Video of the Week: Mobilizing the Power Of Special Interests

• Gaby is a huge Miami Dolphins fan and is dying to share the latest team stats with anyone she meets.
• Thomas knows all there is to know about rocks and isn’t shy about telling you lots of facts about them.
• Antonio is fascinated by washing machines and Simone could look at doors from sunrise to sundown.

When individuals with AAC needs have an intense interest in a particular topic, service providers sometimes struggle with how to respond to these interests. How do we respect the individual and support their growth? Are these ‘obsessions’ that should be discouraged or preferences that should be honored? Do we incorporate these materials into our intervention or avoid them? What strategies can we use to use their special interests in a supportive and beneficial way?

When dealing with learners who have strong interests in specific topics, professionals have many questions about how to proceed. In today’s featured video, we gain perspective on some of these issues.

Thanks to OCALI for making this video and its associated resources list available.

Direct Link to Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67vcUzz1688