Tag: complex communication needs
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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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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…
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Speak for Yourself and VocaliD Bring Cutting-Edge Custom Voices to the iPad
We just released version 2.7 of Speak for Yourself! This version is very exciting for some of you, and for others, there will be no difference in the app. For us, it’s pivotal! This update allows VocaliD voices to be used in the Speak for Yourself AAC app! I know we’re not the first augmentative…
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Independent Writing: Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Project Core
This is the fourth post in a series about using Project Core with the Speak for Yourself AAC app. If you haven’t read the others, here’s a link to the first post. We’ve been talking about emergent literacy and using the evaluation forms from the Project Core website. Information is also being shared from the Project…
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Shared Reading: Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) with Project Core
I love shared reading! When children enjoy books, it is one of my favorite augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) activities. Don’t misunderstand…I love to jump up and down on command, push cars across the floor, and run back and forth across the room. I love messy sensory play and crafts that are truly done by…
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Presuming Competence in Practice
“Presume Competence” has become a mantra of many excellent parents and professionals who are implementing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for individuals with complex communication needs (CCN). I’ve also experienced some misunderstandings in person and in online groups suggesting that presuming competence is not evidence-based in its idealism. So I’ve been paying attention to the…
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The iPad as an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Hardware Option
If the iPad had feelings, I’d be concerned about its self-esteem in the world of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Its inferiority complex would be reinforced at conferences when speech-language pathologists who do AAC evaluations, pick it up with interest, but then put it down as they say, “Oh. It’s an app for the iPad?…
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Advanced Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) User Challenge
I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and recharging for the new school year! In response to the modeling challenge issued by Dana Nieder from the Uncommon Sense Blog, some adult Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users have expressed an interest in a 21 day challenge geared towards adult/teen users. If you are looking for…
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Authentic AAC: The Fourth (and final) Week!
May is #BHSM so last month I shared an ?#?AuthenticAAC? moment each day that didn’t go exactly as planned, something I missed or something I would have done differently in hindsight. My intention was for anyone reading who was afraid to implement augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to be more comfortable in the knowledge that things aren’t always…
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Deconstructing the Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Glass Cubicle
Trigger warning: This post mentions self-injury and low expectations of autistic individuals and people with complex communication needs (CCN). Can you imagine the frustration? Words are all around you and pouring into you. They expand within you and your mind aches to speak them. They overflow, like a rushing waterfall, but with no escape. They stay…