Michaela Sullivan and Lindsay Dougherty have some exciting things planned for October. In this video preview, Lindsay gives a heads-up of what’s to come. Take a look. Direct link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ie_WXqjp_Q&ab_channel=SchoolYearofCore
Storytime with AAC is an innovative program that can be replicated in local libraries. Learn about it and get inspired by this presentation from Elena Dukhovny, Polina Rubanova, and Sabena D’souza with guest speaker Himani Hitendra. You can obtain the handout and support material here. Today’s featured video is an archived presentation from the 2024 AAC in the Cloud Conference, founded by CoughDrop. Many thanks to the presenters and the fine conference team for this impactful session. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijiSXPuxDhI&ab_channel=CoughDrop
In a previous post, guest author Sara Ware shared a tool for progress monitoring. Today, she returns to discuss how it is used in her own clinical practice. Evolving Progress Monitoring for Beginning AAC Users- Where Do I Begin? As AAC SLPs, we often also assume the roles of coach, cheerleader, teacher, mentor, team member and advocate. However, in order to advocate for AAC, we need to be able to identify the benefits that AAC brings to the lives of our clients. As I mentioned in Part 1 of this series, progress looks different for everyone, particularly beginning AAC users. This is what led to the development of the “Pediatric Prelinguistic and Linguistic Skill Assessment for AAC Users.” You may be asking yourself, where do I begin with this tool or how do I use it? Let’s dive in with a few examples by meeting AAC users Eddie and Abigail... [Read More...]
As August draws to a close, we welcome guest authors Michaela Sullivan and Lindsay Dougherty, who are back with another set of core vocabulary resources for teaching older students. Today, they share sets of curated materials and suggestions to help students gain fluency with the September core vocabulary words. They also discuss a key AAC support strategy, using pause time in AAC interactions. SCHOOL YEAR OF CORE- Older Student Lessons The Google Slide Resources Access & Copy below: Weeks 1-2 Google Slides Weeks 3-4 Google Slides INTRODUCTION- SEPTEMBER 2024 School is back in session across the country, and fall is upon us. This is a busy time of year as we prepare for the year ahead. We hope that the School Year of Core-Older Student Lessons (SYOC-OSL) resource can provide you and your students with additional support in learning about core vocabulary through thematic, engaging, and motivating activities and icebreakers.... [Read More...]
Looking for a way to support families who are getting started with AAC or want to reboot their efforts to include it in everyday life? Today’s video features AAC SLPs Tabi Jones Wohleber, Rachael Langley, and PrAACtical AAC’s own Carole Zangari, providing an overview of the free materials available through the Stepping into AAC project. Many thanks to all of the presenters and the Angelman Syndrome Foundation for recording this session as part of their 2024 Angelman Syndrome Family Conference and making it available. If this sounds like a good fit for you, check out the Stepping Into AAC resources here. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0sHcsUZw3A
We’re in the home stretch of our Stepping Into AAC series! Follow along as we continue with a focus on ‘AAC on the go’ and talk about connecting with the AAC community. If you missed the earlier posts, you can view those using the links below. Introduction: A PrAACtical Guide to Stepping into AAC Week 1: Starting a Journey with Stepping into AAC Weeks 2-5: Building a Foundation with Stepping into AAC Weeks 6-8: Customizing AAC Tools with Stepping into AAC Weeks 9-12: Getting More Comfortable with AAC Practices Weeks 13-14: AAC & Reading Weeks 15-17: AAC in Everyday Life Target Words: do, he, over, she, they, where Communicative Intents: Social exchanges, exclamations, & humor Hands-on Activities: Try your best to complete the 5 daily activities, each of which take less than 10 minutes. These brief, simple AACtion steps help in building habits of AAC use that will allow your... [Read More...]
In the US, the new school year is underway in some places, and others are gearing up for the return in a few weeks. Here are a few things from previous posts that might come in handy. AAC 101 Flipbook This all-in-one resource contains information on how to implement key AAC support strategies: AAC 101 Handout. AAC Options Ensure that every student who needs AAC has access to at least a starter set of words and phrases. There are plenty of core communication boards and flipbooks to choose from, and this post has links to a variety of them: Core Boards. Hands-on AAC Interactive experiences where communication partners get to try out and use AAC to learn and express themselves can be very powerful. If you need ideas or materials to use, check out the options we shared in an earlier post: Hands-On Activities. Parent Training Materials The Stepping into... [Read More...]
Measuring progress can be challenging when working with individuals who are in the beginning stages of AAC use. Today, we’re excited to introduce a guest post by AAC SLP Sara Ware, who is generously sharing a tool that can help clinicians and educators track their clients’ trajectory of AAC learning. Sara created this tool with her colleague Carolyn Sparrow, and it is now in its second edition. In the first of two posts, Sara explains the origins of this helpful form and shares a link for you to download it. Reference Ware, S, & Sparrow, C. (2024). Pediatric Prelinguistic and Linguistic Skill Assessment for Beginning AAC Users: Second Edition. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pediatric-Prelinguistic-and-Linguistic-Skill-Assessment-for-AAC-Users-11637432?st=b151902f6e6a81f361891152a3971699 Stay tuned for a second post from Sara later this month in which she discusses the implementation of this progress monitoring tool. Enjoy! Evolving Progress Monitoring for Beginning AAC Users Margaret Wolfe Hungerford famously said “beauty is in the eye... [Read More...]
As we prepare for a new academic year, we’re delighted to reconnect with guest authors Michaela Sullivan and Lindsay Dougherty. Today, they kick off preparation for the upcoming school year with another wonderful set of Older Student Lessons in the School Year of Core Vocabulary Words series. Scroll down for some terrific resources, including two slide decks full of activities and the data collection forms specific to the Sugust core words. Their post also includes some helpful information on a key AAC support strategy, aided language input. SCHOOL YEAR OF CORE- Older Student Lessons Access & Copy below: Weeks 1-2 Google Slides Weeks 3-4 Google Slides INTRODUCTION- AUGUST 2024 Welcome back to the School Year of Core – Older Student Lessons: August! School is back in session for many and the summer is nearing the final stretch. Welcome back to the School Year of Core- Older Student Lessons (SYOC-OSL resource,... [Read More...]
Here in the US, some educators and therapists have begun to plan for the upcoming school year. Michaela Sullivan and Lindsay Dougherty will be returning to their monthly posts in the Older Student version of the School Year of Core Vocabulary Words. Take a look at this sneak preview to see what they have in store for August. Direct link to video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA2CdMRm86U&ab_channel=SchoolYearofCore