Tag Archive: SGD

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 35: August 2018

August 26, 2018 by - Leave your thoughts

AAC Posts from PrAACtical Week # 35: August 2018

It’s a beautiful day to catch up on some AAC reading. Here are some posts from our prAACtical week. Monday – Letters from Camp, Day 1 Tuesday – AAC Link Up Wednesday –  Video of the Week: AAC on the Move Thursday – Building AAC Facilitation Skills with Tabi Jones-Wohleber: MASTER PAL Training, Module 1 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Still have an appetite for some AAC? Check out this sampling of past posts. SGDs for People with ASD “What Should I Program on the SGD?” Feature Match Chart 5 Features to Look for in SGDs and AAC Apps Making a Back-up for High-tech AAC :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Join us in January for a full day of preschool AAC! Use the slider on the right side of the graphic for more information. You can also download a PDF of it here.

Filed under:

Tagged With: , ,

PrAACtical Ideas for Repurposing Older AAC Technology

August 21, 2017 by - Leave your thoughts

PrAACtical Ideas for Repurposing Older AAC Technology

If you’ve been working in this field for awhile, chances are you’ve got some older voice output technology lying around. Poke around in the back of a closet or tucked way on top of the cupboards and you might encounter some hidden treasures. If you look w-a-a-a-y back there, you just might find a few digitized (recorded) speech devices that haven’t been used for some time. With only 2, 4, 8, 9, or 32 locations, these are generally insufficient for individuals with complex communication needs to use as their personal communication devices. When matched to the right purpose, though, these are wonderful tools that often have a lot of life left in them. How can we put those low tech AAC devices to work? Here are a few ideas to get us started. Build letter-sound knowledge: Program each cell with the sound of each letter so that the AAC student... [Read More...]

Filed under: ,

Tagged With: , ,

5 Features to Look for in SGDs and AAC Apps

April 26, 2016 by - 7 Comments

5 Features to Look for in SGDs and AAC Apps

Isn’t it amazing how sophisticated some of the SGDs and AAC apps have become? We all realize the importance of looking at their features and making selections based on assessment information and data from trial periods. Beyond that, there are features that are important to us as interventionists. Here are some to look for as you explore AAC apps and traditional SGDs. Data collection: The history feature is very helpful, but many high tech SGDs and AAC apps can be configured to gather additional data that we can use for a variety of purposes. Busy professionals appreciate this information and can use it in their assessments and goal-setting. Data analysis: A few AAC software programs and apps even help us make sense of the data that is gathered. This allows us to adjust our therapy and support plans to better meet the needs of our clients. Easy and reliable back-up:... [Read More...]

Filed under: ,

Tagged With: , , ,

Video of the Week: SGDs for People with ASD

April 29, 2015 by - 1 Comment

Video of the Week: SGDs for People with ASD

To wrap up Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, we turn to the Autism Internet Modules, created by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Ellen Franzone introduces us to a comprehensive look at SGDs and their application with people who have ASD. You may have to register to access the site, but the information is worth the extra effort. Also, don’t miss the downloadable resources, such as this SGD Implementation Checklist.     Direct Link: http://www.autisminternetmodules.org/mod_intro.php?mod_id=35 Franzone, E., & Collet-Klingenberg, L. (2010). Speech generating devices for children and youth with autism spectrum disorders. Madison: The University of Wisconsin, The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Waisman Center.  

Filed under:

Tagged With: , ,

How I Do It: Making a Back-up for High Tech AAC by Jeanne Tuthill

April 2, 2015 by - 21 Comments

How I Do It: Making a Back-up for High Tech AAC by Jeanne Tuthill

If you’ve ever woken up in the middle of the night sweating over one of your AAC clients who doesn’t have a back-up communication tool, then this post is for you. Jeanne Tuthill is back with another prAACtical suggestion, this time on the importance of ensuring that people with AAC needs have communication options when their technology isn’t available or appropriate. In keeping with the generous spirit of the AAC field, Jeanne also shares her files for this project. Enjoy! How I Do It: Making a Back-up for High Tech AAC Each time I teach my graduate class I try to invite at least one AAC user in as a guest speaker to share their story with the students in the class.  It never ceases to fill my students with awe and appreciation for the challenges that AAC users face on a daily basis. My students often list it as... [Read More...]

Filed under:

Tagged With: , , , , ,

PrAACtical Questions: “What Should I Program on the AAC Device?”

March 17, 2015 by - Leave your thoughts

PrAACtical Questions: “What Should I Program on the AAC Device?”

“My client has a new SGD and will begin bringing it to school. What words should I program on it?” We are so fortunate to be practicing at a time when the high tech SGDs and robust AAC apps come pre-loaded with lots of vocabulary. Still, when you sit down to prepare the device for an actual client, it can be hard to determine what needs to be there right away and what can wait. You’ll find lots of forms and checklists floating around, some for children and some for adults. There are lots of right ways to do this. In making these decisions, I typically run through a mental checklist of a few categories, thinking both about single words and longer messages. Single Words Core Vocabulary: In most cases, we’ve selected an AAC tool that has ample core words to choose from. Use what you know about normal language development... [Read More...]

Filed under:

Tagged With: , ,