Author: Heidi LoStracco, MS, CCC-SLP
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Learning to Speak AACtion Plan: Week 6
Welcome to Week 6 of the Learning to Speak AACtion Plan! This week, one of my students made organic dog treats to donate to the animal shelter, and he gave me a package to give to my dog. Since today also happens to be Valentine’s Day, I wish you all the kind of joy that my…
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Learning to Speak AACtion Plan: Week 5
We are officially through the first month of the Learning to Speak AACtion Plan! The majority of our past week was spent in Orlando, FL at the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) conference. The number of people that approached our booth and said something about this AACtion Plan was unbelievable…Thank you all for being part…
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Learning to Speak AACtion Plan: Week 4
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” ~Robert Collier We are beginning Week 4 of the Learning to Speak AACtion Plan, and if you’ve been following along and completing the challenge, we are hearing from a lot of you that it’s making a difference and you’re seeing results! I…
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Learning to Speak AACtion Plan: Week 3
As we begin the third week of the Learning to Speak AACtion Plan (this links to the original post that explains everything), let’s take a look at what you are already able to do after only 2 weeks! Whether you started this challenge on the “I have no idea where to start” step or were ready for…
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Learning to Speak AACtion Plan: Week 2
Welcome to week 2 of the Learning to Speak AACtion Plan! If you missed the beginning of this 12 week plan, check out last week’s post for the details! It’s a plan to help the support people in the lives of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) users learn the AAC system and become more comfortable…
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Learning to Speak AACtion Plan: Week 1
“Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip toe if you must. But take the step.” ~ Naeem Callaway I have an idea, and I’m asking you to be part of it.…
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AAC: Speak For Yourself Selects Acapela Genuine Children Voices for Its Young Users!
AAC specialist Speak for Yourself adds Acapela children voices to its voice portfolio. The AAC application that turns the iPad into a communication device to give a voice to individuals who are not able to speak or are limited in their ability to express themselves verbally, has just enriched its voice offer with Acapela children…
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AAC Modeling Part 2: Layers of Modeling Engagement
Yesterday, I wrote about AAC Modeling and compared it to introducing broccoli to a child. I’ve also written about modeling here and here, if you’d like some additional information. If you are at all involved in the world of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), you probably hear a lot about modeling, also called Aided Language Input…
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AAC Modeling Part 1: A Piece of Cake and a Bite of Broccoli
If you are at all familiar with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) implementation, you have likely heard of modeling, also referred to as aided language input and aided language stimulation. In my daily conversations, I get the feeling that dedicated teachers, parents, and therapists often have the misconception that they’re not doing enough for their…
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Does (AAC Button) Size Really Matter?
“Those buttons are so small!” In the almost 4 years that the Speak for Yourself Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) app has been on the market, this is the feedback that we receive most frequently. Yes, the buttons in Speak for Yourself are small and you can not change the button size. In case you’re thinking, “Well…