Looking for ideas on how to support AAC learning with fun, engaging activities? In today’s featured video, Beth Waite LeFevre and Emily Cunningham from PRC Saltillo discuss activities to help AAC communicators use their SGD, AAC app, or communication boards. Many thanks to Beth, Emily, and the team at PRC Saltillo for this helpful webinar. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nmqh-jijqw&ab_channel=Saltillo
Aided language input is an important AAC facilitation strategy. In today’s featured video, we learn about using this evidence-based strategy from Tanna Neufeld of Summit AAC and Autism Support. Originally presented for the 2023 AAC in the Cloud Conference, this presentation addresses some of the stumbling blocks to effective implementation. You can obtain the handout for that session here. Many thanks to Tanna and the CoughDrop conference team for making this recorded presentation available. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojUcZBM2CgI&ab_channel=CoughDrop
Our series on multilingual AAC support guest authored by BilingüeAAC continues. In today’s post, Sarah Lee addresses issues specific to features of AAC apps and SGDs. 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. If you are new to this series, you can check out the previous articles using the links below. Bilingual AAC Support from Monolingual Professionals: An Introduction Cultural-Linguistic AAC Intervention: A Framework for Consideration Gathering Information from Families with Questionnaires and Surveys Most of us WANT to provide culturally-linguistic responsive bilingual Spanish AAC intervention, but we don’t feel confident without knowing/speaking the language. In an effort to foster Spanish heritage language development and empower the monolingual SLPs*, we have created context-specific templates using the sociocultural approach (Soto & Yu, 2014) for the monolingual English-speaking SLP*. We will be referencing... [Read More...]
When it comes to inspiring families to incorporate AAC into daily life, there’s nothing better than hearing from those who’ve already taken steps in that direction. Today, we view an archived presentation from the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin by Megan Hufton. Join us as we learn about her experience in utilizing visual supports and building an AAC-friendly environment for her children. Direct link to video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BD4h-xze_I&ab_channel=AutismSocietyofSouthCentralWisconsin
Professionals, family members, and AAC users are often frustrated when relevant research is published behind a paywall. Today, we’re pleased to share a number of open-access articles that might be of interest. The effect of aided language stimulation on the acquisition of receptive vocabulary in children with complex communication needs and severe intellectual disability: a comparison of two dosages Laher, Z., & Dada, S. (2023) The effect of aided language stimulation on the acquisition of receptive vocabulary in children with complex communication needs and severe intellectual disability: a comparison of two dosages, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 39:2, 96-109, DOI: 10.1080/07434618.2022.2155566 Direct link to article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07434618.2022.2155566?journalCode=iaac20 A qualitative study exploring the effect of communicating with partially intelligible speech Clarke, Z.C., Judge, S., Fryer, K., Cunningham, S., Toogood, J., & Hawley, M.S. (2023). A qualitative study exploring the effect of communicating with partially intelligible speech, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 39:2, 110-122, DOI: 10.1080/07434618.2023.2206910 Direct link to article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07434618.2023.2206910 ... [Read More...]
AAC and AT Specialist Lauren Enders Gonzales is always leading the way when it comes to creative AAC solutions. Today, we learn from her presentation at AAC in the Cloud on using the popular website Canva to support AAC learners. Many thanks to Lauren and the team at CoughDrop (the conference organizers) for this engaging session. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvC9THp1mCE&ab_channel=CoughDrop
When educationally-based professionals collaborate on improving the communication environment for students who use AAC, everyone benefits. Classroom Observation for Communication Opportunities with AAC (COCOA) is one tool that can be helpful in this process. In the images below, you can see how it might be used for individuals with a significant amount of language and those who are beginning communicators. Scroll to the bottom of the post for a link to download the form. Direct Link to File: https://praacticalaac.org/wp-content/uploads/filebase/assessment/Classroom%20Observation%20for%20Communication%20Opportunities%20with%20AAC%20COCOA.pdf
How can we leverage the power of our communities to support AAC access and acceptance? In today’s featured video, SLP and AAC/AT specialist Sara Ware shares ideas for how to improve AAC implementation by partnering with community members. This recording is part of the AAC in the Cloud conference sponsored by CoughDrop. You can learn more about that here. Thanks to CoughDrop for this fine conference and to Sara for this helpful presentation. You can access the handouts for this session with this link. Direct link to video –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l2emLdSUWU&ab_channel=CoughDrop
Today we wrap up our series describing an AAC Implementation framework, guest authored by AAC SLP Vicki Clarke. The founder of an AAC-focused private practice, Dynamic Therapy Associates, Vicki is also the Director of DTA Schools. Join us as we explore the results of our efforts in this implementation journey. If you are new to this series you can find the earlier posts through the links below. Steps to Learning Step 1, Determining the Target Step 2: TRAIN Step 3: Take In Step 4: Try It AAC 101: Steps To Learning Step 5: Talk! We have finally reached the finale! Our students are ready to talk. Now by “talk” we of course, mean “communicate using their AAC system, sign language, picture symbols or the communication devices!” We expect our students to now be able to choose what to say, when to say it, and remember how to say it... [Read More...]
In the US, Juneteenth is one of our newest federal holidays and many are now getting ready to celebrate it. Whether you are relatively new to an understanding of Juneteenth or have been honoring it for decades, we hope today’s post has some ideas for integrating it into the AAC work you do. First published a few years back, we’ve updated it with some additional books, videos, and other resources. PrAACtically Juneteenth 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... [Read More...]