October 9, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Established in 2007 by ISAAC’s LEAD Committee, AAC Awareness month invites us to spread the word about all things AAC, and it’s pretty exciting to think back on all we’ve done and also to plan for the current year. Each week during AAC Awareness Month we’ll share suggestions for things to do to help others learn about a field that emerged to support children and adults with complex communication needs. This week, we’ll focus on hands-on activities. A popular approach to AAC Awareness Month is to invite a group of colleagues or families to come together and communicate only through AAC for the event. Some years, we’ve held ‘Silent Snack’ events before class where we put out a variety of board games and invited some of our AAC clients to come in and play along. They enjoyed serving as our AAC Ambassadors, meeting new people, and ‘wow-ing’ the crowd with... [Read More...]
October 8, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you might appreciate. Monday – Say What? AAC Awareness Month 2023 Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Models for Coaching AAC Partners Thursday – October Year of Core Vocabulary & School Year of Core Vocabulary Words Friday – PráctiCAAmente Conectados: CAA Con Links :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Next up: A few more suggestions for AAC reading. PrAACtical Ideas: AAC Core Vocabulary Practice for Workshops and Inservices How I Do It: Working with Multiple Symbol Sets PrAACtically Reading: Over on the Farm with Karen Natoci & Karen Baca 5+ Ways to Make Page Fluffers and Spacers Classroom CORE Book by Tabi Jones-Wohleber (Downloadable file) ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About Week 2 Welcome to the second week of your Stepping into AAC journey! Now that you have a communication board (or other AAC tool) to use and an idea of what to expect over the next 19 weeks, we’re going to dive into some concepts that will help you begin using this with your AAC learner. We will explore the following concepts this week: Word List: Get a preview of all the words that we’ll be focusing on over the course of this program. Shared Attention: Gain an understanding of the crucial role that joint attention plays in learning and communication and how to maximize it for the benefit of your AAC learner. Multimodal Communication: Learn about different forms of communication and how to incorporate them when supporting a beginning AAC user. Modeling Language with AAC: Consider how to help your AAC learner expand their language abilities by giving... [Read More...]
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About This Week Welcome to Week 4 of your Stepping into AAC journey! This week, we delve into various concepts that will help you and your AAC learner make AAC use part of daily life. We will explore the following concepts this week: Presume Potential: Learn about the mindset of presuming potential and how to leverage it to create spaces, tools, and opportunities for AAC learners to thrive. Motivate to Communicate: Explore the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and ways to maximize their impact on AAC learning. Attribute Meaning: Consider how we can validate and support AAC learners by attributing meaning to their communicative attempts, even when we aren’t quite sure what they are trying to tell us. Say What You See & Show What You Say: Embrace two strategies that will boost AAC use without pressuring our AAC learners to imitate or comply. Know What Progress in AAC... [Read More...]
September 16, 2023
by Carole Zangari -
About Week 5 Welcome to the fifth week of your Stepping into AAC journey! In Week 5, we do a deep dive into key strategies for beginning AAC users. We will explore the following concepts this week: Say What You See: Familiarize yourself with the concept of narrating the world around us to facilitate language development in AAC learners. Model AAC Without Expectation: Learn about one of the most helpful AAC support strategies we have in our toolbox. Pause – Give Time for AAC Learning: Expand your understanding of ‘wait time’ and the positive role it can play in interactions with AAC users. Make the Most of Requesting: Consider the importance of making requests along with some of the pitfalls of over-emphasizing this aspect of communication. Think Aloud with AAC: By giving voice to our thoughts, feelings, and internal dialogue, we can support the development of cognitive and linguistic skills... [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.