Tag Archive: inclusion

AAC Video of the Week: The Folly of Fortune Telling

November 14, 2018 by - 1 Comment

AAC Video of the Week: The Folly of Fortune Telling

As AAC practitioners, we sometimes lose sight of how our prognostications impact the individuals we serve. In today’s featured video Rob Rummel-Hudson provides some perspective on this important issue. Many thanks to Mr. Rummel-Hudson, the AAC RERC, and the AAC team at Penn State for making this video available. Direct Link to Video – https://aac-learning-center.psu.edu/2018/10/14/the-folly-of-fortune-telling/

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PrAACtical Resources: Promoting Inclusion and Participation for People Who Use AAC

April 19, 2018 by - Leave your thoughts

PrAACtical Resources: Promoting Inclusion and Participation for People Who Use AAC

We’re so pleased to discover a new resource created by Talking Mats through a partnership with Scotland’s National Health Service Education. This guide, Promoting Inclusion and Participation A holistic approach to working with children and young people who use AAC, has lots of useful information, embedded video clips, discussion questions, and more. You can download the book here. (Note: It is a large file that takes awhile to download.) Kudos to the wonderful team at Talking Mats for their fine work on this project, and to NHS Education Scotland for making it available on their website!

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PrAACtical Resources: Teaching Peers About AAC

September 21, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts

PrAACtical Resources: Teaching Peers About AAC

It is not overstating things to say that Gail Van Tatenhove’s resources have shaped the way AAC is practiced all around the world. In this post, we share a terrific booklet that she created to help those who are supporting students in inclusive settings. While this specific resource is designed to teach the basic idea of Minspeak, the student-friendly approach she has used is a wonderful example that can inspire those of us who support students working with a wider variety of AAC systems. Enjoy this little gem! You can download it here or by clicking on the image below.

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Video of the Week: From Presence to Contribution – A Family’s Journey Towards an Inclusive Life

April 5, 2017 by - 2 Comments

Video of the Week: From Presence to Contribution - A Family's Journey Towards an Inclusive Life

Why do we work so hard to support effective communication through AAC? In the end, the real goal is to help people live rich and enviable lives. Working toward that starts with a vision and that’s the subject of Erin Sheldon’s talk, Including Maggie. Many thanks to Kathy Howery and the Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia for making this available. If you think you know inclusion and if you think you know what the end game is in AAC, don’t skip this. All of us have something to learn from this family’s journey toward an inclusive life. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkf3LD6047s&list=PL6P1FySUgEPR1aG-ZRYi363jtaniNJFqC&index=13

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Watch It Wednesday: Communicating at Meetings and Public Events

March 11, 2015 by - 2 Comments

Watch It Wednesday: Communicating at Meetings and Public Events

When people who use AAC participate in team or committee meetings, they are generally welcomed by others in attendance. That’s a great start, but for the experience to be successful, we have to go beyond good intentions and use solid inclusive practices so that the group benefits from the perspective or information shared by the person using AAC. Helping people with AAC needs be full participants in team and other group meetings is an area where SLPs can make a positive impact. In this video by Communication Disabilities Access Across Canada, we learn how we can go beyond supporting the individual who uses AAC (which may be necessary but not sufficient) and help the team develop good practices for inclusive practices.    

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Video of the Week: AT Throughout the Day for Students with Significant Disabilities

January 14, 2015 by - Leave your thoughts

Video of the Week: AT Throughout the Day for Students with Significant Disabilities

Everyone knows that when it comes to skill development for students with significant disabilities, it’s important to provide a great deal of practice. Making that happen, however, can be challenging, particularly as students get older. Take a look at these ideas shared by the Provisional Inclusion Outreach Program of British Columbia Minstry of Education. Quick Time Required: http://www.pisp.ca/video/videos/High%20School%20Participation.mov

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Watch It Wednesday: Towards an Inclusive Maker Movement

August 13, 2014 by - Leave your thoughts

Watch It Wednesday: Towards an Inclusive Maker Movement

Where we live, the DIY movement has impacted everything from home repairs, to decorating, to assistive technology. We love the idea of empowering clients, families, and professionals to take things into their own hands to make, adapt, use, and share. Take a look at Meryl Alper’s Ignite session on the topic of building an inclusive maker culture.  

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10 References Supporting AAC Use in Inclusive Settings

January 22, 2014 by - Leave your thoughts

10 References Supporting AAC Use in Inclusive Settings

We sometimes get contacted by colleagues who are looking for references supporting the use of AAC. Here are some that are specific to inclusive settings in schools and in the community.*  Alquraini, T., & Gut, D. (2012). Critical components of successful inclusion of students with severe disabilities: Literature review. International Journal of Special Education, 27(1), 42-59. Balandin, S., & Duchan, J. (2007). Communication: Access to inclusion. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 32(4), 230-232. Batorowicz, B., Mcdougall, S., & Shepherd, T. A. (2006). AAC and community partnerships: The participation path to community inclusion. Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 22(3), 178-195. Calculator, S. (2009). Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and inclusive education for students with the most severe disabilities. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 13 (1) 93-113. Carter, M., & Maxwell, K., (1998). Promoting interaction with children using augmentative communication through peer-directed intervention. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education 45(1) 75-96. Daugherty,... [Read More...]

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The PrAACtical Power of Peers

January 19, 2014 by - Leave your thoughts

Moms and dads know it. Teachers and SLPs know it, too. As children get older, the impact of peer relationships edge out the adults. There’s just nothing like the presence of a peer to get a communicator interested in using their best language abilities. Today, we’re excited to share a set of videos on peer power that are part of a larger module by Jacob Wolf and Earle Knowlton from the University of Kansas. Enjoy! Direct Link: http://www.aacmodules.com/Peer_Training-Module2.php  

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