Author: Heidi LoStracco, MS, CCC-SLP
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From the Hands of Babes: Celebrating AAC Awareness Month
October is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month! We’re excited to celebrate because everyday, we are privileged to see the incredible difference AAC makes in the lives of the people using it and the people who love them. We also have the tremendous opportunity to make changes within the design of the Speak for…
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Expanding AAC Vocabulary: Where Do I Go From Here?
For parents and professionals who support students using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), deciding which words to add can be daunting. After all, there are an infinite number of words, and vocabulary is always growing. We make up new words. We use old words in a different way. This week, a high school student asked…
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You Haven’t Lost Your iPad App
Like many of you, I’ve been paying attention to the devastation in Texas following Hurricane Harvey. In the aftermath, there have been relief efforts to meet the needs of people living in the affected areas. If you lost an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system in the hurricane or if you’d like to help people…
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“I Don’t Want To”: 5 Ways to Encourage Refusal for Students With Complex Communication Needs (CCN)
This is important. It’s important if you know and love any child. But it’s crucial if you know and love a child with complex communication needs (CCN). If you’re looking for a summer goal for your children or students who are using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), this would be a good one. A couple…
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The Results: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Modeling Implementation Intention “Experiment”
Last month, for Better Hearing and Speech Month (#BHSM), we challenged you to participate in an “experiment.” We wanted to know if the body of research that exists for Implementation Intentions would work to increase AAC modeling/aided language input. **If you don’t need the background, skip to the Participants or Results section.** We asked you…
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Looking for Some Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Modeling Motivation?
How many times have you heard that using aided language input is a key strategy to teach the augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) learners in your life? If you follow AAC blogs and groups, participate in AAC professional development, or read AAC articles, the answer is probably “a lot.” We ran an AAC modeling implementation…
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Survey: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Modeling Implementation Intentions
Yesterday, we wrapped up our two-week Make Room for AAC Modeling Implementation Intentions “Experiment.” This post includes a link to the short survey to see if using the research on implementation intentions was helpful to increase the use of aided language input for our AAC learners. The survey also includes questions about your size and where…
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Make Room for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Modeling “Experiment”
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) modeling is important. Ask any AAC-knowledgeable speech-language pathologist, teacher, researcher, parent, or AAC app developer. Aided language input is common ground in the field of AAC, regardless of the language system you’re using. So if you support someone who uses AAC, this “experiment” applies to you. If you use AAC, the aided…
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I Meant to Model Today: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Implementation Intentions
It happens to the best of us. You have every intention of using some amazing and advanced aided language input. You imagine this wonderful interaction between you and a captive augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) user, soaking in the model of expressive language you fluently provide. But the day passes, and before you drift off…
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The Aftermath: Emergent Literacy in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Just over two months ago, I walked into Avery’s house with an armful of books. I boldly told her and her mom that we were going to work on reading and writing. Avery had just turned four, and her mom unflinchingly said, “Sounds good to me.” Avery gasped with excitement as if I’d walked in…