This week, we hear Chris’s interview with Meredith Hankins, Morgan Payne, and Susan Lee! Morgan is the mother of an 11 year old girl, Sophie, with Cerebral Palsy who uses AAC. Susan has a daughter, Alyssa, with Rett Syndrome who also uses AAC. Meredith is an AAC Specialist with United Ability in Alabama who works with their daughters and helped to bring them together in new ways! These three share about how the idea for a “Girl Talk” group came up organically in community-based therapy and eventually grew to become a weekend camp at Dolphin Island Sea Lab organized by Susan!
Before the interview, Rachel and Chris answer a Patreon user’s question about creating a “best buddies” club for general education and special education peers at a high school site! They discuss the importance of setting up an authentic peer interaction, ideas for fun activities that all the students can enjoy, making the project student led, and more!
Key Ideas this week:
🔑 Students will often communicate differently with peers compared to staff and teachers. Family and therapists don’t always think about the impact a peer communication partner can have on an AAC User’s motivation to communicate and have fun!
🔑 Morgen and Susan say, if you want to find opportunities for your child like communication camps, check with therapists, doctors at children hospitals, and parents of children with similar needs to help expand your network and find new opportunities.
🔑 Susan took all she has learned as a teacher and mother and helped to create Camp Speak, www.campspeak.org, an overnight camp in Georgia for AAC users 5-18!
Visit talkingwithtech.org to listen to previous episodes, find new AAC resources, and more!
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Tracy Kovach: Re-Defining the Role of AAC Professionals (Part 1)
Tali Kellerstein - Using Games to Engage Students and Motivate Communication
Key Takeaways from ATIA 2022 (Part 2)
Key Takeaways from ATIA 2022 (Part 1)
Kris Brock: Using Animated Symbols to Improve AAC Instruction & Comprehension (Part 2)
Kris Brock (Part 1): Using Animated Symbols to Improve AAC Instruction & Comprehension
Jenifer Eaton & Marya Haff (Part 2): Collaborating Effectively with ABA Providers
Jenifer Eaton & Marya Haff (Part 1): Collaborating Effectively with ABA Providers
Kara Cotter: Creating Self-Paced Training for Communication Partners (Part 2)
Kara Cotter: Improving AAC Training Opportunities for Teachers and Families (Part 1)
Ashley Larisey: Effective and Respectful Therapy Materials for Older Students
Tools, Strategies, and Takeaways from ASHA 2021
Rachel Dorsey: Taking a Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach to Therapy
Michaela Ball: Is an AT Certification Worth It?
Small Talks V: Mark Brown, Meryl Schnapp, Jennifer Edge Savage, Kim Albrecht, & Colleen Warn
Alexandria Zachos: Supporting Spontaneous Speech in People Who Script
Cindy Gelormini - Improving Inclusion Through Storytelling
Lory Chrane: Sowing the Seeds of AAC in Uganda
Coaching Call with Anya Ashouri - Part 2: Focusing on AAC Strategies, Not Just Tools
Coaching Call with Anya Ashouri: Getting School Admin Buy-In for AAC
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