144 Search Results for isaac
August 1, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
From the heights of a Ferris Wheel to fun places to shop, the Variety Western Australia Teen Motor Mouth Campers show us their stuff in this wonderful video which was presented recently at the 2018 ISAAC Conference. “AAC goes everywhere.” Indeed. Enjoy the laughter, smiles, and successes of Let’s Hit the Town. Many thanks to Variety WA Teen Motor Mouth Camp and ISAAC for this gem of a video! Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNAzF6tKOb
June 13, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Floods, fires, nor’easters, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, earthquakes We’ve seen all of that and more here in the western hemisphere in the past year. In these and other emergencies, people who use AAC are especially vulnerable. As AAC practitioners, is it really part of our role to help our clients prepare for these situations? Yes! Our expertise can go a long way in helping those who use AAC get prepared so that they can communicate in these adverse conditions. Today, we turn to a recorded presentation presented by Sarah Blackstone and Amy Goldman that was part of the USSAAC Webinar Series. In this presentation, they share USSAAC’s efforts to aid in recovery and discuss our responsibilities as AAC providers to assist with emergency preparedness. Their wonderful tips, suggestions for personal preparedness, and resources can help many of us get our clients ready to face these sorts of emergencies. Many thanks to... [Read More...]
May 16, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Hospitalization can be difficult and scary under any circumstance, but when the individual uses AAC, there are increased risks for adverse effects and other problems. How can we reduce risk and improve communication between healthcare providers and people who use AAC? Today’s featured video is part of the wonderful USSAAC Webinar Series. Dr. Richard Hurtig, from the University of Iowa and Voxello, discusses ways to facilitate improved communication between hospitalized patients with AAC needs and healthcare providers. Many thanks to USSAAC, Dr. Hurtig, and ISAAC for making this archived webinar available. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U71mk-dSwk4
March 14, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
In the US, one option for obtaining funds for AAC devices is through Medicaid, a public health benefits program. In today’s featured video, Lew Golinker, of the AT Law Center, provides an overview and discusses important updates and issues that will be helpful to anyone considering using Medicaid funds for AAC devices. Many thanks to USSAAC for this wonderful webcast series, to ISAAC for facilitating it, and to Lew for his tireless efforts in advocating for the AAC field. You can learn more from Lew here. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b55U92VIfvE
March 12, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Lauren Enders, an amazing AAC SLP from Pennsylvania, graciously shared this list of professional development opportunities that may be of interest. Lauren works as an Augmentative Communication/Assistive Technology Consultant for Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22. In the list below, she shares resources for AAC learning in both online and face-to-face formats. Enjoy! You can see more of Lauren’s guest posts here. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS FOR AAC IMPLEMENTATION ONLINE SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING OPTIONS: Power AAC modules: a FREE training series developed by The Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN)with Gail Van Tatenhove, CCC-SLP. This series of brief modules can be used for professional development by individuals or groups who are supporting students with complex communication needs and who need or use AAC. The POWER AAC modules are intended to build the capacity of school personnel to improve communication skills and provide flexible, generative vocabulary for students who need or use AAC. AAC Institute... [Read More...]
February 19, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Today we are excited to share a wonderful collection of articles that help to expand the theoretical underpinnings and empirical knowledge base in AAC. The Augmentative and Alternative Communication journal is providing free access to six articles that are part of an ongoing international collaboration of researchers and clinicians in 16 nations. You can access articles from this project, entitled “Becoming an Aided Communicator: Aided Language Skills in Children aged 5–15 years: A Multi-site and Cross-cultural Investigation,” below. Kudos to the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC) and the journal co-editors (Drs. Martine Smith and Bronwyn Hemsley) and Dr. von Tetzchner for making this special issue so widely available. We hope you enjoy reading Aided Language Processes, Development, and Use: An International Perspective.
February 7, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
How can we help people who use AAC to develop their leadership skills? One way is to give them models of successful leaders who use augmentative communication technology. In today’s post, we hear from India Ochs, an attorney and advocate who uses AAC, and her son, Jack. They talk about the ways that each of us can become leaders in everyday situations and offer suggestions for how to inspire others to lead. The presentation is part of the ISAAC webinar series. You can learn more about ISAAC here. Enjoy! Many thanks to ISAAC for hosting this session and making it available for us to learn from. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a2PmKq_qKk
December 9, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
I’m honored to have AAC pioneer Dr. Sarah Blackstone join us today for a guest post that highlights the work that is being done by the US chapter of the International AAC Society (ISAAC). The US chapter, known as USSAAC, has a long-standing commitment to supporting the AAC community in times of national disaster. Dr. Blackstone is both a past president of ISAAC and a founding member of USSAAC. She has authored many AAC-related texts and articles and is a partner emerita of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Communication Enhancement. She has served the AAC community with distinction, having been granted honors and awards by ASHA, ISAAC, USSAAC, and other organizations. Dr. Blackstone previously practiced at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, and in a private practice that serving children with AAC needs. Currently, Dr. Blackstone is on USSAAC’s Board of Directors. She and Harvey Pressman co-chair USSAAC’s AAC Disaster... [Read More...]
November 29, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
Visual difficulties are common in individuals who use AAC, and few of us know more than ‘the basics’ of vision impairment. If you work with individuals with cortical visual impairment (CVI), this post may influence your selection of AAC and learning materials, how you present them, and much more. In today’s featured video, Dr. Christine Roman-Lantzy provides a detailed explanation of CVI with a focus on how it impacts our AAC learners. Many thanks to USSAAC and ISAAC for hosting this helpful presentation. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE23MGY87PQ&feature=youtu.be You can hear more from Dr. Roman-Lantzy here.
November 22, 2017
by Carole Zangari -
There is no doubt that people with AAC needs are incredibly vulnerable in emergency and crime-related situations. In today’s featured video, SLPs Sarah Mankey and Mariesa Rang discuss ways they address this issue proactively and provided free training to firefighters and law enforcement officers in their community. In addition to introducing them to basic concepts in AAC, first responders learned how to communicate with people who use AAC and worked through real-life scenarios. Kudos to these professionals for this important work and to USSAAC and ISAAC for making this video available. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wuZGcyt-EY