News
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…
Practice Perspective: Connection/Compliance
Janice Light said it best: “Communication is the essence of human life.” When defining this “human life”, there’s no simple answer. Take an internet deep dive and you will find a sea of perspectives. You’ll probably find a lot of…
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…
AAC App Support on YouTube
Whether you are borrowing an iPad with AAC apps, or you now have your new speech generating device, you will most likely need to edit some buttons to personalize the app. You may want to add family photos, favorite places,…
AAC, Smartphones & Video Chats: Games We Can Play
After what feels like a year of social isolation, we all need some new ways of interacting and engaging. Families of AAC users might be craving some new activities that will inspire language – and fun! Most of us have…
ACES Postponed
Please see this link for news about ACES: https://techowlpa.org/news/aces-2020-postponed/ The in-person program is now scheduled for the summer of 2021.
Consider Communication
Consider Communication is a special project for those of us who support people with complex communication needs.