This week, we share Part 2 of the TWT Live from the Access to Education Conference with Chris and Rachel! In this TWT Live, there are lots of useful tips and tricks, including ideas for motivating communication partners to model AAC!
Before the live session, Chris shares about working with a computer science supervisor in his school district to combine AAC with computer science in the classroom. Chris describes how they trained the instructional facilitators who work with teachers to teach core words and block coding together. Chris and Rachel discuss the importance of enthusiasm and why projects like this are so important to fuel you to move forward!
Key ideas this week:
🔑 When trying to motivate teachers and staff to model more often, ask reflective questions and get insights into the struggles that she or he experiences with the AAC user. This can build rapport and lead to the brainstorming of ideas that have a better chance of being implemented.
🔑 Even if a student has moved from primarily being an AAC user to being more verbal, don’t take the device away from him or her automatically (if they still want to use it). That student can be a great peer communicator for other AAC users, and they may want to use AAC instead of verbal speech in some situations.
🔑 Don’t always assume that a student is “stimming” on a device when they’re pushing buttons seemingly at random. Sometimes there is communicative intent that we do not yet understand. If the student has true stim-like behaviors on a device, we can try and shope it to be more functional. We can also tell a social story to help them see how the stimming makes others feel.
ATIA - AT Connected will take place this year Jan 25-28th and Feb 1-4th. There will be more than 150 courses covering AAC, Assistive Technology, Education, and more. Registrations options include full conference, single strand, one day, and even a free option! Go to atia.org/talkingwithtech and enter registration code ATIAVISION21 for 20% off of the full registration! Also, don’t forget to check out Rachel & Chris virtual seminar at ATIA on Jan 30th and Feb 6th at bit.ly/TWTATIA21
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Visit talkingwithtech.org to access previous episodes, resources, and CEU credits that you can earn for listening to TWT episodes!
Mike Marotta - Best Built-in Accessibility Features on Devices
Karen Janowski - Strategies to Support Literacy & Inclusivity
Brittany Dube: Author, YouTuber, and Part-time AAC User
Colleen Warn - Improving Equity in AAC Evaluation and Implementation
Amy Fleischer & Corinne Nelson - Implementing a Specific Language System First Approach to AAC Selection - Part 2
Amy Fleischer & Corinne Nelson - Implementing a Specific Language System First Approach to AAC Selection - Part 1
Kim Albrecht: Learning to Model AAC as a Family
Mary Van Donsel & Anne Kuhlmeier: Creating a Successful AAC Camp
Coaching Call w/ Nikki Stempien (Part 2): AAC Coaching Strategies
Coaching Call w/ Nikki Stempien (Part 1): Increasing High-Tech AAC Buy In
Jennifer Edge Savage - Using AAC with Alexa & Other Voice Assistants
Alissa DeSousa: Using Video to Support Cortical Visual Impairment
Julia James - Improving Special Ed Online Instruction
Chris Sawka: AAC User & USSAAC Committee Member
Lydia Dawley: AAC User, CEO, and Co-Creator of the NadPen Stylus
AAC After Work: Digital Storytelling to Foster Communication Partner Skills - Part 2
AAC After Work: Digital Storytelling to Foster Communication Partner Skills - Part 1
TWT Live: Access to Education Conference - Part1
Talking with Tech Year in Review 2020
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