AAC Mentoring Tips with Lydia Dawley

Welcome to our seventh episode of AAC Tip Talks, a series of vlogs (video blogs) and a podcast (because we want you to learn your way!) offering tips for professionals and partners supporting people who use AAC.  Each talk is a quick chat designed to give some initial strategies and connect you with resources to continue your learning.  All AAC Tip Talks are offered by Mentors from across the global community. Summary:  If you are an SLP,  Educator, or Caregiver working with children with complex communication needs, you likely have more unknowns in your toolbox than knowns.  Perhaps you're wondering:   What is CVI exactly?  Why is it important to consider CVI needs in AAC assessment and intervention?   Can't I just make everything red an yellows?  If you are looking for guidance to help children with known or suspected cortical vision impairment (CV() as they learn to access language with AAC, this is the episode to get you started!  Debbie and Sandy offer a starting point for working with these unique kids alongside tons of resources to keep your learning and practical application going. You can find links to resources mentioned in this episode on our website here:  https://www.aaccessible.org/post/aac-tip-talks-episode-7-aac-cvi-with-an-slp-tvi-dream-team

Welcome to our sixth episode of AAC Tip Talks, a series of vlogs (video blogs) and a podcast (because we want you to learn your way!) offering tips for professionals and partners supporting people who use AAC.  Each talk is a quick chat designed to give some initial strategies and connect you with resources to continue your learning.  All AAC Tip Talks are offered by Mentors from across the global community.     In this short episode, we're switching things up a bit to take the time to spotlight an amazing young woman and her beautiful AAC service project.    Learn more about Lehar Goenka and the AAC resource guide she created for families supporting children with Autism in this week's video or podcast short.  You can also learn more about the inspiration behind Lehar's resource guide (Implementing AAC:  A low-tech symbol-based aided guide with advice aimed at parents of autistic children)  in her companion blog post here. Want to get Lehar's free AAC guide?  You can download it from our AACcessible Tools page here.  https://www.aaccessible.org/product-page/a-caregiver-s-guide-to-low-tech-aac-for-autistic-children Get even more resources at:  www.aaccessible.org & www.theaacacademy.org

In this episode, AAC user, entrepreneur, and AAC interaction specialist/mentor, Lydia Dawley, shares her own experience with AAC mentoring and provides tips to AAC users looking to provide or receive mentoring.  You can find out more info about Lydia and her projects, as well as other free and low cost resources related to AAC on our website, www.aaccessible.org.  You can access a video version and links related to this episode on our blog.  

In this episode, we are joined by Brandi Lee Wentland, an AAC SLP, author, instructor, media creator, and founder of We Speak AAC.   Brandi shares her rationale for why light tech AAC is necessary for all communicators-even those with high tech in place and working well-and shares some top tips to help get light tech going today for the  complex communicator in your life.   You can learn more about Brandi and her many contributions to the AAC field on her We Speak AAC site and social media pages.  You can watch a video version of this episode and get links to resources mentioned on our blog here. Stay connected to all things AAC at www.aaccessible.org!

In this episode, we take a different spin with books, guided by UK-based sensory and inclusion specialist, Joanna Grace.  I stumbled upon Joanna at the recent, online Early Years Summit and honestly, I want her to be my best friend.  I know, I'm a dork.  But seriously, she not only brings a charisma to this and all talks she provides, she has an insightful, sensory rich perspective that everyone supporting kids with complex needs should hear.  Joanna spent some time talking about her ambitious sensory stories and their role in building communication.  She emphasized the importance of strategy alongside creative and inexpensive "tools" to provide rich sensory experiences that help children access their world in meaningful ways when language may not yet be firmly formed. Joanna Grace is a sensory engagement and inclusion specialist, author, trainer, TEDx speaker and Founder of The Sensory Projects.  She is working to contribute to a future where people are understood in spite of their differences. The Sensory Projects run on the principle that with the right knowledge and a little creativity inexpensive resources can become effective sensory tools for inclusion. You can connect with Joanna and learn more about her work through social media and her Sensory Projects website: Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Sensory Projects Online College Learn more about AAC at www.aaccessible.org Want to join us as a guest on AAC Tip Talks?  Email us at [email protected], we'd love to have you!

In this episode, we welcome back a prior blog contributor, and rockstar in the AAC and AT field, Beth Poss, who sets the stage further  for SLP's looking to integrate literacy into their language intervention with AAC users.  I met with Beth for an engaging hour earlier this month and had the pleasure of learning about her evidence-based and empowering philosophy on supporting literacy development for children with complex communication needs.  Beth gives a great intro to the theory surrounding comprehensive literacy for complex communicators.  She bolsters the role of the SLP in this process and lays out some practical strategies, reminding us all that literacy isn't just about access to knowledge and independence, it also gives us access to joy, further reinforcing that we must all work together to support literacy for all.  At the end of this talk, Beth shares a snap shot summary of the amazing content she will present in her upcoming, six part course on AAC, Literacy, and the SLP. Resources mentioned in this episode: Comprehensive Literacy for All Handbook of Early Literacy Research No More Teaching a Letter a Week AAC, Literacy & the SLP Training Series on The AAC Academy

Welcome to our firs episode of AAC Tip Talks, a series of vlogs (video blogs) offering tips for professionals and partners supporting people who use AAC.  Each talk is a quick chat designed to give some initial strategies and connect you with resources to continue your learning.  All AAC Tip Talks are offered by AAC Mentors from across the global AAC community. This first episode in the series brings practical and person-centered strategies for supporting communication partners as they support AAC users.  Dr. Jane Remington-Gurney of Options Communication Therapy and Training Centre in Queensland offers her wisdom and expertise as a seasoned AAC SLP and mentor.   I met with Dr. Remington-Gurney for an engaging hour a few months ago and had the pleasure of learning about her evidence-based and family-centered philosophy on supporting communication partners.  Dr.  Remington-Gurney brings a thoughtful perspective rooted in dynamic systems theory and centered on meeting families where they are.   You can watch the full talk with Dr. Remington-Gurney below.  You can also access an audio only episode at the end of this post, along with information about the online trainings offered at Options.