Tag: autism
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Because of AAC…He First Learned to Communicate and Then He Learned to Talk
There is a myth that those of us who support and advocate for people with complex communication needs (CCN), find ourselves dispelling repeatedly, sometimes daily. The myth is that Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) will somehow inhibit or prevent verbal speech. It takes several forms when heard or read on various Facebook groups and pages. One of the issues…
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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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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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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…
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The History Feature in the Speak for Yourself AAC app
“If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree.” – Michael Crichton I don’t usually write a blog post when we release a Speak for Yourself update, but this 1.5 version update is special. Over the years, as we’ve worked with…
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AAC Implementation: Where Do I Start?
You have a nonverbal child who is depending on you to find him/her a way to communicate. Whether you are a parent or a speech-language pathologist (SLP), that’s a lot of pressure, and the stakes are high. You take the responsibility seriously. You have an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) app or device. If you’ve…
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Stimming on Autism
Sometimes….I “stim.” It’s true. It is interesting and comfortable inside of my own mind, and sometimes I curl up there and block out the rest of the world. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is definitely one of my obsessions. I think about it all the time. Sometimes, when people talk, I listen to their rate…