Sometimes the internet brings unexpected smiles. When this one crossed my inbox, it was too good not to share. Enjoy! Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAl6zZXyHUg&app=desktop
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: first person account, music
There’s no better way to start the day than with a little music. In today’s featured video, we get a behind the scenes look at The Bliss iBand. You can learn more about this wonderful group here. Direct Link to Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1BjNYX7cbs
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: band, Bliss, Blissymbols, music
AAC clinicians are a creative bunch. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit some colleagues and was excited to see how they are repurposing free/low cost apps to build engagement and interaction in learners with significant communication challenges. Many of us work with learners who are highly motivated by mobile devices and apps that make music or sound, but still have a way to go to build their skills in using them. For some, we find that using apps that are relatively simple and easy (both motorically and cognitively), can spice up a session. Here are some sound/music cause and effect apps to explore. Of course, these apps are intended for a purpose completely different than how we are using them in therapy. Nonetheless, kids love them and that means that we SLPs can get a lot of mileage out of using apps like these in our therapy sessions. Burp... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Apps, cause and effect, implementation ideas, music
We love seeing AAC in action, but add in core word practice and a little aided language input, and we’re over the moon. Enjoy this video by the Dreamweavers. Direct link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wArNlLoMx-Q&feature=share&list=PLwJSl0zl5AzIr90O45w06x9M-BudYahpi&index=5
Filed under: Video of the Week
We continue to love using music in AAC intervention and have learned so much from talented music therapists who incorporate communication into their music intervention. Enjoy this great video of Ryan Judd, of the Rhythm Tree, talking about using simple instruments to help children communicate, improve skills, interact, and have fun.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Communiction, music, special needs
We love music, we love apps, we love great language opportunities and with these apps we can combine all these loves. These awesome music apps were selected because they have great choice making and commenting opportunities. You can use no tech, low tech, or an extra high-tech device to make choices and comment while you play with the app. Core words work great for choice making and commenting. Whenever I play or sing, my kids love to say “stop that” or “don’t do that pleeeeease”. When they play, I love to use aided language input (ALI) to say “good”, “more”, “again”, “love it” . We play the music “fast” and “slow”. We “find” our “favorite one”. We all like to say “let’s play with that one” or “let’s do it together”. The possibilities are really endless (and that is one of the reasons we love core words). These apps sound... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: aided language input, Apps, language goals, music
When I first met our guest blogger almost 20 years ago, she was using more visual supports in her music therapy sessions with kids who had ASD than most SLPs were using in their language therapy. Marlene Sotelo has worn many hats in her professional life, but her passion for helping people with ASD communicate more effectively seems to have permeated all of them. In this post, she discusses some of the ways she uses visual supports to help make music therapy effective. Music is a powerful force that transcends time, cultures, and languages. It can transport you to the past, and bring you hope and excitement for the future. In addition, music can be an effective tool in teaching children with varying abilities. The predictability, rhythmic patterns, and repetitive nature of the structure music lends itself to the development of language, cognitive skills, and motor skills, especially for individuals... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: academics, ASD, choice making, collaboration, Marlene Sotelo, music, music therapy, participation, visual supports
Although we struggle on a daily basis to facilitate good AT implementation with children who have significant communication challenges, the reality is that they are better served than their adult counterparts. Even the simplest communication supports are less available to people with AAC needs once they leave school, at least here in the US. This video shows the remarkable impact of mainstream technology, an mp3 player, on individuals with dementia. It made us wonder…how can we spread what we know about AAC and AT to individuals beyond the reach of the school system? Each one, teach one. We’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and experiences.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: dementia, music, underserved
We are huge fans of using music in AAC intervention and have learned so much from talented music therapists who really understand how to use their medium to support language learning. In this video, Ryan Judd, of the Rhythm Tree, discusses why hand puppets can be such a valuable addition when singing with language learners. He demonstrates the method with a child with Williams Syndrome who is practicing the use of prepositions. It’s clear that this strategy has lots of prAACtical potential. –
Filed under: Video of the Week
Tagged With: music, music therapy, puppets, singing