Tag Archive: resources
June 14, 2013
by Robin Parker -
Some great free AAC resources for communicating with dad this Father’s Day and beyond: Talk to dad with visual conversational starters from Autism Teaching Strategies/Joel Shaul. Play a Mayor-Johnson symbol based memory game. Print, color, and create the game together and then have fun playing and communicating. Father’s Day Activity and Social Story (for those dads that like gardening) from Positively Autism For more ideas or inspiration about Father’s Day, see PrAACtical Reflections. Have a Great Father’s Day!
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: father's day, resources, Social Story
May 29, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
Need information on selecting vocabulary for someone with AAC needs? You can’t go wrong with Lauren Enders’ Pinterest board on this topic. She’s collected some wonderful posts, documents, and videos. Check it out here.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Lauren Enders, Pinterest, resources, vocabulary selection
May 28, 2013
by Robin Parker -
If you know someone with significant speech difficulties, BEGIN AAC NOW…. If you know someone, try something… Doing something, even if it isn’t perfect, is infinitely better than doing nothing at all…. There is no specific order for these suggestions, try what is appropriate and doable for you… A year from now you may wish you started today (K. Lamb)… So begin now at any level.. for someone, a class, a clinic, for a few… Create a Visual Language & AAC Environment: Visual Immersion Program, Meaningful Language Experiences, Importance of Using Visual Supports Speak AAC to the AAC Learner: Use Aided Language Input (ALI), Learning to Use ALI Get Assessment Information: Communication Matrix , AAC Evaluation Genie, Thoughts & Ideas, AAC Assessment Forms, Write & Implement Some AAC Goals: Goals That Matter, AAC in the IEP by Lauren Enders, PrAActical Goals Learn and Use a Core Word Approach: Core Word Communication Board Samples, About Core Words- First... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: resources
May 27, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
Ask any 10 professionals how they do AAC evaluations and you’re likely to get 10 different answers. We look for the same things (I think!) but go about it in different ways. We’re always happy to take a look at the protocols and forms that our colleagues develop and/or use. Here are some that might be of interest. 1. Bloom and Lahey Recording Sheet for staging language by Sherri Vernelso and Emily Pratt 2. Kate Ahern’s form for AAC device trials 3. SETT process assessment forms by HILIA Coordinators of Assistive Technology Services 4. The Functional Behavior Assessment Worksheet and Observation Forms by PaTTAN 5. Assessing the metaphoric use of pictures (e.g., Minspeak, Unity) protocol and forms by Gail Van Tatenhove If you have a protocol or form that you’d like to share, please get in touch. We’re always looking for new and better tools.
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: assessment, evaluation, forms, resources, testing
May 22, 2013
by Robin Parker -
To continue on with the theme of the month, here are some app (and computer based) resources for easily creating your own communication boards: Pogo Boards Pogo Boards is a communication board creator for both the computer and the iOS platform. You can make traditional grid-based communication boards and a variety of other visual supports. Pogo Boards also has a variety of pre-made boards that users share. Price: – Free trial period with premium account, then Free basic account, Subscription price for ongoing premium account Symbly Go & Symbly Symbly is a computer based communication board creator. Communication boards are super easy to create, share, and print out. Symbly Go is an iOS platform app that allows you to view your communication boards (and other visual supports) on your iPad. Your communication boards will automatically be downloaded to your iPad (even when there’s no Internet connection available). There is text to speech capability if... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Apps, communication boards, resources
May 16, 2013
by Robin Parker -
It’s PrAACtically Memorial Day! Memorial Day is prAACtically here. We remember, appreciate, and honor the people who have protected our freedoms. Getting ready so EVERYONE can participate is important. We wrote about memorial day last year and had found some good gluten-casein free Memorial Day recipes. There are even more resources today. Check out Gluten Free Memorial Day Weekend Menu and Recipe Ideas or Gluten Free Casein Free Applesauce Muffins. Cooking and baking provide meaningful language experiences as well as just plain fun. There are symbol based recipes on Pinterest at Picture Recipes and Visual Recipes for Children with Autism, and at Specialty Chef. There are also prAACtical AAC ways to teach about Memorial Day’s meaning as well as the typical memorial day vacations, activities, and events. Learning about Memorial Day Memorial Day Activity Board Memorial Day Vocabulary Cards Memorial Day Bingo Memorial Day Adapted Bingo Summer Pack Memorial Day After learning about Memorial... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: calendars, meaningful language experiences, Memorial Day, resources, schedules, social stories, talking photo albums
May 14, 2013
by Robin Parker -
We have been thinking about communication boards this month. There are a lot of pre-made options available. You just have to check and make sure the pre-made options meet the individual needs of your learners. If not, they are often a good place to start while taking the time to modify and develop specific individual communication boards. Check out these 5 great resources for pre-made communication boards: Speaking of Speech- Play-Based Communication Boards Communication Board for Lunch AAC Topic Setting Conversation Boards Child’s Play Communication Boards Show & Tell Free AAC: Communication Boards for Adults Communication Boards for Hospital Stays Bedside Communication Board Alphabet Board & Yes/No Accident and Emergency Communication Board (Also many children AAC Communication Boards available) Boardmaker Share Walk Communication Board Rehab Communication Board Doll/Play Communication Board FTLU Golf Communication Board (Many more communication boards, search by topic) Autism Teaching Strategies Talk to Sister Talk to Dad... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: communication boards, resources
April 30, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
We know that there are lots of PowerPoint haters out there, but we’re not among them. While we have certainly suffered through a presentation or two in which it was used poorly, we’ve also been inspired by those who use it well. It has lots of uses beyond teaching and presentation. Here are some ideas for using it to enhance your AAC intervention. 1. Personal Dictionary: Create a dictionary with slides for the new words the individual is learning. You can record the pronunciation of the word, provide the definitions, give examples, illustrate with images, and link to external sites. 2. Switch-accessible Books: These are fun to make and positively addictive once you get started! In the AAC Literacy Camp we did a few years ago, we made lots of little books like the one shown here and printed hard copies for the kids to take home. Reading online is... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: accessible books, intervention, PowerPoint, reading, resources, therapy, vocabulary, writing
April 29, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
Whether we’re working on a project, cooking with new ingredients, or doing something crafty, one of the things we find most helpful is examples. Seeing how other people have approached a situation can be informative and inspiring. Making communication displays for people who use AAC is no different. Most of us appreciate the opportunity to see what our colleagues have done. We provided a number of examples of communication boards and books that are rich in core language in some of our earlier posts. Here are some of them, just in case you missed those posts. Kate Ahern’s Core Vocabulary in 3 Symbol Types (and Core Word Learning Book) via SlideShare Core language board with 20 PCS and 12 PCS by Yvonne Green via SET-BC PCS communication book (core and fringe) from the AT4All Wiki/Barbara Cannon PCS communication book pages in Boardmaker and PDF format by Polk County Public Schools... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: communication boards, core vocabulary, examples, free download, resources
April 26, 2013
by Carole Zangari -
One of the things we most appreciate about the AAC community is the generosity of spirit and sense of collaboration. When we first posted our Year of AAC Core Vocabulary, Gail Van Tatenhove, Russell Cross, and others in the Minspeak community generously shared it with professionals and families. More importantly, they adapted it with Minspeak symbols so that the resource could be more useful to people learning to communicate with that symbol system. We’re excited to be able to share the Year Of AAC Core adapted by Russell Cross. There are two versions: one for people learning 84-location Unity programs and another for people working with the 144-location version. There is one set of cards for each month with about 12 core words each so that professionals can provide extra practice of a selected set of core words. Many, many thanks to Gail and Russell for adapting our work and... [Read More...]
Filed under: PrAACtical Thinking
Tagged With: Calendar, core language, core vocabulary, download, Gail Van Tatenhove, resources, Russell Cross, semantics, vocabulary, year