Tag: Speak for Yourself
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A Colorful Keyboard Option You Can Use in Speak for Yourself
Last week, I spent some time going through my follow up items from the Closing the Gap Conference, and there has been a lot of discussion around color coding in the Speak for Yourself User’s Group. This seems like a good time to share some information about a colorful new keyboard. I consistently avoid commenting about competing products, and…
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Should Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Be Considered?
Sometimes this happens to me: While talking to a speech-language pathologist (SLP) about one child using AAC, she’ll pause in the conversation, raise her eyebrows and say something along the lines of “You know, Johnny has been acting out a lot lately and he can say about 25 words, so he can talk, but do…
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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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Celebrating Awareness Because of AAC
A voice allows someone to share thoughts and form relationships. AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) gives individuals with complex communication needs (CCN) a universally understandable way to express their thoughts and ideas. Could he point to his tooth? Sure. Could he hold it out to her in his hand? Absolutely. Maybe he did, but how would she know…
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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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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…