“Do it yourself!” This statement is often heard in reference to school work as well as tasks related to school such as carrying your own backpack, putting your own coat away and gathering materials needed for a project or class.
While self-sufficiency is always important for students as we prepare them for life as independent adults, [...]
In my last blog, I introduced the idea of using eBooks to provide independent access to books for students with significant disabilities. eBooks are an electronic version of a printed book which can be read on a personal computer or hand-held device designed specifically for this purpose (Oxford Dictionary of English). eBooks can also be [...]
Sometimes, I have to just shake my head in amazement at the way people know each other so well that seemingly incomprehensible communication is understood.
One of my favorite examples of this came from a friend of mine. Her father was pumping gas while the rest of the family waited inside the car. He looked at [...]
Did you know that typically developing children from literate homes have heard their favorite stories 200 to 400 times (Adams, 1990)? For some students with significant disabilities, access to books can be challenging. Many students have difficulty manipulating books due to physical disabilities (ex., cerebral palsy) while others have difficulty accessing books due to sensory [...]
What are some exciting ways you’ve used teams in your classroom? I talked to a teacher in the Pittsburgh area last week who recounted a parent calling him to indicate that his son, Jimmy, a student in the gifted program, was not getting enough enrichment opportunities in their social studies curriculum. The teacher promised to [...]
Many students with complex communication needs use symbol schedules at school, and benefit from the support that these schedules offer for understanding, planning for, and managing the events of the day. Have you ever thought about having some schedules ready for unexpected, rarely occurring, or difficult situations? It is truly counter-intuitive, I know, because we [...]
There was a strand recently on a listserve in which a question was asked as to the appropriateness of peers using an individual student’s AAC device. This is a very appropriate and important question.
It seems to me that this question may have arisen from hearing about a technique known as Partner Augmented Input (PAI) or [...]
While I am not expert on this subject I have used this concept for one student, a young boy using an AAC device. I consulted with his therapist via Skype. This is not for everyone, but it worked in this particular situation. I could have conversations with the student and see where language and communication [...]
Every January 1st, I set out to make resolutions for the upcoming year. But why not create resolutions for the new school year? When working with students who use AAC devices, it is often a challenge to juggle everything you need to do to support their communication and learning. I’ve tried to come up with [...]
This morning I received an email from a local SLP that indicated I should give her a call – she had exciting news to share! Once we connected, she told me that her 8th grade student has had a major breakthrough in using his DynaVox Xpress device. In the past few weeks the team has [...]
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