Most-Rated Sessions

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

Session by Rachel Madel about using telepractice for AAC

AAC in the Cloud 2022 Conference

This session addresses what we know (and don’t know) about everyday clinical practice for our AAC users that are Gestalt Language Processors. We will share both family and professional experiences. While also addressing the research, identifying speaking/non-speaking GLPs, AAC app feature matching, the theory of programming, & implementation.

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

AAC in the Cloud 2018 Conference

Moving AAC users beyond single words can be a difficult transition. Too often we focus on requesting as the objective, and on using single labels for items the user wants. But we need to grow language as well, and move students from single words through to complete, linguistically appropriate sentences.

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

Communication doesn't just happen during speech therapy! This presentation will help you consider how to train & support classroom professionals so they actually enjoy implementing AAC when you're not there.

AAC in the Cloud 2023 Conference

Therapy for GLPs often focuses on moving them towards word-based language generation. While this is an important skill to have, it is also important to support their neurotype by helping them feel confident communicating with their scripts. This session considers the benefits and methods to support this for AAC users.

AAC in the Cloud 2021 Conference

The use of literacy is a lifelong tool! The foundation for literacy is language. Communicators who rely on augmentative alternative communication should routinely utilize literacy for reading, writing and communication. Let’s explore the wealth of options to increase language use, reading comprehension, and written language for the AAC user.

AAC in the Cloud 2022 Conference

Effective teaching and implementation of AAC can be both fun and functional for educators and families. In this session we will share strategies for modeling and expanding expressions using games, books, and everyday activities that are FUNctional! Let's have fun and get communicating!

AAC in the Cloud 2022 Conference

Have you heard about gestalt language processing (GLP)? If you want to learn more about this manner of language development and its role in AAC, then this is the presentation for you! This presentation will review GLP, its current implications for AAC, and future considerations for research and development.

AAC in the Cloud 2023 Conference

This session will be provided by four SLP’s who share their secrets to providing productive and engaging AAC group sessions. Top tips and favorite activities will be provided within a real time group session. Find out how we manage various AAC systems and juggle data collection while maintaining engagement.

AAC in the Cloud 2022 Conference

Are you new to implementing AAC or do you feel you need new ideas for supporting AAC users? Introducing AAC to an individual takes a team, so let’s work together to give you ideas and examples for how to start the process of introducing AAC. Multiple examples and resources will be provided for starting the journey with AAC.

AAC in the Cloud 2017 Conference

AAC in the Cloud 2022 Conference

Without ample support and collaboration across environments, AAC abandonment can occur. This session will focus on strategies for getting caregiver and professional buy-in by utilizing a collaborative approach. Attendees will be empowered with research-based information, tips, and strategies to effectively implement AAC as a team.

AAC in the Cloud 2022 Conference

School staff instruction in AAC has numerous benefits to students, including increasing communicative turns and facilitating longer utterances. However, in-service style trainings rarely result in increased AAC use in the classroom. Participants will learn the benefits of staff education, benefits of modeling AAC and elements of a successful partner education program.

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

Successful AAC users have a village of AAC supporters. This session will share unique, yet practical ways to empower communication partners in becoming proficient and confident in modeling and interacting using AAC.

AAC in the Cloud 2021 Conference

While it might sound great to have an “AAC Expert” on hand, join this discussion about building sustainable support within schools and programs. Instead of putting high value on the expertise of one team member, this model recognizes that expert skills & knowledge work best when shared among a team.

AAC in the Cloud 2017 Conference

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

Shared reading is fundamental for anyone implementing literacy programs with emergent readers and writers – and good shared reading has strong ties with language development, and use of AAC. This workshop will discuss how we can support AAC users at different language and emergent literacy levels– supporting them to develop their language, communication skills and print concepts.

AAC in the Cloud 2017 Conference

AAC in the Cloud 2022 Conference

AAC in the Cloud 2023 Conference

Aided language input, prompting, creating opportunities—the are all well known strategies that are often discussed when it comes to supporting AAC development. However, how often do you and the communication partners that support AAC users talk about the importance of acknowledgment? In this session, we will dive into the importance of communication acknowledgement and the role it plays in language and socio-emotional development. Participants will learn about how to use it as a tool in their toolbox to enhance communication with AAC users.

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

Anne shares 10 great ways to incorporate modeling & support into virtual connections with AAC users.

AAC in the Cloud 2023 Conference

Developing communication competence in a focused and fun manner.

AAC in the Cloud 2017 Conference

AAC in the Cloud 2021 Conference

This session will review emergent communication behaviors and abilities when trialing dynamic voice output systems. It will expand upon the idea of what "stimming" looks like, how professionals and communication partners can redefine this term, and how to respond and support individuals with complex communication needs when they display "stimming" behaviors.

AAC in the Cloud 2019 Conference

The best way to teach AAC is to speak AAC. As an SLP serving many families with a consumer of AAC, I am often encouraging parents, caregivers, and other providers to incorporate AAC into daily routines. The goal of this presentation is to provide a basic overview of language development and instruction, aided language modeling, and providing examples of two-word phrases to model during every-day activities.

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

AAC in the Cloud 2017 Conference

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

Aided Language Input: How to! AAC & Aided Language Stimulation Modeling: Teaching teachers, paras and parents the Why and How to modeling AAC. We learn language by having language modeled. Aided Language Stimulation (ALS) is seen as best practice in the field of AAC and is often one of the first strategies suggested when beginning AAC with individuals with Complex Communication Needs. In this hour-long webinar, we not only will learn about why modeling symbolic communication is so vital to AAC users but why it is so hard to implement and then learn simple techniques to teach communication partners how to implement ALS into their everyday routine. It may sound like an easy thing to do, however, in reality, our teachers, para's and parents are struggling with this strategy. Model, Model, Model! Let’s learn how to model because it is not as easy as it sounds. Learning Objectives: In this webinar participants will be able to... Understand the reason modeling symbolic language can be so difficult Describe three ways to teach communication partners how to model Be able to implement ALS into three routines in their students day

AAC in the Cloud 2019 Conference

We talk a lot about the importance of training in AAC, but are only starting to talk about how to do that training. With years of teaching AAC to pre-service and in-service SLPs and teachers, Vicki has become a firm believer in hands on activities and she will share some here.

AAC in the Cloud 2019 Conference

Instructional assistants often spend the most time with students; however, they frequently do not get the training needed to effectively implement augmentative alternative communication with students with complex communication needs. This presentation offers examples of trainings and strategies we used to train instructional assistants in our Colorado Department of Education Facility School.

AAC in the Cloud 2018 Conference

Executive functioning (EF) skills are critical to using one’s information and skills. This presentation will look at AAC through an executive functioning lens, connecting areas of challenge in EF skills with challenges that many users of AAC face. It will also provide evidence-based strategies to enhance executive functioning skills for users of AAC.

AAC in the Cloud 2018 Conference

AAC in the Cloud 2023 Conference

Do you work with AAC users who struggle to move beyond single words? This session will provide actionable strategies for building language beyond basic requests. Learn how to use an SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) framework to prompt and model expanded utterances, as well as other cues to support communication growth. We'll also showcase fun tasks and activities for building SVO/SVL utterances. Join us to improve your AAC teaching skills!

AAC in the Cloud 2019 Conference

Simple AAC brings together the key thoughts on how to give AAC learners the best chance of success, in a way that is easy for anyone to understand and remember! Learn more about it, get practical ideas, and find out how to access free Simple AAC resources.

AAC in the Cloud 2022 Conference

AAC users may be the only child in their classroom with a communication tool... but they don't need to feel alone! Learn strategies to affirm and celebrate AAC with peers and educational staff.

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

This session helps families and educators understand expressive core vocabulary: what it is, where to get it, and how to use it to communicate with existing AAC systems and on manual core boards. We will share resources for pre-made core vocabulary and activities as well as tools for creating custom core resources.

AAC in the Cloud 2018 Conference

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.

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

This presentation will provide intervention strategies and display materials that could be utilized for promoting social language skills that are important for an AAC user to practice while interacting with others.

AAC in the Cloud 2022 Conference

If you have ever been confused about the ways that vocabulary robust AAC systems are put together, this is the session for you! Follow us down the Yellow Brick Road of AAC to explore the organizational features of some of the most popular robust systems. We will examine the rationale of different ways that vocabulary is organized as a way to structure an AAC system and the implications of the organization on communication success.

AAC in the Cloud 2019 Conference

This presentation will cover types of switch, how to find the placement for the switch to be accessed, the different kinds of scanning patterns used with switch access, and the difference between auditory prompts vs auditory scanning.

AAC in the Cloud 2021 Conference

Join this workshop to see how schools can build an AAC culture. Follow some real and authentic steps to engage educational teams in AAC. See how culture and mindsets can shift - and for the better. Recognise that all students, regardless of age, diagnosis or ability can benefit from AAC embedded into curriculum and learning. Learn how you can be part of this process.

AAC in the Cloud 2021 Conference

This presentation will share resources for teaming up to support the AAC Users in your world. Specific strategies for collaborating with team members during consideration, implementation, and data collection will be provided. The different models for working as a team as well as examples of technology that can support this will be discussed.

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

AAC in the Cloud 2018 Conference

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.

AAC in the Cloud 2023 Conference

Come learn how to play games that create opportunities for communication, connection and creativity. Krista Howard, a life-long user of AAC will demonstrate ways she has used games that are authentic and engaging to support students’ learning and communication. Attendees will practice a combination of in-person and virtually accessible games for all age groups that will leave you inspired and ready to take on tomorrow! We welcome therapists, teachers, and parents to join us in learning how to coach users of AAC to create and facilitate their own activities to empower and share the skills they have learned with other users of AAC. All forms of AAC will be demonstrated including no-tech, light-tech and high-tech AAC during the session.

AAC in the Cloud 2017 Conference

AAC in the Cloud 2019 Conference

AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication. People can speak and still choose to use AAC. It can be a powerful tool when someone has difficulty being understood. Research shows that people with Down Syndrome and other disabilities have more difficulty being understood by unfamiliar communication partners, or when speaking longer sentences. Even if their speech is understood by those who know them well, it may still be of benefit to use AAC. AAC can broaden the range of potential communication partners and ensure communicative independence.

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

Technology is omnipresent in our world and children may be experts at navigating these tools well before entering kindergarten. While AT provides access, the use of technology as a teaching tool for young children must be balanced with their need to play and learn through interactions in natural settings. This session examines current research on technology for birth to 5-year-olds and the implications of technology as an early learning tool for young children with language disabilities. We will discuss criteria for evaluating apps with a focus on interaction, cultural diversity and accessibility. Explore how families and therapists can use technology with young children to support the growth of language, play, early literacy, and problem solving skills.

AAC in the Cloud 2020 Conference

Many of us start the AAC journey with choice or requesting boards but is that the best way to promote effective communication? In this presentation we share our personal experience of what we learned when we transitioned our AAC user from choice/requesting boards to a robust core vocabulary, what we wish we would have known when we started, and the importance of collaboration between school and home