This week, Chris interviews Shelley Anderson! Shelley is a music therapist who works for a private practice in Ft Wayne, IN and runs a business, Notes 2 Live By, that teaches basic communication through sign language and, more recently, through assistive technology. Shelley shares about the ways that music can be used to teach language to everyone, including AAC users, including how music can be used in unique ways to teach core language concepts.
Before the interview, Chris chats with his son Tucker and daughter Maggie about current slang that you may want to consider adding to AAC devices. They talk about slang such as “slay”, “queen”, “give me the tea”, “fit”, “choogie”, and more!
Key ideas this week:
🔑 It can be very motivating to start singing a song and to then stop it at a point that makes the listener want to keep singing. An AAC user can add a word from their device to the song you are singing in the same way, such as us singing “Because I’m” and having them say “happy” to the tune of “Happy” by Pharrell.
🔑 When using music to teach language, it is better if you sing acapella or play an instrument. That way, we can slow down the pace to meet their needs, which is more effective than pausing the music on a pre-recorded track.
🔑 We can use music to teach a particular core word, such as playing “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” by WHAM! to teach “Go”. You can also contrast the different meanings of a core word using different songs (e.g. “Can’t Stop This Feeling” by Justin Timberlake and “This Train Don't Stop There Anymore” by Elton John).
🔑 If you are using music in therapy, make sure not to overuse a particular song (e.g. play the same song they like every week for months), as this can effect how motivating it is.
Visit talkingwithtech.org to access previous episodes, resources, and CEU credits that you can earn for listening to TWT episodes!
Help us develop new content and keep the podcast going strong! Support our podcast at patreon.com/talkingwithtech!
TWT Live from New Jersey - Part 2
Talking with Tech LIVE from New Jersey - Part 1
Cuyahoga AAC Podcast Social Group: Benefits of a District-Wide AAC/AT Social Group
Codi & Jennifer Mendenhall: Using Social Media and Making Videos as a Teen AAC User
Stephen Kneece: Making Core Word & Speech Therapy Music Videos
Erin Sheldon & Karen Erickson: Why Literacy Matters for People with Significant Disabilities - Part II
Erin Sheldon & Karen Erickson: Why Literacy Matters for People with Significant Disabilities - Part I
Kaylie Gustafson: Supporting Eye Gaze Users Through Telepractice
Shawnda Saul: Telepractice AAC Coaching for Teachers, Parents, and Staff
Lauren Kravetz Bonnet & Brittany Thomas: Short-Term, High-Intensity AAC Intervention in the Schools
Alison Bono: Transitioning from Low Tech to High Tech AAC
Alexis Martinez & Natalie Fry: Increasing Access to AAC for Grad Students
Kathy Howery: Making Modeling a Better, More Meaningful Experience
Krista Howard & Deanna Wagner: Creating a Successful Community AAC Group
David Moehn: Supporting Students More Universally with Technology
Karen Wilson: Technology Supports for ADHD, Dyslexia, and Language-Learning Disorders
Teaching with Tech: Picseepal
Kevin Williams & Lateef McLeod: Black AAC User Perspectives on Racism and Disability
Erik Raj: Apps That Make Learning Language Fun
Chris Ellis: Improving Hearing With the Audio Cardio App
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Regenerative Skills
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
The No-Frills Teacher Podcast
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast