February 13, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
We love the versatility of flip books and charts. They are a great format option for communication books, particularly the flip books that have a static ‘base’ and a set of strips/mini pages that you can flip through for additional vocabulary. Once you have a template, it’s not too difficult to make a number of them that fit different purposes. Here are some resources to explore. SET-BC has wonderful material on communication supports including a brief video about flip books here. They also have some terrific downloads, including this one by Kathy Ryan. Flip ‘n Talk has been around for a long time, but it continues to be a really useful tool. We typically have the core language as the static portion, but here’s an example of doing it the other way around. There are so many ways to use flip books for language learning. We love this one for... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: communication book, flip book
January 18, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
Working on a communication book for someone with AAC needs? Here are some posts on that topic. The PrAACtical Power of Communication Books Do It My Way: Personalizing Communication Books Communication Books: Making Decisions About Format Quick Start Communication Book Pages Organizing Vocabulary for Communication Books: Getting Started The Communication Book is Ready: Now What? PrAACtically Personal: Individualizing Communication Books 10 Resources for Planning and Designing Communication Books 5+ Ways to Make Page Fluffers and Spacers PrAACtical Resources for AAC Symbols
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: communication book
December 15, 2012
by Carole Zangari -
Four-year-old Josiah had a tiny one that was clipped to his belt loop so it was handy all throughout his day in preschool. Mr. Allan, who was hemiplegic and used a manual wheelchair, liked to keep one underneath his right thigh so he could grab it quickly whenever he wanted to talk. Dougie’s was big, really big, and he carried it under his arm wherever he went. Marla’s was a permanent fixture on her wheelchair laptray, and if she came without it because a caregiver forgot to put it on, it was likely to be a very l-o-n-g day. Geena’s looked like a DayPlanner and had it’s own special compartment in her purse. What are we talking about? Communication books, of course. And despite the fact that they all served the same general purpose, the communication books referenced in these examples couldn’t have looked more distinct. In this week’s post,... [Read More...]
Filed under: Strategy of the Month
Tagged With: binder, communication book, flipbook, format, page fluffer, tabs, wallet
December 1, 2012
by Carole Zangari -
There’s something about the month of December that makes us a bit nostalgic. As we prepare for the holidays, our thoughts drift to the past. Simpler times. Tradition. The way things used to be. And, so, for our Strategy of the Month, we step away from the latest app or fanciest SGD and turn our attention to one of the tried-and-true tools from the past: Communication books. They used to be ubiquitous but now they’re becoming almost a rarity. We’ve decided to focus on them for a couple of reasons, but the main one is to spread the word that it doesn’t take a sizeable budget to give someone access to real language. If you have access to a computer and printer, you can make a really robust communication book for little or no money. It seems so simple: Put some words and pictures in a book. Show someone how... [Read More...]
Filed under: Strategy of the Month
Tagged With: communication book
August 26, 2012
by Carole Zangari -
This week, we return to the team at the Autism and Tertiary Behavior Supports Project of the Kansas Technical Assistance Network. They have two wonderful videos by Jane Goetz and Lori Chambers on Pragmatically Organized Dynamic Displays. You can view ‘It’s All About the Interaction,” Part 1 and Part 2 . Also, look for the handout and tip sheet that accompanies these videos. –
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: ASD, cerebral palsy, communication, communication book, developmental disability, intervention, partner assisted scanning, PODD, resources