Tag Archive: accessibility
July 23, 2020
by Carole Zangari -
When clinicians, researchers, and individuals with AAC needs come together to work on a problem, good things can happen. In today’s post, SLP Katie Seaver tells us about her experiences with Project Euphonia. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: My name is Katie Seaver and I have been an SLP for 16 years. For the past 10 year I have been an SLP and AAC Specialist at the Leonard Florence Center in Chelsea MA at their ALS Residence (see ALSRI.org for more information). The center is uniquely built to meet the extensive accessibility obstacles pALS experience. Each room is private with a fully automated environmental control with a program called PEAC. Once a resident has a device that allows them to access WiFi (e.g. an iPhone or even a Tobii Dynavox SGD) then they have access to their environment as well, from heating and TV, to doors and elevators. My passion for AAC has been... [Read More...]
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: accessibility, ALS, research
February 8, 2018
by Carole Zangari -
Last week’s ATIA Conference in Orlando was packed with AAC energy, excitement about tools, and enthusiasm for learning ways in which professionals are supporting AAC learners at home, in school, and in the community. We’ll be sharing takeaways from that event over the next few weeks. Here are a couple of resources and handouts on access, professional development, and accessibility to get you started. The Access Learning Process (ALP) for AAC introduced a wonderful framework for supporting AAC learners who use alternative access. Power Up Your Professional Development with AT Focused Social Media Creating Inclusive Classrooms with Microsoft Accessibility Did you attend a session or learn about an AAC resource that needs to be shared? We’d love to hear about it.
Filed under: Featured Posts, PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: accessibility, alternative access, ATIA
October 19, 2016
by Carole Zangari -
Although guided access has been around on iOS devices for awhile, there are some professionals and families who are just starting to use this wonderful feature. In this post, we share some helpful videos that can be used to familiarize the team with this feature and how to use it. Setting up Guided Access by SENICT Direct link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34_LqW8xgjs How to exit Guided Access when you forget your passcode by iAgents Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHtshhfhNOE
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: accessibility, iPad
December 17, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
Today we’re pleased to share this video, a project of the North Carolina AT Program. Let’s peek in at Kayla, Logan, Bryan, and others share ways in which AT helps them live their best lives. Direct Link to Video: https://vimeo.com/110355711
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: access, accessibility, North Carolina AT Program
February 25, 2014
by Carole Zangari -
As we all know, there are many prAACtical ways to use YouTube videos to support AAC learning. When we’re looking to extend the learning outside of therapy, we sometimes use it to watch videos that demonstrate or further explain a target concept, like scarcity. Navigating YouTube can be a challenge for individuals with intellectual or physical difficulties. We can use Access Tube to make that a bit easier. The simplified layout and clear buttons make searching and playing YouTube videos easy. You can also access it with switches and touch screens. You can try it out by clicking on the image below.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: access, accessibility
July 15, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
We’re not big fans of worksheets. In fact (true confession!), many years ago we actually hid a notebook full of them from a colleague who seemed to think they should play a prominent role in aphasia therapy. However, we concede that they are sometimes useful in limited quantities (‘sometimes’ being the operative word). More importantly, if teachers use them, we want our kids to be able to participate. Those who have difficulty with fine motor skills need alternate ways to manage worksheets so that they can be as independent as possible. Summer seems like a good time to learn a few new things that will come in handy once school resumes. If you’re looking for ways to make worksheets accessible on a shoestring, check out these resources. This presentation from Lynda Hartmann gives a good overview of accessible worksheets and provides information on a number of tools that you can use.... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: accessibility, accessible materials, literacy, PDF, worksheets, writing
February 27, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
With our love of visually-based communication, it should come as no surprise that we were happy to come across this blog post by Ryan Knobloch. For starters, it’s always gratifying to see examples of how visual supports work for all types of learners in all types of situations. Making language visible is a good thing for all of us. Graphic organizers are one way to add clarity in AAC therapy sessions. It got us to thinking about how to make them accessible to learners with AAC needs by scanning them and making them into forms, for example. We also started reflecting on what goals could be supported through the use of this strategy. Semantic development and building stronger narrative skills immediately came to mind. Do you use graphic organizers in your work with AAC learners? We’d love to hear about it.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: accessibility, Graphic Organizers