Author: Heidi LoStracco, MS, CCC-SLP
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Saving and Restoring Vocabulary in the Speak for Yourself AAC App
If you haven’t already heard, we released update version 1.7 of Speak for Yourself last week. This update allows users the ability to save and restore the vocabulary and photos to iTunes and Dropbox from within the app. Previously, backing up vocabulary meant that the iPad had to be connected to a computer and a…
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Emotions Make Memories: The Neurological Evidence for Fun
During the school year, I frantically try to organize my children’s schedules, my work schedule, app updates, conference planning, and keep up with new research articles and social media. I still do all of that in the summer, but it’s a little less intense.One of my goals this summer is to read “for leisure.” As I…
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AAC Mythbusters: Your Child Has Enough Skills
Last week, I posted a blog called “The Myth of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Pre-Requisite Skills.” Some of the responses I received were from parents of adults with Complex Communication Needs (CCN) saying that their son/daughter is still so frustrated as an adult. Others are concerned about “giving up” on verbal speech, and some have…
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The Myth of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Pre-Requisite Skills
We hear a lot of reasons for not beginning high-tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) with students who have Complex Communication Needs (CCN)…A LOT of reasons. I’ve chosen the top six and created a flow chart. I like flow charts, but for those of you who do not, I’ve also written a narrative version, with…
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Independence Begins With Communication: Five Ways to Focus on AAC in less than 30 minutes a day!
I love the summer. I love the warm air and the hazy morning fog that dissipates as the sun burns through to begin a new day. I look forward to late nights outside, long beach days, coffee on my porch, a less intense work schedule, fireflies, reading novels, flip flops, barbecues, al fresco patios opening at…
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What Would Language Be Without Core Vocabulary?
My typical fifth-grade daughter climbed into the backseat the other day after school. I asked her about her day and she said, “Mrs. K. Baby. Grumpy. Jarrod Jarrod. Hunt. (Sigh)” Then she said: “Jamie. Mrs. J. Math reading. Questions dividing fractions multiplying fractions. Reading vocab. Responsible smart.” Crystal clear, right? Oh…hold on a second. I…
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Speak for Yourself AAC App Will Be 50% off on World Autism Awareness Day
It has been a busy couple of weeks for awareness. World Down Syndrome Day was March 21st. March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month and Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day was March 25th. April and May will raise awareness for autism, undiagnosed children, and apraxia. Undiagnosed Children’s Day is April 25th. Apraxia Awareness Day is May…
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Would You Accept This Behavior Towards a Non-Autistic Child?
“Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe This is not only about autism. This is about any child who is in an autism or multiple disabilities classroom. It is about any child who is in…
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Simon Says: Model One More Word
One of the more common, and important, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) implementation strategies is Aided Language Input or modeling. It would be overwhelming to use your child’s/client’s device to model EVERY word you are saying verbally…for you and the child! Here’s the good news, you can successfully use Aided Language Input without overwhelming anyone! This blog topic was prompted by a discussion in the Speak…
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The AAC Detective: Try Observing These Five Behaviors for Clues
“I want you to know that today, in the brief moments when I was quiet, I was just enjoying being with you.” I want to say that more in 2014. The beginning of this post is more personal than most, but it’s a new year and a good time to reflect. I feel like my…