AAC Device Implementation Form---Free Download

By Ruth Morgan, M.S. CCC-SLP and Ashley Robinson, M.S. CCC-SLP

About a month ago, an esteemed colleague of mine, Ashley Robinson, and I published a model for AAC device implementation.  We stated that the high tech device often recommended for a student was only the tip of the iceberg in terms of developing successful communication in a natural environment. Many factors need to be in place.

Since that time, many of you have viewed this post.  As with many blogs, ideas are presented but here there needed to be a more tangible document to accompany these stellar thoughts, so Ashley and I have developed a handy form to go with this iceberg model.  It is basically a set of yes/no questions, with space for a short action plan to go with each 'no' answer.  Helpful links are embedded in the form itself.  Questions follow the same categories as those presented in the iceberg model.  We have envisioned that the child's IEP team (with an AT professional) would meet and discuss these points, one by one, and problem-solve, assigning team members for different actions.  The actual form is three pages. You can download it free at the link below.

screenshot--one of three pages

The key is teamwork.  No one person can successfully implement AAC whether that person is a parent, an SLP, or teacher.  This form will help to guide a team to think about different parameters in AAC implementation and use.  Please let us know if we need to add or edit questions.  I'm sure we will be revising as time goes on with your help.

Click HERE to download the form in pdf.

Author Bios:

Ruth Morgan is a full-time speech language pathologist at Ephesus Elementary school and author of Chapel Hill Snippets. You can find her materials on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Ashley Robinson splits her time between providing speech language pathology services at the secondary level and working as part of the district Assistive Technology team. She is the author of everydayaac.com.

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AAC Devices: Merely the Tip of the Iceberg-- There’s More to Good AAC Implementation Than Meets the Eye

By Ruth Morgan M.S. CCC-SLP  and Ashley Robinson M.S. CCC-SLP, ATP


As an SLP, how often have you heard this?:  “I saw XYZ new device and I think it would be great for my student,” or “Last night I saw XYZ device on tv and it was a miracle!”

High tech AAC devices are just the tip of the iceberg of things that need to be in place to make students successful communicators. Here are 10 other key components.

Image by Ruth Morgan; Use but please credit

1. Systematically organized core and fringe vocabulary. Here are some examples:
• PODD is one system organized by pragmatic branches
• Here is one example
• UNC Center for Literacy and Disability Studies has more information on core vocabulary.
• Unity, another AAC language system
2. Peer language models. This doesn’t even have to be other device users. Kids need to see other kids using language. Here's a great example of kids modeling kid behavior on a communication device.
3. Opportunities for functional communication (including commenting, asking questions, greetings/salutations, requesting, and rejecting). Not just making choices
• The Communication Matrix is one of many tools that allows you to see a range of communicative functions
4. Data collection methods
• Linda Burkhart has a handout on writing IEP goals and collecting data for AAC users.
• Check out Chapel Hill Snippets’ Google Forms and Spreadsheets post to learn more about ways to use technology to simplify data collection.
5. Lite Tech backups should always be in place for high tech devices. Batteries tend to die at the most inopportune times. Here is an article in ASHA blog that explains the making of a lite-tech communication notebook.
6. Room for growth. Students need to be able to combine symbols to make more complex language. Always be thinking ahead.
7. IEPs with SMART goals

The ASHA Leader Blog has a nice post with Tricks to Take the Pain out of Writing Treatment Goals

8. Training and planning time for staff. This is crucial!!!
9. Adult modeling of AAC use. PrAACtical AAC has a collection of posts describing the importance of aided language input
10. Stakeholder support (including parents and administration) for funding of devices and implementation of all of the above! Here is a blog article about the ineffectiveness of compartmentalizing communication.

If teams focus solely on the device (the tip of the iceberg), then you may very well end up with a really expensive bookend or fancy choice board.  What’s underneath the surface is vital to successful implementation.

Author Bios:

Ruth Morgan is a full-time speech language pathologist at Ephesus Elementary school and author of Chapel Hill Snippets. You can find her materials on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Ashley Robinson splits her time between providing speech language pathology services at the secondary level and working as part of the district Assistive Technology team. She is the author of everydayaac.com.

Updated Feelings Book---Free

PDF (Smarty Symbols)

 Hi friends,  I have updated this book somewhat.  The Boardmaker version is no longer available.  The pdf version is now in Smarty Symbols, and free to download for your own use. (I pay for a commercial license, so you can not use the symbols for your own products.)  This Smarty Symbol version also doesn't have any valentine images, so it's good to use all year long! 

There is so much stuff out there for Valentine's Day, it's hard to narrow down possible activities to the few you can actually do with the kids.  I try to narrow things down, so that the focus of the activity is centered around IEP goals, and not on a super cute product.

One goal which is ongoing is for the children to identify and talk about feelings.  The goal should go beyond merely identifying facial expressions, but for the child to tell others what makes him feel certain ways.  The reasons are different for every child.  I found a nice little activity on Boardmaker Share that I was able to convert to a simple book.  Although there are only three feelings identified in this book, if you have Boardmaker, this is easily expandable to include other feelings.  The icons for examples of why they feel certain ways can also be changed to fit the specific environment of the children you work with.

Click here to Download the Feelings Book in pdf

Have fun with this!

The Thankful Family

 I posted this last year, and love it so much, I'm doing it again.  I'll treasure this forever.

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When Vicki was in first grade, she had the greatest teacher ever--Ann Overton.  She asked the kids to do a project involving being thankful, and involving the family.  Vicki, David, and I all took this on, and the end result was a video that I replay occasionally, and totally love. (This was all done with VHS--no digital yet.)  I'll never forget helping her with this!  It was the best school homework project ever!  By the way, the kids pictured in this are now all adults---they do grow up fast.   Yeah!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Peace Corps update--English club and another wedding

From time to time, I post my family life news here.  This is one of those times.  I want to give a brief update on my daughter, Andorra, who is volunteering in the Peace Corps in Indonesia.  Time seems to be flying by!  She is to serve for 27 months, and already 6 months have passed.  Here are a few tidbits:

• She's teaching English at a high school in East Java (Mandiun is the town)
• She's made some friends, and the little kids around where she lives also recognize her and call her by name.  
• She is now allowed to travel away from her town, so she is visiting with former Peace Corps members this weekend in a town named Solo.  I have no idea about anything related to Indonesian geography or town names or languages, by the way.
• She has updated her blog---check it out here! 
• She's enjoying the food there, but misses things like Italian cooking.  I mailed her some Italian spices--shipping to her town is very expensive, ($9.00 for a few ounces, and it seems to take 6 weeks if she gets it at all)!
• I communicate with her frequently through Google chat, or Facebook chat.   This is a vast improvement from the 60s and 70s when loved ones had to rely on actual letters.

I miss her terribly, but she is being wonderful doing what she is doing.  I plan on traveling there in August---and I can't wait!!!!

Andorra is leading an English Club---I'm in awe

Find Andorra at this traditional Indonesian wedding pose!

Biking in the Quiet Atmosphere of the Night--Peace Corps news

Newspaper article featuring Andorra

My daughter, Andorra, has been in the Peace Corps for over three months.  I am posting her latest blog entry here in which she translates a newspaper article written about her in the town she's in .  If you would like to read all of her  blog entries, go HERE.
We miss her very much, but her occasional blogs, along with video chats and Facebook messages, keep us connected.  I can see that she is doing fine!





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Andorra's entry:

Biking in the Quiet Atmosphere of the Night
 
This is my article in the newspaper, translated for your convenience. Translating from English to Indonesian and back to English causes it to be a little bit inaccurate in parts, sorry!  Enjoy this awesome article. My counterpart and I had a good laugh about it.

Enjoying Caruban's Quiet Night Atmosphere

A soul is called to becoming a volunteer. That is Andorra Katherine Morgan, who was willing to leave behind her family in the United States. She now must wrestle with the routine of teaching English at her school in the Madiun regency. And at the same time, learn the culture of Indonesia.
"The weather here is actually as hot as in America during the summer," said Andorra Katherine Morgan during an interview.
But in the matter of atmosphere, the woman from North Carolina felt much differently. The proof is in the bicycle that she bought with Rp. 1,5 million that she uses daily. Including, enjoying the beautiful village atmosphere such as in the rice fields.
Andorra is a volunteer from the agency Peace Corps, the U.S. Government's program of cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Culture. She admitted that she was often hot, especially with her house being quite far from the school - about 3.5 kilometers. [This is not true. I live ~ 500 meters from school.] "It is often hot here. Temperatures such as these affect me in activities," she said in English.
Even so, she said it was not a problem. In the agency, Peace Corps, she is prohibited from riding a motorcycle or driving a car. The reason is for safety assurance. "So I can only ride a bicycle or public transportation," she added. But for the matter of the hospitality of the people of Indonesia, Andorra gave a thumbs-up. Although often limited in communication because of the language difference, she stated there are still people who are willing to help. Including, teaching her Indonesian. That, she said, fit with her desire to learn the attitudes and culture of the people of Indonesia. "People here are so friendly. They like to accept people from any background and that makes me adapt quickly," said the woman who likes to collect batik clothing.
In addition to teaching English, Andorra is also trying to spend some time actively providing a private class. It is done outside of the school hours. Moreover, she claimed the students liked her teaching style, the face-to-face system. Andorra is willing to not get paid. "I do not charge anything," she said. [I do not remember saying anything in this paragraph. This may be referring to the English Club at my school.]    

Her job at this school will last for two years. When she misses her family, she will communicate through video calling. Before setting foot in Caruban, she trained for two weeks in Malang. [Two months.] In Caruban, Andorra claimed to like the night atmosphere because it is quiet and not too crowded. And so, her bicycle becomes her loyal friend to enjoy the evening in Caruban.

A Batu wedding, volcano views, and other snippets of the Peace Corps

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you also know snippets of my life.  One of my life events recently has been sending my daughter off to the Peace Corps in Indonesia.  Right now, she is learning the language, getting multiple immunization shots, visiting schools, and living with a host family. 

She attended a wedding there recently.  You see from left to right--her host mother, her host brother, the groom, the bride, Andorra, and and unknown girl. I thought this wedding photo was awesome!  I've put a few of her other pictures below.  Andorra's host family doesn't have internet, so things move a little more slowly with digital pictures and these few will have to suffice for now.  She'll move to a new place/family after her training ends and with a school job, will have access to more internet.

topiary

This is all for the quick update.  Andorra does have her own blog going on.
Go HERE if you'd like to see it.  She'll post more when she has better internet access.

Batu has several volcanoes nearby.

farming

Never heard of Batu?  Here's where it is.