Tag Archive: AAC implementation
April 29, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
Implementation challenges are a frequent reality in serving students with AAC needs across the age and ability levels. In today’s post, we feature two videos from AbleNet University that share a process for addressing some of those challenges. AT Expert and Special Education Consultant Kelly Fonner explains a team approach to supporting AAC implementation, Environmental Communication Training. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKcnUoLCRLw You can view the second training in this series here. Many thanks to Kelly and to AbleNet for these fine presentations. You can learn more from Kelly here.
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC implementation, Environmental Communication Training
April 6, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
How do we help people with complex communication needs become fluent in using AAC throughout the day? There are lots of factors to consider in working toward that goal, and our guest author for today encourages us to think of one of them. Special educator Amy Campbell believes that one thing we can do to support AAC learners is to normalize the use of AAC tools and strategies. Amy is the 2020 Washington State Teacher of the Year and has been a Special Education teacher for 12 years. Over that time, she has focused on how to increase student independence and improve the inclusion of students with disabilities into general education settings and the greater community. Like many of you, she has now pivoted to supporting her students from a distance. Don’t miss the videos Amy creates for her students and their families so learning can continue from afar. ... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC implementation, classroom, learn-at-home, school
April 5, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Hope you are adjusting as best you can to this new reality of ours. If you need to catch up on some AAC reading, take a look at what we published this past week. Monday – PrAACtically April – AAC Resources for A Year of Core Words: The Learn-at-Home Edition Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Enhancing Communication for Individuals with Autism Thursday – AAC Learning at a Distance ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Still have time for a little more reading? Here are some additional posts for you to explore. Beyond Requesting: Thoughts on Teaching Information Transfer How I Do It: Encouraging AAC Implementation (Lauren Enders) PrAACtical Ways to Make Decisions About Thematic Therapy Materials In the Treasure Bag: Using Sharing Time to Focus on Vocabulary AAC in Motion: Walk the Walk, Talk the Talk with Tanna Neufeld
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC implementation
February 12, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
How can AAC be used to support academic learning and social skill development? In today’s featured video, SLP and AT Specialist Elisa Parker teams up with Tara Wineinger, also an AT Specialist, to share their experiences with this in the Park Hill School District. Many thanks to the presenters for this wonderful webinar and to Saltillo for hosting it. You can download the handout for this session here. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEdGP_SwqZc&feature=youtu.be
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC implementation, school
November 17, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends. Here are some posts you may have missed. Monday – 5 Ways to Build Increased Support for AAC Within an Organization Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: Using the AAC Participation Model to Guide Implementation Planning Thursday – How We Do It: A Support Walker Mobility Program for Elementary Students with AAC Needs ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::; Before you leave, sample some of these posts from the archives. “But He Doesn’t Like It!” 5 Things to Try with AAC Learners Who Don’t Like Shared Reading Getting Acquainted with Tarheel Reader AAC on TpT: 5 Free Downloads Reading with AAC Across the Stages of Language Development
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC implementation, language development, reading
September 22, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Happy Sunday, AAC friends! Here are some posts you may have missed in your busy week. Monday – How I Do It: Setting Up an AAC Implementation Plan Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday – Video of the Week: The Unspoken Voices Project Thursday – PrAACtical Resources: Partner Strategies Booklet & Communication Functions Poster ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: If you have time, here are a few more posts to check out. AAC Vocabulary Lists PrAACtical Suggestions: 5 Ways to Elicit Language Without Asking a Direct Question Are you AACtually Listening? PrAACtical Suggestions: How to Get Started with A New AAC Client PrAACtical Questions: How Do I Find Good AAC Service Providers? Have a great week!
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC implementation, language facilitation, service delivery
September 9, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Today we have a visit from California-based SLP Kristen Powell who is stopping by to share some of the ways she builds collaboration and sets up AAC implementation plans. Kristen works both in the public school system and runs her own private practice, Creative Communication. She specializes in assessment, device trials, and implementation training of AT and AAC. Kristen is passionate about providing individuals with the most appropriate AT and supports to improve their communication with their family and peers. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: In 2016, I got a job as a speech-language pathologist at a local school district. One of my students had multiple service providers both school and medical based. In addition, my student used both high and low tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). I was faced with the challenge of helping the entire team know how to use the AAC system with the student, know what successful communication looks... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC implementation, Gail Van Tatenhove
March 13, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
Over 100 young children with AAC needs and their parents participated in research to look at the ways that their communication changed when families were trained to provide support. For today’s featured video, we turn to the Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium (ERLC) and the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia (ARPDC) to learn more about what research teams led by Drs. Maryann Romski and Rose Sevick found out. Learn about the methods and strategies they used in this archived webinar. Many thanks to the ERLC. the ARPDC, and Drs. Romski and Sevcik for making Parent-Coached Augmented Language Intervention for Toddlers available. Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=373&v=rnILKJu_ai0
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC implementation, coaching, Maryann Romski, research, Rose Sevcik, young children
February 4, 2019
by Carole Zangari -
As expected, the ATIA Conference in Orlando last week had a robust selection of AAC learning opportunities. Here are two of the fun finds we thought you’d like to explore. The AAC Strand Spotlight Session This panel asked four thought leaders in AAC to each identify two intervention challenges and discuss their ideas for addressing them. The speakers were from a variety of practice settings and addressed a range of implementation issues. Christopher Bugaj, AAC and AT Specialist at Loudoun County Public Schools Transitions & Turnovers: Killers of Language Learning Progression Keeping Up With The Training Demand Vicki Clarke, SLP/CEO, Dynamic Therapy Associates, Inc. Addressing Opportunity Barriers to Participation Facilitator Attitude, Knowledge, & Skill Barriers Caroline Musselwhite, Literacy & AAC Specialist Facilitating Generalization Age-Respectful and Engaging Materials/Activities for Adolescents & Teens Gail VanTatenhove, SLP/CEO, AACell, Inc. Providing Person-Specific AAC Design in an App/MAP Happy World The Aging of AAC Users... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: AAC implementation, ATIA 2019, handouts, professional development
September 5, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
“He has an AAC device but he doesn’t use it much.” “I have great toys but she doesn’t seem to like any of them.” “How can I build language if he doesn’t want to interact with me?” “The only time she uses her SGD is to ask for things.” Connecting with clients who are beginning to use AAC and helping them use their communication tools is a challenge in some clinical and educational settings. Today, we revisit a session from CoughDrop’s 2nd Annual AAC in the Cloud conference held last spring, to get some prAACtical advice about building engagement and interaction. In our featured video, SLP Chana Feinstein of All Kinds of Voices provides concrete suggestions that will help our beginning communicators want to communicate and use their AAC devices for a variety of purposes. We are grateful to CoughDrop for hosting this wonderful conference and allowing us all to... [Read More...]
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: AAC implementation, beginning communicator, Chana Feinstein, CoughDrop, intervention strategies