September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About This Week Welcome to Week 6 of your Stepping into AAC journey! This week, it’s all about personalization. Join us on a little detour and learn to customize your AAC learner’s communication board by adding words relevant to their day-to-day lives and unique preferences. You will explore the following concepts this week: Adding Fringe & Other High-interest Vocabulary: Learn how to expand the AAC system by including words that are relevant and highly motivating to the AAC learner in your life. Customize by Adding Relevant Words: Use our templates and instructions to add fringe vocabulary words to the communication board. Templates for personalizing the vocabulary for various communication boards can be downloaded from the Resource Page. Scroll down to the Communication Board section, and select the template for the specific board that you are using. Expanding Socially-focused Communication: Gain insight into ways we can support social communication through AAC. ... [Read More...]
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About This Week Welcome to Week 7 of your Stepping into AAC journey! We continue to explore ways to customize our communication boards this week with a focus on accommodating challenges with vision and attention. You will explore the following concepts this week: Be an Access Detective: What does ‘access’ mean in an AAC context, and how can we address this for AAC learners with complex bodies? Attention, Please! Explore the role of attention in AAC learning and how to accommodate challenges in this area. Customization to Address Challenges with Vision, Hearing, & Attention: Learn ways to personalize the communication board so that people with sensory and attention difficulties can be successful users of AAC. AAC Learners with CVI: Cortical vision impairment (CVI) can make AAC learning a lot more challenging. Learn about this condition and how we can support AAC learners with CVI. AACtion Steps Week 7 AACtion Steps... [Read More...]
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About This Week Welcome to Week 8 of your Stepping into AAC journey! We wrap up our detour on personalizing communication boards by taking a close look at ways to support AAC learners who have difficulty pointing to words and picture symbols. You will explore the following concepts this week: Alternative Access: Learn about options for AAC learners with motor challenges. Learning Through Engagement: Explore ways that we can engage AAC learners in experiences that allow them to advance their language and communication skills. AACtion Steps Week 8 AACtion Steps Signposts Get the Handout Overview of Alternative Access Travelog Week 8 Travelog Print the Week Want all of the resources shared in this week’s Stepping into AAC? You can download the entire digital bundle by clicking the download button below.
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About This Week Welcome to Week 9 of your Stepping into AAC journey! Now that we have a basic foundation in AAC (Weeks 1-5) and have customized the communication board (Weeks 6-8), we turn our focus to AAC use in everyday life. You will explore the following concepts this week: Language Learning in Daily Routines: Learn why it is essential to use everyday routines and activities to build language and AAC learning. Using Patterns of Language Development to Guide AAC Learning: Gain insights into the role of typical language development as we guide the learning of beginning AAC users. AAC at Mealtime: How can snacks and meals boost AAC learning? Stay tuned! We have some ideas for you. AACtion Steps Week 9 AACtion Steps Signposts Get the Handout Language Development is Our Guide Travelog Week 9 Travelog Print the Week Want all of the resources shared in this week’s Stepping... [Read More...]
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About This Week Welcome to Week 10 of your Stepping into AAC journey! This week, we continue to explore ways to fit AAC support into daily life. You will explore the following concepts this week: Making Space for AAC: Learn some concrete ways to infuse AAC support into conversations, activities, and routines. Getting Dressed with AAC: Look at how AAC can be infused into a simple daily routine as we dive into another language walk-through. Using AAC to Foster Self-determination: Personal autonomy is a key ingredient in a rich and fulfilling life. Explore the role that AAC can play in empowering our learners and facilitating the development of self-determination. More Strategies to Build AAC Use: What is scaffolding, and how can we leverage it to facilitate communication and language learning? AACtion Steps Week 10 AACtion Steps Signposts Get the Handout Make Space for AAC Get the Handout Self-Determination Get the... [Read More...]
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About This Week Welcome to Week 11 of your Stepping into AAC journey! We continue to put AAC into practice this week and discuss some additional ways to support beginning users of AAC. You will explore the following concepts this week: AACtion Steps Week 11 AACtion Steps Signposts Get the Handout Building Authentic Interaction with AAC Get the Handout Model Self-Advocacy Travelog Week 11 Travelog Print the Week Want all of the resources shared in this week’s Stepping into AAC? You can download the entire digital bundle by clicking the download button below.
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
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.
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About This Week Welcome to Week 13 of your Stepping into AAC journey! Literacy is critically important to all AAC users, and they can all improve their skills in this area. This week, we do a deep dive into how to support reading in AAC learners. You will explore the following concepts this week: AACtion Steps Week 13 AACtion Steps Signposts Get the Handout Reading with AAC Travelog Week 13 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.
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About This Week Welcome to Week 14! Reading takes center stage for a second week of our Stepping into AAC journey. You will explore the following concepts this week: AACtion Steps Week 14 AACtion Steps Signposts Get the Handout Descriptive Talking Travelog Week 14 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.
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About This Week Welcome to Week 15 of your Stepping into AAC journey! Let’s head outside as we discuss even more AAC topics. You will explore the following concepts this week: AACtion Steps Week 15 AACtion Steps Signposts Get the Handout Seize the Moment: Before-During-After Travelog Week 15 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.