Group items tagged

" Adaptation Station - Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC) Strategies No AAC device or picture board stands alone. Just as children need interaction and reinforcement from adults to learn to speak, they will need the same attention to learn to use AAC. It is helpful to think of learning to use AAC as learning a new language. YOUR ROLE as an adult in the child's life is VITAL to success! The following strategies describe YOUR ROLE in detail. Often, a good teacher uses a combination of the following strategies throughout a single interaction. It must be said one more time - if you think that having pictures and voice output available in your class is all there is to providing AAC to your students, you have missed the boat! "

"With the proliferation of AAC apps, it seems that many people quickly get or want to get an AAC app for their child with an autism spectrum disorder. It is awesome and amazing to see so many people who need AAC begin to have access to AAC. But once there is accessibility, it is not always readily apparent what to do and it is like any technology or gadget, if you don't learn how to USE it, it could become like the 'proverbial treadmill clothes hanger' or abandoned musical instrument."

"My First AAC is an affordable augmentative and alternative communication application for the iPad that is specifically designed for toddlers and preschoolers with delayed speech or severe speech disorders. Intuitive and child-friendly, My First AAC helps young children to communicate with family, caregivers, teachers and other people they meet in everyday life."

" In the AT world, mobile devices such as iPods, iPads, and iPhones are providing new and exciting options to access a huge array of applications.  This blog site is devoted to the use of these devices, highlighting apps that are particularly relevant to young children and school-aged individuals with disabilities, their families, and their instructional teams."

Great resources for AT and curriculum adaptations

Janice Light "What is the purpose of this website? This website provides guidelines for early intervention to maximize the language and communication development of young children with special needs including: * Infants * Toddlers * Preschoolers The website provides guidelines for early intervention specifically designed for children with complex communication needs, including children with: * Autism spectrum disorders * Cerebral palsy * Down syndrome * Multiple disabilities The website provides: * Step-by-step guidelines for early intervention to build language and communication skills * Photographs and videotaped examples of intervention with young children with special needs"

"Communication Assessment for Parents & Professionals An easy to use assessment instrument designed for individuals of all ages who function at the earliest stages of communication and who use any form of communication."

"Nursery Rhymes to Sing See and Sign are free downloadable, web-based communication resources for all young children. It includes 14 favorite Nursery Rhymes. Nursery Rhymes to Sing See and Sign provide a particular focus on communication strategies known to help communication and language development in children with communication difficulties. "

"Each month of the National Year of Communication has a theme which focuses on a particuar aspect of communication. We have been working with the support service CENMAC to create inclusive Widgit Symbol resources to support each of these monthly themes. These resources are all available to download for free! For each month's Widgit Symbol resources, there is also a free supporting resource available to download featuring the Let's Sign & Write British Sign Language Graphics."

Slideshare presentation on iPod/iPad apps for special education by Kate Ahern

"Hasbro and The Autism Project team up to introduce ToyBox Tools, a free online resource where caregivers and educators can find tools to make play easier and more accessible for children with developmental disabilities. ToyBox Tools is a collaboration connecting evidence-based practices with classic Hasbro toys. ToyBox Tools can help children experience the joy of play with three levels of tools available for those who need support: basic play, expanding play and social play levels."