Core boards are a great way to introduce vocabulary and begin to build language. They contain everyday, high frequency words. These words comprise 80% of what the ‘typical’ speaker says by the age of two. A core board can be…
Tag: communication
All The Words
This AAC Awareness Month, I have been thinking a lot about what it means to have inclusion in the field of augmentative and alternative communication. It is near impossible to reach the goal of inclusion if we don’t presume the…
AAC Awareness Month is here!
October is upon us and it is time to celebrate AAC Awareness Month. It is a great time to recognize, and honor, all the ways in which we, as humans, communicate. I have just returned from the Closing The Gap…
Emergency Preparation for AAC
The past year has given us a stark reminder of how important it is to be prepared for the unexpected. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria have impacted the lives of millions. In Puerto Rico, 3,000 people died. People have faced…
Core Words for the (rest of the) Month of August: Get, Make, & See
August is a month of warm temperatures, vacations, and leisure activities. Whether it be a trip to the shore, or a trip to the park, we all need words to describe what gives us pleasure. Here are some core words…
ACES Takeaways
It has been a blink of an eye. Our participants have gone back home, and it is hard to describe how much I already miss these people. I am sad that more opportunities like ACES don’t exist in their…
ACES Week Two: Check In
We are reaching the final days of ACES. Goals have crystallized and most technical glitches have been solved. S now can send emails from her new Tobii I 110. J is up and running with the CoughDrop app, and his…
Core Words for the Month of July: Go, Stop, Play, & Feel
There are lots of great core vocabulary resources for the classroom, including core word calendars. My goal here is to place these vital words in a context that is useful for adult learners of AAC. Adults with ID participate in…
Let’s Give Them Something To Talk About
Language is like a garden that contains many types of flowers. We need to be able to ask questions, make comments, or even tell someone to take a hike! We need to be able to communicate about a whole range…
AT Tip (Question) of the Week: Can We Speed Up Text To Speech?
When someone uses AAC, it is important that they learn to be proficient with their device so they can communicate quickly. Speed is relative, but AAC use is slower than spoken language. This can make it hard to keep up…