This week, Chris interviews school-based AT Specialists Amy Fleischer and Melissa Petersen! Amy and Melissa share lessons they have learned about putting universal supports in place, including universal core boards in Melissa’s district. They discuss many of the reasons why Melissa wanted to put a universal core board in place, how her district decided on what words to include, and the improvements she has seen in overall AAC implementation since that time. You can view the website she made for her district here.
Before the interview, Rachel and Chris discuss a recent trip Chris took to visit his cousins and all of the visiting with his family. Chris shares about tempting his young relatives with fun games, and then waiting for them to come over on their own, and relates that to motivating AAC users with a “tempt and pause”.
Key ideas this week:
🔑 When Melissa made a low-tech support universal, teachers who were previously afraid of technology said they felt more confident with the core board. This helped them to focus more on modeling and descriptive teaching, and less on the technology.
🔑 Putting the district logo on their universal core board helped Melissa to get buy in from some teachers and staff - they said it make the board look more “official”.
🔑 If we want communication partners to take on extra responsibility via coaching, it helps to give them resources they can pick up and run with. A great way to do this is with a low-tech board, because we are giving them something inexpensive they can go out today and start using with students.
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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
Gemma White: Fostering a Growth Mindset With Core Words
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