Tag Archive: AAC assessment
April 7, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
We’re always pleased to be able to share prAACtical strategies for gathering meaningful data. In today’s featured video, we learn from AAC SLP Jessica Conrad, an AT specialist with the Promoting Achievement through Technology and Instruction for all Students (PATINS) Project. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OPT4CEWDdw&list=PLFZe-wdPHOs6dXHc-ouvMdinCgg4qk0k9&index=9&t=487s&ab_channel=PATINSProject
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC assessment, data collection
March 3, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
The process of feature matching has been the gold standard for selecting AAC devices for several decades. In today’s featured video, AT Specialist, Consultant, and Special Educator Kelly Fonner provides an overview of this type of AAC assessment. Many thanks to Kelly and to Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) for hosting this helpful webinar. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9D9P-wluqw&ab_channel=PaTTAN
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC assessment, video
January 18, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Today, we welcome back SLT Katherine Small, an AAC Consultant at the Ace Centre, for the second in her series about working with Talking Mats. In her previous post, Katherine shared her experience in implementing Talking Mats with her clients. In this post, she discusses her role in developing a tool designed to help potential AAC users become more active participants in the decision-making process around using and selecting AAC tools. Readiness for AAC is a free resource that can be used to help explain the process of AAC evaluations and options to people with complex communication needs and engage them in sharing their thoughts and preferences. My Experience as Part of the Development of the ‘Readiness for AAC’ Talking Mats Resource When Ace Centre began a collaboration with Talking Mats to create some new mats about AAC topics I was thrilled to get to be part of the project... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC assessment, self-advocacy
January 13, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
AAC assessment is a complex process that takes the support of many stakeholders. In today’s featured video, SLP Rachell Johnson discusses the steps involved in these evaluations and provides suggestions for streamlining the process. Many thanks to Rachell and to Ablenet for creating and hosting this presentation. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcW1Hd_VZTI&ab_channel=AbleNetUniversityRecordedWebinar You can learn more from Rachell here.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC assessment, video
January 11, 2021
by Carole Zangari -
Talking Mats, a powerful tool for helping people with complex needs share their thoughts and advocate for themselves, is a topic we’ve posted about before. Today, we expand that discussion and learn from SLT Katherine Small, an AAC Consultant at the Ace Centre. In the first of a 2-part series, Katherine shares her experience in implementing Talking Mats with her clients. Enjoy! My Experience as a Practitioner who Uses Talking Mats Before training as an SLT, I had a variety of jobs where supporting people to share their views was key. One of the tools I used was ‘In My Shoes’ and I knew how helpful such tools were when I was trying to make sure I gave clients space to think and a means of expression during important conversations. So when I heard about Talking Mats I knew straight away that it would suit my style of working &... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC assessment, AAC user, AAC User Perspectives, participation
September 17, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
It’s Throwback Thursday and today we’re turning our attention to assessment. Take a look at these posts from our AAC Assessment Corner series guest authored by Vicki Clarke. Evaluating Skills For the Use of Comprehensive AAC Systems – Core Word Use Ready, SETT, AAC Evaluate! AAC Skills Assessment for Direct Selectors Standardized Tests For AAC Users AAC Assessment for Emergent Communicators The Eyes Have It-Assessment Considerations for High Tech Eye Gaze Access Is AAC Feature Matching Still Relevant? Thinking Inside the Box for AAC Evaluations Procedural Resources Evaluating Skills for Use of Comprehensive AAC Dynamic Display SGDs Language Representation Elements – Noun Symbol Use for Functional Communication
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC assessment
June 28, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts that may be of interest. Monday – Beyond AAC Modeling: 3 Things to Add to Your AAC Teaching Plan Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Pre-Symbolic Communicators, Core Vocabulary, & Aided Language Input Thursday – PrAACtically July – AAC Resources for A Year of Core Words: The Learn-at-Home Edition :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: If you have the time, here are some past posts you may enjoy. AAC Skills Assessment for Direct Selectors Selecting AAC Apps & Devices: A Handful of Reasons Not to Skip the Trial Period Observational Assessment of Beginning Communicators Bilingual AAC Assessment Tips by Lindsay Oesch Say What?!? AAC Assessment for Children Who Speak with Dr. Jill Senner and Matthew Baud
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC assessment
June 10, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
Do you have a formal process for identifying how AAC communicators interact with the people who are part of their daily experiences? If not, you may want to add this tool to your AAC assessment protocol: Social Networks, A Communication Inventory for Individuals with Complex Communication Needs and their Communication Partners. In today’s video, we feature AAC pioneer Dr. Sarah Blackstone discussing this well-established tool and how to implement it. The video is an archived webinar done for the ECHO Voices initiative from the Oregon Technology Access Program (OTAP). You can download the handout for this session here. We are grateful to Dr. Blackstone and the OTAP ECHO Voices Team for hosting this wonderful presentation and making it freely available to the global AAC community. Direct Link to Video – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FEvPWsBeJH80_kGYt8Z5YthP2l0M-3_2/view
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC assessment, partners
October 3, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
We are so very pleased to welcome Vicki Clarke back to these pages for another installment in our AAC Assessment Corner. Vicki is the CEO of Dynamic Therapy Associates and Director of DTA Schools, is back with another wonderful edition of AAC Assessment Corner. In addition to their clinic, Vicki and her team support school districts in AAC evaluation, equipment procurement, and implementation for individual students in the academic environment. DTA Schools also supports district-wide AAC implementation through the Classroom Communication Goals Project, training, and supporting all team members in classroom AAC implementation. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Evaluating Skills For the Use of Comprehensive AAC Systems: CORE WORD USE ACTION/OBJECT REQUESTS-RECURRENCE, CESSATION, ACTION More, Stop, Go and Want Once we have assessed our student’s ability to understand and use photos and symbols for concrete, motivating items, it’s time to take a look at their ability to understand and use more abstract, generalizable core vocabulary. ... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC assessment, Vicki Clarke
August 18, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here’s what we’ve been up to. Check them out if you have the time. Monday – How I Do It: Putting the FUN Back in FUNctional Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Getting Started in AAC Assessment Thursday – PrAACtically Visual: More Supports for Your Toolbox :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: In the mood for a little more? Here are some selections for you to browse. 10 Tips for Starting AAC with the Little Ones How I Do It: A Framework for Success-Getting Started in the Exciting World of Communication and AAC PrAACtical Suggestions: How to Get Started with A New AAC Client How We Do It: AAC Training for Educational Assistants Visual Support for Places Around School
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC assessment, getting started, partner training, summary post