December 17, 2012
by Robin Parker -
It’s been a long few days. Like everyone else, the Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre has been on our minds, in our hearts, and in our dreams. We didn’t want to write about it. We didn’t even want to think about it. We have refrained from tweeting and ‘Facebooking’ about it. It’s all just too hard. Too sad. Too overwhelming. Too… Well, you know. But as the numbness started to wear off, we realized that we couldn’t avoid blogging about it. Why? Because it matters to people with AAC needs, too. And we, of all people, should understand that silence is not the answer. Unfortunately, we have been through other horrific world events and people who use AAC or communicate in other unconventional way have told us. “We’re hurting, too.” The SLP community has something to offer here and a responsibility to help where we can. As clinicians, we agonize. “What... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: current events, Grief, Tragedy
May 5, 2012
by Robin Parker -
We love when our students are kept up to date with current events. Often times, current events are not explained to students with significant communication challenges because the language surrounding the event seems “complicated” or “too high” (not actually our words but unfortunately ones we have heard). However, we know ALL our students understand some aspects of major current events because that is what everyone around is talking about (back in the day… American Idol winners or the Super Bowl, or even just the anniversary of the Titanic Tragedy). So it is great when we have access to symbol based newspapers that take complicated topics and make them more concrete and then add symbols so we do not have to do all the work. We love News- 2- You which includes various activities, levels, recipes, and even jokes. The ONLY problem with News-2-You is the price (We think it is... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: current events, resource, symbol newspaper