Today marks the 28th International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The United Nations’ work in this area is predicated on the idea that “all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated ” (Vienna Declaration, 1993). None of this can hope…
Author: Kathryn Helland
AAC Demos with TechOWL PA
Are you located in Pennsylvania? Are you trying to decide which AAC solutions will work for someone? Do you need to figure out which apps to trial with a consumer or student? TechOWL PA offers free demonstrations of AAC devices…
Big Changes for Pennsylvania’s AT Lending Library
Some big changes have just happened for the AT Lending Library at TechOWL! Our inventory is now being shipped from UCP Central PA. Don’t worry, you can still go to TechOWLpa.org and click “Borrow”. From there, you will Click on “Go…
Happy Spooky Halloween!
This year, Halloween is supposed to be a beautiful day here in eastern Pennsylvania. The sun will be shining and the weather will be warm. But how many kids will be out Trick or Treating in the middle of a…
AAC Awareness Month: Diversity, Access, and Representation
This year, October feels especially important. The US is getting ready for the presidential election and people with disabilities are looking for ways to vote safely during a pandemic. We continue to grapple with the challenges posed by racial inequity.…
October Means AAC App Sales
Twice a year, AAC apps go on sale. They are typically 50% off, so it is a great time to buy. October is International AAC Awareness Month. This commemoration was established in 2007 by ISAAC; the International Society for Augmentative…
AAC and Descriptive Teaching: Let Me Show You What I Know
During the pandemic, speech therapists and teachers have understandably focused more on the HOW of teaching than the WHAT. They have been challenged like never before. Google Classroom, Whiteboard, Jamboard, screen mirroring, document cameras…. Who would have imagined that these…
AAC and Emergency Preparation: Disasters During the Pandemic
Hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes, oh my. Emergency Preparation has usually been focused on disasters that cause people to leave their homes and seek shelter. However, “E Prep” too often leaves out people with disabilities. Shelters may not be accessible, and…
College & AAC
AAC users can be found in many professional fields. They may be writers, physicists, computer scientists, or social workers. Some of these areas require a college education. We invited Mark Steidl to share with us some of the strategies he…
Complex Communication Needs and Safety
The world feels very unpredictable these days. It is urgent, especially under the current circumstances, that we keep our non-speaking adults from having adverse interactions out in the community. Ongoing unrest may combine with ableist assumptions to make adults with…