About This Week Welcome to Week 12 of your Stepping into AAC journey! You will explore the following concepts this week: AACtion Steps Week 12 AACtion Steps Signposts Get the Handout Intrinsic Motivation & Initiation Get the Handout Take a Turn Travelog Week 12 Travelog Print the Week Want all of the resources shared in this week of Stepping into AAC? Download the entire digital bundle by clicking the download button below.
About This Week Welcome to Week 19 of your Stepping into AAC journey! As we approach the final portion of this journey, focus on building a system of support for your AAC learner. You will explore the following concepts this week: AACtion Steps Week 19 AACtion Steps Signposts Get the Handout Social Power-Introduction Messages Travelog Week 19 Travelog Print the Week Want all of the resources shared in this week of Stepping into AAC? Download the entire digital bundle by clicking the download button below.
About This Week Welcome to Week 20 of your Stepping into AAC journey! As you approach the finish line, we consider what you’ve accomplished and lay out some possible next steps for your AAC learner. You will explore the following concepts this week: Reflecting on Your Skills as a Communication Partner: Over the past 20 weeks, you’ve acquired new information and had the opportunity to develop skills that make it easier for your AAC learner to develop their language and AAC skills. In this segment, we pause to look back on what you’ve accomplished and what it means. Next Steps: Explore some possible directions to head in as you continue supporting your AAC learner. Future Directions with Your AAC Learner’s Team The efforts that you and your family put into learning about and using AAC support strategies provided your AAC learner with a solid foundation. As you continue to use... [Read More...]
Welcome to Stepping into AAC ! Stepping into AAC is a collaborative project created by PrAACtical AAC and the Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF) that focuses on supporting families who want to integrate AAC into their lives. There are 20 weeks of Stepping into AAC materials, which are intended to provide simple, week-by-week resources to help families support beginning communicators of all ages. Each week, there are easy hands-on activities, videos and companion handouts, and a newsletter to learn from. Thanks to the generous support of the ASF, these materials are available at no charge. Stepping into AAC is designed for families that include: Children, adolescents, and adults who are new to AAC and would benefit from using communication aids with high-frequency words or core vocabulary; and Individuals of any age who previously used AAC but are not currently communicating with it throughout the day. We hope that Stepping into AAC... [Read More...]
June is Aphasia Awareness Month, so we’re reprising some past articles and videos on supporting people with aphasia through AAC. When Language Is Lost: AAC Supports for Individuals with Aphasia Making It Work: 6 AAC Strategies for People with Aphasia Low Tech AAC for Adults with Aphasia: What Does That Mean? Bridging the Gap: Helping People with Aphasia to Compensate for Their Language Difficulties Aphasia, Supported Communication, Written Choice Strategy, + Variations 5 Questions about Aphasia & Communication Books A Fresh Look at AAC & Aphasia with Dr. Kristy Weissling Communication Books & Aphasia Aphasia & Supported Communication: What’s Volunteering Got to Do With It? AAC Assessment for People with Aphasia AAC & Aphasia: Resources in Support of National Aphasia Awareness Month Video of the Week: Life Participation & AAC Device Personalization for Adults with Aphasia Video of the Week: AAC & Aphasia Video of the Week- AAC Supports for... [Read More...]
We are pleased to publish the third post in a series on multilingual AAC support guest authored by BilingüeAAC. BilingüeAAC is a group of SLPs with a shared belief in providing evidence-based intervention strategies and resources to bilingual Spanish AAC clients, families, caregivers, and professionals. In today’s post, guest author Alma Partida discusses the relevance of getting family input and share a helpful resource that can be used by clinicians, teachers, and others working with bilingual and multilingual clients. If you are new to this series, you can check out the first two articles using the links below. Bilingual AAC Support from Monolingual Professionals: An Introduction, here. Cultural-Linguistic AAC Intervention: A Framework for Consideration Family Questionnaire and Culture Survey We are continuing our Bilingüe AAC posts (check out post #1 and post #2) with a topic that is important to consider when working with multilingual AAC families. Conducting a family... [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. Today, she focuses on the vital role played by communication partners. Enjoy the post, and remember to scroll to the bottom to add your link and see what others are sharing. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Comienza Mayo y queremos compartir con nuestra comunidad hispanohablante un... [Read More...]
Welcome to the next installment of Vicki Clarke’s AAC Implementation Framework. In today’s post, Vicki focuses on the role of the communication partner, with prAACtical ideas for helping them utilize key support strategies that facilitate AAC learning. New to this series? You find the earlier posts using the links below. Steps to Learning Step 1, Determining the Target Step 2: TRAIN ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: AAC Implementation Framework Step 3: “Take In” In our journey towards teaching autonomous communication, Step 3: “Take In” is dedicated to the partner’s role, which involves modeling the use of AAC to communicate words and messages in real-world situations. The aim of this stage is to help the student learn when and how to communicate using AAC, as well as to develop a clear understanding of the practical application of these skills by watching their partner’s interactions. This process mirrors the way in which infants and toddlers acquire... [Read More...]
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. We have some posts that you might enjoy. Monday – April Year of Core Vocabulary & School Year of Core Vocabulary Words Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Mindset Shifts that Empower Communication Partners & AAC Users Thursday – AAC Sales for Autism Acceptance Month ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: In recognition of Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, here are some autism-related posts to get you in the mood to celebrate those around us who have autism. Building Engagement in Young Students with Autism AACtual Therapy: Making Core Words Fun for Students with Autism Evidence-based AAC Strategies for Students with Autism with Betsy Corporale Before you go, enjoy the ABC’s of Autism support…
We are pleased to publish the second post in a series on multilingual AAC support guest authored by BilingüeAAC. BilingüeAAC is a group of SLPs with a shared belief in providing evidence-based intervention strategies and resources to bilingual Spanish AAC clients, families, caregivers, and professionals. In today’s post, they introduce us to their framework for AAC intervention that is culturally and linguistically affirming. BilingueAAC Framework to Cultural-Linguistic AAC Intervention Bilingualism in AAC is the best practice and essential to equitable communication access for people with complex communication needs (McNamara, 2018). However, resources are limited to implementing “best practices” and the “how to” incorporate bilingualism and AAC. When we look at the research, we find a variety of cultural considerations (ASHA) but no definite guideline or framework on how to approach assessment and implementation for AAC users with linguistically diverse backgrounds. Providing bilingual AAC intervention is an inclusive and equitable practice. Bilingual... [Read More...]