Flap Presser 'Switch' - Back to the Future!

Flap Presser 'Switch' - Back to the Future!

 BACKGROUND: 

Back in the day, I was an SLP working with 45 students at the 'Poor-But-Honest' Center.  Our technology budget was . . . minimal.  So, we figured out how to make things . . . Decades before the 'Maker Movement'!  The flap switch shown below is clearly well-used (circa 1988), but helped many students access their computers!  The link below shows how to use what you (hopefully!) have in your home or apartment to make a flap switch that will press down one key on a computer keyboard.

Flap Presser Switch

 

Doodle Buddy app: AAC & Literacy: Tele-Practice or Home!

Doodle Buddy app:  AAC & Literacy:  Tele-Practice or Home!

For years, I have found the Doodle Buddy app to be very helpful during therapy and classes.  Now I'm finding that it's terrific for teletherapy as well.

I've made a short slide show to show some ways that I'm using it.  I'm going to add a new activity every few days, and give a new link!  Come back often!

Caroline

Doodle Buddy Handout 1

PINTEREST LINKS FOR CAROLINE MUSSELWHITE

PINTEREST LINKS FOR DR. CAROLINE RAMSEY MUSSELWHITE

Pinterest Boards:  Caroline Musselwhite 

SOCIAL SCRIPTS & PRANKS

SOCIAL SCRIPTS & PRANKS:  Supporting Emerging AAC Communicators

This book by Dr. Caroline Ramsey Musselwhite provides strategies and samples of co-planned sequenced prank Social Scripts for students who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Multiple strategies are offered to support teams in using pranks for engagement, peer interaction, and learning language, including tools for pranks; customizing planning, supporting, and choosing prank scripts; and strategies to support core language.  Sample scripts are shared for 17 pranks, with multiple examples across a range of language systems, for a range of target students, and for both step-listing devices and devices with robust vocabulary.  Resources and references are also provided.

Teachers Pay Teachers: Caroline Musselwhite

Shared Links: Supports During the Pandemic

 SUPPORTS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Here are a few links to support students with autism spectrum disorder during this pandemic.  Thank you to Christy Clawson for providing these links.

How to Calm a Child with Autism

Create a Sensory Safe Yard for Children with Special Needs

Sensory Processing Treatments

Estate Planning for Parents of Kids with Autism

Classoom Accommodations for Kids with Sensory Issues

Moving with Special Needs Kids

Paper-Based AAC FlipBooks: When, How, Why Do They Matter?

Paper-Based AAC FlipBooks: When, How, Why Do They Matter?

 Paper-Based AAC FlipBooks Handout

There are a number of resources for printed displays that are available for purchase or download.  Page-turning options that flip up or down are often a part of these systems. We have found that using paper-based displays helps slow down the process of selecting a message and provides the communication partner with additional time to talk about what the symbol may represent and clarify the intent of the message.

Use paper-based displays at the pool, in brightly lit rooms, and in darker rooms with a flashlight.  Use them when the high tech device is low on battery, or when the user doesn’t want to share his/her high tech device for aided language input.  Use with overlays and cut-outs for target with complete access to the full vocabulary when needed – faster than using hide/show in TouchChat and much like turning on/off Vocabulary Builder, Exploring vocabulary in Proloquo2Go when Progressive Language is turned on, and Babbling with SpeakForYourself.

AAC Flip Books – Where Can I  Find Some?

·       https://lessonpix.com - Subscribe and make your own materials or use the Sharing Center!

·       https://aaclanguagelab.com/resources/free - LAMP WFL, Unidad, Unity and PRC WordPower

·       http://www.assistiveware.com/assistiveware-core-word-classroom - Proloquo2Go Crescendo

·       www.project-core.com - Universal Core Displays (These are not flip books, just core)

·       https://store.prentrom.com/additional-software/the-pixon-sup-tm-sup-project-kit

Pixon Project Kit

·       http://www.region4store.com/Catalog.aspx?itmid=1329142 Teacher and Student Classroom Kits

·       https://saltillo.com/chatcorner/content/29 - NOVA Chat and TouchChat (PCS and SS options)

·       https://www.mytobiidynavox.com/Store/SnapCoreFirst As of version 1.11, even the free version of Snap + Core First app (no speech) prints pages from within the app 

·       http://www.speakforyourself.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SfY-category-organization.pdf 

Speak For Yourself (with category indexes, make your own flip book from device screen shots)

·       https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/

o    
AAC-Communication-Flip-Book-and-Boards-2431089 by Super Power Speech

o   Motivate, Model, Move Out of the Way: How to implement AAC by Kate Ahern

o   AAC Picture Communication Book with Core and Fringe Vocabulary by Susan Berkowitz

o   AAC Flip Communication Book BUNDLE by RosieBeeSLP

o   AAC Communication Book by Speech Me Maybe

o   Core Vocabulary Binder Ring - Core Board Binder Ring AAC by Mrs Ds Corner

o   Low-Tech, Core Vocabulary Based, AAC Flip Boards by Speechy Musings

RESOURCES

Ahern, Kate. http://www.slideshare.net/teechkidz/bringing-aac-home-fcsn

·       This PowerPoint slideshow, aimed at parents and caregivers, explains why and how aided language works in the home.

Allen, Schlosser, Brock & Shane (2017). The effectiveness of aided augmented input techniques for persons with developmental disabilities: a systematic review, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 33:3, 149-159, DOI: 10.1080/07434618.2017.1338752

Enders, Lauren.  Moving beyond a Common roadblock to Successful AAC Implementation. June/July, 2016 edition of Closing The Gap Solutions

Mary-Louise Bertram, guest blogger on www.janefarrall.com explains why modeling is so important for
       those beginning to use AAC: Why We Do Aided Language Stimulation - And You Should Too! 
Hatch, Geist, Erickson, Greer, & Erwin-Davidson.  ATIA, 2017. Using Core Vocabulary in Emergent  
       Literacy Instructional Routines.  www.project-core.com Professional Development Modules

Mirenda, P. (2008). "A back door approach to autism and AAC." Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 24, 219-233.

Zangari, Carol http://praacticalaac.org; https://praacticalaac.org/?s=Flip+book  

·       PrAACtical Resources: Video Examples of Aided Language Input - A collection of videos including therapists, educators, and families using Aided Language Input

·       PrAACtical AAC: Why We Love Aided Language Input - This article links to 4 research articles demonstrating the benefits of Aided Language Input.

Resource List prepared by Deanna K. Wagner, MS/CCC-SLP