PRC consultants and other AAC Professionals share stories of strategies and success.
Posted November 7, 2018 in Stories and Strategies for Success
There are some experiences that really stick with you. I remember sitting down to review a video of a student working with her SLP. It was hard to watch the SLP on the screen work with the little girl who was learning to use adjectives on her Vantage Lite.
Posted October 3, 2018 in Stories and Strategies for Success
In preparation for a consultation with a clinician supporting a kiddo being evaluated for AAC, we discussed the child’s interests and I gained insight in how best to prepare for our time together. We talked about which toys were familiar and most likely to motivate the child. We agreed upon the bubble machine, car ramp, and which books to have available to help structure our time together.
Posted September 19, 2018 in Stories and Strategies for Success
Mind blown! Poof! For Real! Granted, I had been up since 4 AM and endured a 3 hour drive with my partner who insists on putting on makeup while driving, but this PRC All Access class was so much more than I had envisioned. a
Posted August 22, 2018 in Stories and Strategies for Success
It’s that time of year when, as a parent, we are out shopping for clothes and school supplies and getting excited that our kids are starting back to school. But for many years, I had double duty because I was preparing my classroom for those eager (and not so eager) learners to come into my home away from home as well.
Posted August 2, 2018 in Stories and Strategies for Success
I am continuously amazed by the vast array of expertise amongst AAC service providers in the field. As an occupational therapist working as an AAC specialist for an AAC device manufacturer, I get to travel around the Northeastern U.S. and interact with wonderful speech pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), and others who work creatively and tirelessly in our field.
Posted July 25, 2018 in Stories and Strategies for Success
“What color is this?”
“What shape is this?”
“What body part is this?”
“How old are you?”
Can’t you just hear the click of the eye rolling from the person being peppered with these questions?
Posted July 18, 2018 in Stories and Strategies for Success
When taking on the task of teaching language on a communication device, we are often faced with challenges. Some of them include length of time between therapy sessions, hectic classrooms, busy family life, and just not knowing where to start. What if teaching one thing could result in a person largely teaching themselves?
Posted June 20, 2018 in Stories and Strategies for Success
There are moments in AAC therapy that stop me in my tracks. Those moments strike out of nowhere, usually when I’ve turned away for a moment to scribble some data or glance at my watch.
Posted June 6, 2018 in Stories and Strategies for Success
Many years ago, I wrote one of the first “Stories and Strategies for Success” blog articles and profiled my favorite pair of clown sunglasses and most ridiculous hat. I had just worked with a young man learning to use a device for the first time and relied on these gadgets to elicit communication from him. Fast forward to now, and if there’s anything I’ve learned through the years, it’s that keeping the moment fun, so an individual can experience a moment of joy when communicating, is quite possibly the most important piece in the entire AAC puzzle!!
I was also challenged to top that first picture.
Posted May 9, 2018 in Stories and Strategies for Success
I’ve read that the first step to getting over an addiction is admitting there is a problem. Lately I’ve come to realize that I have a “quickly load ‘em up with language” addiction.
