evaluate new... [Read More...]
October 3, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
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...]
September 12, 2022
by Carole Zangari -
Like most learners, those with complex communication needs perk up when they see themselves, their family and friends, and their favorite things/places embedded into instruction or therapy. When we personalize materials and activities to each individual, we often see an increase in engagement and enjoyment. And those, in turn, lead to better outcomes. How can we put a personal spin on things we use in our AAC teaching? Here are a few ideas. Photos and videos of familiar people, places, and objects can be very impactful. Not all families are open to this and not all schools/agencies permit it. But when it IS an option, there’s nothing better to spark higher levels of engagement. We can substitute photos of family, friends, and favorite characters for generic photos/images in games, books, and learning materials to draw and retain their interest. We can talk about what they are doing and build language... [Read More...]