This week, Chris interviews Karen Janowski! Karen is an inclusive technology and assistive technology specialist who is also co-author of Chris’s new book, Inclusive 365. In the interview, they discuss some of the many ways that we can support literacy for all and make classrooms more accessible to all students (e.g. audio supports, digital texts that can be read aloud, etc).
Before the interview, Chris shares about a former student he has worked with who is moving to a new situation that does not support robust AAC. Chris discusses why this was such a disappointment, and how this experience motivates him to better support the students that he works with now. Rachel talks about the difficulty of supporting students who don’t make progress and/or have AAC taken away from them.
Key ideas this week:
🔑 General education teachers should choose inclusive instructional methods and ways for learners to demonstrate what they know, even if those students are in special ed.
🔑 Student-selected books for reading and self-selected topics for writing are very compelling for learners. Choice can really drive the love of learning. Writing for an authentic purpose (e.g. having learners write a letter asking for support for a cause that is important to them) can be very effective as well.
🔑 Worksheets are a classic example of an instructional output method that is limiting for many students. Worksheets are OK as an option, but we don’t want to require everyone to use them. For example, you could also choose an input option that allows dictation, keyboards, spell check, etc.
🔑 Start your thinking and planning with each learner's strengths in mind. Figure out what learners are best at and what they love to plan activities that are more motivating.
Resources
Book Creator - bookcreator.com
Seesaw - web.seesaw.me
Inclusive 365 book site: inclusive365.com
Erik Raj: Apps That Make Learning Language Fun
Chris Ellis: Improving Hearing With the Audio Cardio App
Gemma White: Fostering a Growth Mindset With Core Words
Cara Walton: Action Planning for Anti-Racism and AAC
Brittyn Coleman: How Nutrition Can Affect People with Autism
Brittani Rollen: Author of “Lucas the Lion Loves the Tiny Talker”
Carson Covey: AAC User and Future SLP
Tara Wineinger: Hosting a "Virtual 5k" to Support an AAC Nonprofit
Caitlin Calder: True Confessions of a Parent of an AAC User - Part 2
Teaching with Tech: Double Time Docs
Caitlin Calder: True Confessions of a Parent of an AAC User - Part 1
Teaching with Tech: Smarty Symbols
Mike Hipple, Tami Altschuler, and Sarah Blackstone: USSAAC's Role in Policy Making & Disaster Relief
AAC in the Cloud: AAC & Telepractice
Caroline Musselwhite: Coaching Communication Partners Using Telepractice
An Hour-By-Hour Guide To Implementing AAC At Home
Elena Dukhovny: Current Research on Motor Planning & Paraeducator AAC Coaching
Teaching with Tech - Speech Blubs Speech Therapy App
Christine Tripoli & Ellen Mazel - Assessment & Treatment of Cortical Visual Impairment
Using Robots & Coding to Teach Core Words and Support Peer Collaboration
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