I was talking with a group of SLPs last week and the subject of teaching AAC within daily activities came up. It may seem obvious and logical that we would introduce and teach AAC use to individuals with Autism within daily routines and activities. But several people in the discussion group were under the assumption [...]
We have all seen the benefits of visual supports for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. We use visual supports to help individuals understand and anticipate the events of the day, follow rules, make choices, understand and follow the steps of a job or an activity, and manage behavior. Visual supports may incorporate photographs, objects, Picture [...]
Dictionary.reference.com begins its definition of communication as follows: the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information.
Many of us who know and work with individuals with Autism often think of communication in a much more limited way, and may ask the question, “ Does the individual have adequate communication skills to get wants and needs [...]
Have you heard of a principle referred to as the “Least Dangerous Assumption?” It says that when you do not have absolute surety (data), any decisions that you make about intervention and education should be based on assumptions that if wrong, will have the least adverse effects on an individual’s ability to function independently as [...]
We know from experience that AAC users need robust vocabulary on their communication devices in order to fully participate at school. All students need to communicate for a variety of purposes beyond expressing wants and needs at school, and AAC users are no different.
Think about some of the reasons that typical students communicate at school. [...]
I was in a workshop recently when I heard someone say, “He can’t learn to use his AAC device for anything but requesting because he has autism.”
Could that be true?
I don’t think so.
I think we often introduce AAC equipment and strategies in activities that involve requesting. Why? Because it is motivating and often instantly successful. [...]
Many individuals with autism use alternative and augmentative communication successfully to more fully participate in social and educational interactions. Those of us who are AAC professionals teach these individuals to use AAC materials and strategies to communicate a variety of functions including requesting, responding and sharing information. It has come to my attention that I [...]
I confess that I am a fan of detective novels. While there are variable elements, a constant in all novels of this genre is a crime that the detective must solve, and a big part of the solution is the determination of who committed the crime. As the list of suspects is narrowed down, the [...]
Years ago I worked with Chris, a young boy who was diagnosed with autism and communication impairment. Chris communicated with a combination of modalities including gesture, picture communication boards, and some spoken words. He was being evaluated for a speech generating device (SGD) at that time.
Chris enjoyed interacting with his peers at school, especially during [...]
Years ago I worked with Chris, a young boy who was diagnosed with autism and communication impairment. Chris communicated with a combination of modalities including gesture, picture communication boards, and some spoken words. He was being evaluated for a speech generating device (SGD) at that time.
Chris enjoyed interacting with his peers at school, especially during [...]
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