AAC in the Cloud - Highlighted Sessions
Highlights For the Week of May 12, 2025
Giving CoughDrop a Second Look - What You Haven't Seen CoughDrop Do Before
2019
CoughDrop has added some great new features over the last 18 months, all focused around helping communicators and their support teams be more successful. Check out what we've done around goals, modeling support, messaging, integrations, etc.!
Using Eye-Tracking to Access Predictable
2021
Predictable is a text-to-speech app designed for people who are literate but don't have the ability to speak. In 2020, we introduced three innovative access methods relying on Apple technology. This year, we worked with Irisbond and integrated the first iOS eye-tracking solution!
Highlights For the Week of May 5, 2025
AAC is Everything, Everything is AAC -- Why Guided Access & Other Methods of Locking Tablets Remove Autonomy
2021
To many, there's AAC apps for communication, and other devices for everything else. But, we use other apps (on the same device!) for communication, and AAC as non-communication assistive tech. The lines between AAC and everything else are fuzzy. Denying this, and locking us into one app is harmful.
Communication in the Community
2019
Community based instruction is an essential piece of today’s life skills curriculums. Unfortunately, supporting students who use AAC in the community setting can be a difficult and daunting process. This presentation aims to provide resources and support to help professionals provide the best possible services to the individuals they serve.
Highlights For the Week of Apr 28, 2025
Communication and Literacy in the Secondary Special Education Classroom -- It CAN Be Done!
2021
This presentation will detail the introduction of literacy and communication to a classroom of four young men with autism and a history of ineffective education. “Never too old to start” is a motto that rings true in the classroom that had one year to prove that intensive teaching works.
Putting the other "A" in AAC: The Augmentative Part
2019
In the world of AAC (Augmentative Alternative Communication), we tend to really focus on the alternative piece. As an SLP working in the public schools, I work with a lot of students who are partially verbal. That is they are speaking words but it might just be one or two word sentences or telegraphic speech. Oftentimes these students really benefit from the structure of a low tech communication board to give their sentences correct grammatical structure and by having a multi-sensory method of expressing themselves. This presentation will give you some tips and ideas for ways you can help your students "augment" their communication.
Highlights For the Week of Apr 21, 2025
AAC and Verbal Individuals: How AAC Impacted Our Lives
2018
My friend Lydia Wayman and I both have a diagnosis of autism. We are both verbal; AND we are both AAC users! We use AAC to supplement our verbal communication. Come hear us talk about how we use AAC to help us; even though we are verbal.
All Hands On Deck for Touch Access
2021
Calling all hands-on deck for touch access! There is so much to consider and explore for clients who use touch access. This session is led by two assistive technology consultants and speech-language pathologists ( SLPs) to review ways to encourage touch access, low-tech to high-tech device modifications and DIY ideas to trial touch access methods with your students. One small change can make a big difference when using touch access. Get ready for this hands-on course and leave with a touch access resource guide for editing tips, checklists and trial ideas.
Highlights For the Week of Apr 14, 2025
Feature Matching in the AAC Assessment
2023
Feature-matching in AAC assessment is a crucial component of the assessment process but can be intimidating! Feature-matching is completed by looking at an individual’s skills and needs to determine the most appropriate AAC system features (ASHA, n.d.). Learn more in this recorded webinar!
AAC in the Classroom...for the teacher
2018
“AAC in the classroom” usually means AAC for students. Sometimes, however, it's the teacher who needs AAC! I'll be talking about AAC in the workplace, specifically the classroom as a workplace, based on both my experience and that of other teachers I know of. Practical tips incoming!
Highlights For the Week of Apr 7, 2025
Free AAC Resources for Buy-in and Communication Growth
2023
Let's explore some of the great materials, websites, supplies, and assets that can be accessed for FREE to help support AAC communicators and teams.
Highlights For the Week of Mar 31, 2025
Visual Impairments & AAC -- Case Study and Discussion of Tips & Device Adaptations
2023
Join Naomi and Stefanie as Naomi discusses what she has learned as a part-time AAC user with vision impairments, and Stefanie shares device modifications she has made with young AAC users with vision impairments. Participants will receive access to resources related to AAC and vision impairments.
Highlights For the Week of Mar 24, 2025
My AAC is Part of My Gender Presentation
2020
When setting up AAC, considering disability is normal. But, identity is complex, more than just our disabilities, and our assistive tech is a part of us. It needs to support the whole person. We’ll discuss using AAC as a trans, disabled person and some considerations as they customize their device.
Switch Adapting Toys is Easy!
2021
Who am I? What are switch adapted toys? Overview of switch adapted toys. Live tutorial. What is Jericho adapts toys and how to start your own organization!
Highlights For the Week of Mar 17, 2025
Strategies to Increase AAC Modeling in the Classroom
2018
A nationwide survey of general and special education teachers (pre-k – high school) identified perceived barriers in being able to provide partner aided language in the classroom setting. The results of this survey will be shared with participants along with practical solutions to overcome these obstacles, and provide educators with the tools and confidence they need to speak AAC.
Highlights For the Week of Mar 10, 2025
10 Ideas for AAC Virtual Modeling
2020
Anne shares 10 great ways to incorporate modeling & support into virtual connections with AAC users.
Empowering Paraprofessionals to support AAC Usage
2018
One of the toughest jobs in special education is that of a paraprofessional. Paraprofessionals play vital roles in guiding/supporting our students, especially those who are utilizing AAC. Hear directly from three experienced paraprofessionals as they share their perspectives in working with elementary students who utilize AAC.
Highlights For the Week of Mar 3, 2025
AAC and Transition Planning -- Supporting all students to make decisions for the future
2020
Transition planning is an essential part of preparing our students for the adult life they want and need. Many of our students are still learning to use AAC at the time that we need to start planning for their transition out of school. Fortunately, even the most emergent student can be involved in their own planning. This session describes tools and strategies to maximize the role of the student learning to use AAC. Learn to use AAC supports in new, flexible ways to support autonomy, decision-making, and participation.
Make Your Modeling Meaningful: Tools & Tips for Aided Language Input
2018
Do you struggle to connect with your AAC user? Do they only use their device to request? The problem could be what you’re choosing to talk about! We will discuss tools for determining highly motivating topics and tips for easy modeling in the moment to keep the conversation going.
Highlights For the Week of Feb 24, 2025
Communication is a Human Right -- Why is Society Communication Inaccessible
2020
Society is built around mouthwords. People claim to care about our futures, but everyone’s entire focus is on vocal speech. There’s little to no communication accessibility. This needs to change. To improve the lives of non-speaking people, we need a society that includes us. We need a communication accessible world!
Ensuring Equitable Access to Health Care for AAC Users
2021
This presentation will discuss barriers AAC users face in accessing health care and what AAC professionals and supporters can do to address them. It will cover the importance of autonomy and self-determination in health care for AAC users from the perspective of an AAC user in public health.
Highlights For the Week of Feb 17, 2025
AAC & the Autistic Spectrum -- Strategies, Motivations, & Use Throughout Lifespan *Session in Spanish*
2020
The purpose of this presentation is to show specific strategies to teach AAC to people with ASD at different moments of their life, making emphasis in the importance of using highly motivating activities to create significant learning. Also to transmit that an approach focused on the strengths more than in the deficits can helps develop communication skills with AAC.
Collaboration between Clinic & School in AAC
2018
Many schools refer their students to a clinic to procure a personal SGD through the consumer's. The referring SLPs have a wide variety of comfort levels with AAC and need varying levels of support. This is an overview of how the clinic can work with the schools to support the school, the family and the AAC user to maximize the consumer's communicative potential.
Highlights For the Week of Feb 10, 2025
Thinking Outside the Box - OTs: an Untapped Creativity Source!
2019
Occupational Therapists love thinking outside the box! We will discuss when to involve an OT on your team as well as hidden benefits of doing so. Resources to share with your current teams will be provided to support your thinking outside a typical team and help your AAC users succeed!
Mindset Matters -- Setting the Stage for AAC Success
2020
Both parents and professionals spend a lot of time and energy on word lists, funding devices, laminating, and coming up with the activities to practice using AAC. What if some changes early on could make that work even more impactful? Join us as we reflect on one of the principles that are foundational to our work: our mindset & the mindset of those we work with. We will discuss the challenges that come along with self-reflection as educators shift towards being influencers rather than experts. Throughout this presentation, we will share resources to help teams consider their role in AAC learning.
Highlights For the Week of Feb 3, 2025
-.. --- - / --- .-. / -.. .- ... .... : An individuals AAC journey of beginning to learn morse code
2020
We discuss the case study of a clients AAC journey with complex access requirements. How Mike’s physical skill development lead to the use of bespoke systems and the progression from switch scanning to learning morse code. One of the challenges? How do you teach morse code auditorily?
What to consider when considering AAC apps
2018
Although on the surface, apps appear to be the easy choice due to cost, availability, and ubiquity of tablets/phones, care should be taken when evaluating for an individual. This session discusses app advantages/disadvantages and how to consider apps for an individual with complex communication needs.
Symbols, Multimodal Communication and Screen Readers -- Adapting AAC and Reading and Cognitive Support Needs in Adults
2021
I primarily use symbol AAC, iday I switch between 5-6 different types of AAC, depending on the situation,I use the internet. Multimodal communication is critical to my active lifestyle, so is cognitive accessibility and screen readers! My active life, multimodal communication, internet use doesn't change that.