95 Search Results for atia
March 16, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Our very favorite videos to share are those that feature the ideas of people who use AAC. Today, we’re excited to share a wonderful video from the Communication Friends group in Scotland. Their video was produced with funding from the Scottish initiative, ‘A Right to Speak.’ These folks have some great tips. “Don’t be scared of this fancy machine. Switch it on and I’ll do the rest.” What an amazing group of therapists and communicators! Take a look: Direct link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx338vnATIA&feature=youtu.be
March 13, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
At the ATIA 2014 conference in January, it was exciting to hear about the updates on how core vocabulary is being addressed in the alternate assessment project for Dynamic Learning Maps. Allison Dennis, Dr. Karen Erickson, and Dr. Penny Hatch, of the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, shared a lot of interesting information, as you can see from their handout. One of my favorite ‘take-aways,’ though, was a suggestion by Karen Erickson regarding the importance of aided language input for students with significant disabilities. We’ve written about aided language input so often that you may be tired of hearing it, but bear with us because her suggestion was pure genius. Ready? Here it is: List aided language input as an accommodation in the IEP. Why List Aided Language Input as an IEP Accommodation? It is a fundamental strategy for any beginning learner of AAC. It is rarely implemented... [Read More...]
March 11, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
We all remember certain ‘firsts’ – your first bike, your first plane ride, your first car. One of my memorable ‘firsts’ is the first book I was ever given that was ‘just for me.’ I have fond memories of lazy summer afternoons with The Wishing Well, one of the Alice and Jerry basal readers. I may have broadened my library since that was given to me for my 4th birthday, but it still sits on my shelf and just paging through it brings back memories of being transported to another world. We can hardly imagine what life would be like without books. Reading brings us more than information. It allows us to explore, escape, relax, and dream. What must it be like to be deprived of the chance to learn and enjoy the printed word? Sadly, that is the reality for too many children and adults with AAC needs. In... [Read More...]
February 1, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
What fun seeing so many prAACtical friends at ATIA in Orlando this week! Here are some of the posts you may have missed. Sunday: Video of the Week – AAC Strategy for Scanning by AAC Chicks Monday: Using Aided Language Input to Build Communication Opportunities Tuesday: A Totally Different Life Wednesday: Watch It Wednesday-I Hear Them All Thursday: SPEAKAll! A PrAACtical Research-to-Practice Project Friday: What Went Well – A Look Back at January, 2014
January 25, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
We’re headed to ATIA after another prAACtical week. Here’s what we’ve been up to. Sunday: The PrAACtical Power of Peers Monday: Strategy of the Month: PrAACtical Exercise – Building Fluency with Decontextualized PrAACtice Tuesday: Teach Me Tuesday: Tobii C8 Wednesday: 10 References Supporting AAC Use in Inclusive Settings Thursday: Text-based Aided Language: Making the Language-Literacy Connection for Learners with Autism Friday: Make It PrAACtical – Making Your Own Battery Interrupters (Without Soldering!)
August 19, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
In some of our posts, we talked about using QR (Quick Response) codes as a way to share information. If you are new to QR codes, they are like bar codes in that you scan them with some kind of device (like a smart phone or tablet) that has software or an app that reads the code. Then what? Then it takes you to whatever the author wanted you to see or hear. For example, a QR code on an SGD in a loan library might take you to a quick start tutorial on the manufacturer’s website. A QR code on a handout might take you an electronic copy of that handout that is stored on someone’s website or a cloud service, like DropBox or Google Docs/Drive. A QR code on the student’s picture card ring might take you to an audio recording of directions for how to complete a... [Read More...]
April 24, 2013
by Robin Parker -
We can not say enough about writing AAC goals that are meaningful to the AAC user, but sometimes this is easier said than done. During discussions in a graduate seminar class, it was apparent that goal writing is not necessarily intuitive or even specifically taught. Goals are also the foundation behind any toy, app, or materials we use to set the stage for meaningful language experiences. Sample goals can serve as inspiration to develop specific, measurable, individualized AAC goals. For comprehensive information on a range of AAC goals, check out our PrAACtical Goals That Matter or How I Do It- AAC in the IEP by Lauren Enders. But to get started, here are some selected expressive language goals written AAC style. Expressive Language Using Prestored Messages (i.e., multiple words/sentences on one cell/button; E.g., a button with “I want music”) Request a turn using prestored messages (e.g., “Hey, don’t forget me! I... [Read More...]
March 21, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
As much as we love fresh new voices in the AAC community, there is simply nothing like the voice of experience. When a program has had more than 40 years of experience providing AAC services, we listen! Today, we are honored to have Marlene Cummings, an AAC SLP from Michigan, share the collective wisdom of her team. I have found that one of the joys in my professional life is asking hard questions about my present work and then figuring out ways to address those questions. Much of my 30 + years have been spent designing and implementing programs, systems and materials to support young children with complex communication needs in the role of the teacher in these classrooms. I explored ways to design environments and develop curricular frameworks and instructional materials, which would provide students with the instruction and opportunities to become competent communicators, all from the view of... [Read More...]
March 5, 2013
by Robin Parker -
Strategy of the Month Beyond Requesting: Thoughts on Teaching Information Transfer Beyond Requesting: PrAACtical Scripts to Teach Conversations Beyond Requesting: Thoughts on Teaching Interrogatives Beyond Requesting: Let’s Chat with Peers PrAACtical Thinking Language Experience Surveys: 8 Fun Ideas 14 Valentine’s Day Activities: Love, Literacy, & Learning Flip Book Love Angelman Awareness Day It Gives Me the Feeling of Love Inclusion & Jewish Disability Awareness Month What’s New? VIVIVOCA Math, Science, and AAC The ‘Real’ Pre-requisites to AAC Device Use The Joy of Reading: World Book Day PrAACtical Thoughts About Graphic Organizers AACtual Therapy & How I Do It Teaching the Use of Social Phrases and Comments Fun & Functional Vocabulary Supporting Teachers of Students with AAC Needs Essential Tricks for Supporting AAC in Schools, Part 1 Video of the Week Ted Carr on Challenging Behavior in ASD A Language Lost PrAACtical Puppet Power The Importance of Using Visual Supports Conference... [Read More...]
January 30, 2013
by Robin Parker -
January is (was) a fairly crazy and busy month for us. After a late back to school week, the CARD Conference, the Dan Marino Foundation WalkAbout Autism, and ATIA Conference (hope to see you there), we got a bit of a late start on a few things. To stay ahead of ourselves, we want to end January by being ready for February…… For February, we have a calendar for incorporating AAC into everyday activities (it goes with yesterday’s post 28 things to do). Feel free to print out and share and use anyway you want to promote PrAACtical AAC. A PDF version (free) can be found at our Teachers Pay Teachers site. Our new Strategy of the Month (on Saturday) will focus on Communication & Language Beyond Requesting. There are no pre-requisites to learning and being immersed in ALL of the reasons to communicate (communication functions). For some learners, it... [Read More...]