communication is the key! practical resources for aac ......aided language stimulation • the...

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Communication is the Key! Practical

Resources for AAC Implementation

Introductions and Disclosures

Elizabeth Barry is an Assistive Technology Specialist for PACER,

Simon Technology Center.

Meghan Kunz is an Augmentative Communication Consultant

for Prentke Romich Company (PRC).

● Financial Disclosure: full-time salaried employee-owner of

PRC

www.PACER.org

PACER has programs for

children and adults with

all types of disabilities, as

well as their parents,

families, and professionals

that work with them.

http://www.pacer.org/parent/

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http://www.pacer.org/transition/

http://www.pacer.org/cmh/

http://www.pacer.org/stc/

http://www.pacer.org/health/

http://www.pacer.org/ec/

http://www.pacer.org/newsletters/

http://www.pacer.org/publications/

The Simon Technology Center (STC)

We work to make the benefits of technology more

accessible to children and adults with disabilities.

Services:• Information and referral

• Lending library

• Free tech consultations

• Individualized trainings

• Archived workshop videos

Call PACER at 952-838-9000

and ask for the Simon

Technology Center.

About PRC

• Founded in 1966 – over 50 years ago!

• Based in Wooster, Ohio

• International: Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia

• PRC Regional Consultants

• Our Mission:

• Enable individuals with speech and language disabilities to become

successful communicators

Today’s Agenda

1. Best practice strategies and resources for AAC

implementation

a) Learning the language system

b) Modeling, prompting, and responding

c) Capitalizing on communication opportunities

d) Resources

2. Questions and evaluations

Handout Shared Folder

Access handouts and resources for today’s

presentation online:

http://bit.ly/ChartingtheCs2019

http://bit.ly/ChartingtheCs2019

What is the Goal of AAC?

• To learn the device

• To communicate

• To learn language

Best Practice Strategies for AAC Implementation

(NAC/NPDC on ASD Calculator and Black 2009)

Create the right learning environment• Have the device available

• Learn the language system

• Model

Create communication opportunities• Meaningful and motivating activities

• Prompt

• Respond


Learn the Language System

Strategy: Core Vocabulary Approach

Core Vocabulary vs. Fringe Vocabulary

• Core vocabulary:

– Used frequently across contexts

– 300 – 500 words

– Approximately 80% of words we use

• Fringe vocabulary:– Situation specific

– Importance changes from context to context, person to person

– Thousands of words

– Approximately 20% of words we use

Benefits of Core Vocabulary

• Age appropriate

– Novel generation

– Supports literacy development

– Supports two-way communication and initiation

• Reusable

– Environments

– Topics

– Generative

• Programming

– Teaching

– Time

• Consistency

Gimme 5 Sample

1. Pick an activity or routine.

2. Choose four core words that could be

modeled in that activity.

Reference: Banajee, M. Dicarlo, C., & Stricklin, S. B. (2003). Core vocabulary determination for toddlers.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 19, 67-73.


Resources: Implement the Language System

Core Word of the Week

Core word for the week/day:

1. Target a core word each day

for the entire week

2. See how many ways you can

use the word

3. Find ways to elicit that word

from the child

Core Word of the Week Example

• Monday - Find and teach the word “up”

• Tuesday - Model “up”

– Throw the ball “up”

• Wednesday - Model “up”

– Pick me “up” for hugs

– Pick “up” my blocks

• Thursday - Model “up”

– Turn the music “up”

– Go “up” the steps

• Friday - You did it!

A Year of Core

PrAACtical AAC

• 12 core words/month for 12

months = 144 words!

• Variety of symbol sets available

http://praacticalaac.org/praactical/praactically-november-aac-resources-for-a-year-of-core-vocabulary-2/

Core Word Classroom

• Resources include:

• Core Word Displays

• Core Word Planners

• Core Word of the Week Planners

• Core Word 5 Minute Fillers

• Core Words at Home

• AAC Strategies and Resources

• Templates also available

• https://coreword.assistiveware.com/

• FREE

https://coreword.assistiveware.com/

AAC Language Lab

• Interactive implementation tools

• Lesson plans, activities, and resources

• Literacy Curriculums

• Literacy Through Unity

• News-2-You

• Unique Learning Systems

• Language Screener tool

• Free resources

• https://aaclanguagelab.com

• $19.95/year

https://aaclanguagelab.com/


Strategy: Modeling

Modeling Language

“It is estimated that an AAC learner will

need at least 100-125 models of words and

word combinations on their AAC system

before you will see him/her use the word

(at some future time) spontaneously.”

Gail Van Tatenhove, 2006 Image from PrAACtical AAC

https://praacticalaac.org/


Aided Language Stimulation

• The modeling of symbols is a continuum from highlighting target words

to modeling every word spoken.

(Goosses, 2015) https://bit.ly/2B6cw9Q

• With AAC modeling, the teacher uses the AAC system in the context

of a naturalistic communication interaction.

(Sennott, Light & McNaughton, 2016)

https://bit.ly/2B6cw9Q

Strategy: SMORRES

S – Slow rate of speech

Mo – Model while pointing

R – Respect and reflect

R – Repeat

E – Expand

S – Stop(Senner & Baud, 2013)

Prompting Versus Modeling

● Modeling is about you:

○ You are selecting words on the AAC system

○ No expectation of response from the child

● Prompting is about the child:

○ Strategy to assist, suggest, or cue child to use

AAC system

○ You are pointing to words to get child to

respond

AAC Prompt Hierarchy

• Pause

• Non-verbal prompt

• Environmental cues

• Open-ended question

• Visual prompt

• Give two choices

• Model

• Partial physical prompt

• Physical prompt

Miss Hits = Learning Opportunities

Image from CoughDrop AAC

https://www.mycoughdrop.com/

Image from Speak for Yourself

https://www.speakforyourself.org/

https://www.mycoughdrop.com/

https://www.speakforyourself.org/


Resources: Modeling

Project Core: Modeling

• A grant directed by the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at the

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

• Created Universal Core vocabulary

• Evidence based teaching practices supporting implementation

• Professional development modules, tools, and resources

• Helps adults become good communication partners

• Attribute meaning towards communication behaviors

• Maximize opportunities for teaching and learning all day

• Encourage communication without requiring it

http://www.project-core.com

http://www.project-core.com/

Rate Yourself Modeling

Expanding Expression Tool

• Descriptive teaching model

• Helps learners expand on

what they know about a topic

https://www.expandingexpression.com

Green – Group (What category does

it belong to?

Blue – Do (What do you do with it?

What does it do?)

White – What does it look like? (What

size, shape, color is it?)

Brown – What is it made of?

Pink – Parts (What are its parts?)

White – Where (Where do you find it?

Where would you use/see it?

Orange – What else do you know?

https://www.expandingexpression.com/


Strategy: Meaningful and Motivating

Activities

Use What is Already Happening!

● Use your established routines and

activities to model language

● Emphasis: what is the language I am

teaching?

● Ask open-ended questions

● Take the child’s lead - (joint attention)

○ Keep it simple

○ No prep!

○ Join in preferred activities

AAC Skills: Taught or Caught? (PrAACtical AAC)

Teaching something new:

• Modeling

• Explaining

• Demonstrating

• Discussing

• Instructing

• Noticing

• Scaffolding

• Recasting

Discovering existing skills:

• ”What do you want?”

• “Show me…”

• ”Tell me…”

• “Where is…?”

• “Use your words.”

• “Say it with your talker.”

• “What do you say?”

More teaching (90%), less testing (10%).


Resources: Meaningful and Motivating

Activities

Interest Inventory

• Manipulatives: blocks, beads, puzzles, marbles,

Wikki Stix

• Active play: ball, beanbags, jump rope, swing,

slide, jump, spin

• Putting together/taking apart: blocks, Legos,

beads

• Exploring the Senses: sand, water, vibration,

lights, spin, shake

• Technology: videos, music, instruments, games

• Literacy: books, magazines, letters, games

Core Word Classroom: Meaningful Activities

• Resources include:

• Core Word Displays

• Core Word Planners

• Core Word of the Week Planners

• Core Word 5 Minute Fillers

• Core Words at Home

• AAC Strategies and Resources

• Templates also available

• https://coreword.assistiveware.com/

• FREE

https://coreword.assistiveware.com/

AAC Language Lab: Meaningful Activities

• Interactive implementation tools

• Lesson plans, activities, and resources

• Literacy Curriculums

• Literacy Through Unity

• News-2-You

• Unique Learning Systems

• Language Screener tool

• Free resources

• https://aaclanguagelab.com

• $19.95/year

https://aaclanguagelab.com/

More Resources

• Tobii Dynavox

• Core First Books (lesson plans, books): http://bit.ly/CoreFirstBooks

• Core Word Lessons (lesson plans, books, activities, parent letter,

etc.): http://bit.ly/CoreWordLessons

• Other resources: http://bit.ly/TobiiDynavoxResources

• Saltillo

• Chat Corner (supports, games, books, etc.):

https://saltillo.com/chatcorner

• Let’s Teach Core: http://bit.ly/LetsTeachCore

http://bit.ly/CoreFirstBooks

http://bit.ly/CoreWordLessons

http://bit.ly/TobiiDynavoxResources

https://saltillo.com/chatcorner

http://bit.ly/LetsTeachCore

More Resources, Continued

• PrAACtical AAC

• Blog with supports for language learning and AAC

resources: https://praacticalaac.org/

• Explore AAC

• AAC overview with videos and learning modules:

https://exploreaac.com/

• And more!

• Shared folder handout: Communication is the Key

Resource Handout


https://exploreaac.com/

Remember…

Questions?

Thank you for attending!

Please take a minute to complete an

evaluation.

Your feedback is important to us!

Contact Information

For more information on AT tools or

services, contact the Simon Technology

Center at PACER:

• Call 952-838-9000

• Email [email protected]

• Visit http://www.pacer.org/stc/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.pacer.org/stc/

communication is the key! practical resources for aac ......aided language stimulation • the...

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