The NWACS Outreach Committee hosted AAC Information Nights for Caregivers from 2020 through 2022. These information nights were 30-40 minutes and covered a variety of topics:
- modeling
- prompting
- AAC and Early Intervention
- what to expect in an AAC assessment
- core vocabulary
- the NJC Communication Bill of Rights
Recordings of these meetings are available for you to watch on our YouTube channel.
The views expressed during these events are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of NWACS. No endorsement by NWACS is implied regarding any device, manufacturer, resource, or strategy mentioned.
2020 Recordings
Link to recording on YouTube: Modeling with AAC
Date: December 1, 2020
Links to resources shared:
- Do’s and Don’ts of AAC – Use the AAC system from AssistiveWare
- Modeling: Use AAC to teach AAC YouTube video from AssistiveWare
- Free Downloadable Resources from The AAC Coach
- Communicating with Symbols: Encouraging or Requiring (DOCX or PDF) from Project Core
- linked in the Aided Language Input module (in ‘Present the Aided Language Input Module to a Group’ participant handouts
- Communication Tips & Strategies: Aided Language Stimulation YouTube video from Autism Association of Western Australia
2021 Recordings
Link to recording on YouTube: AAC Prompting
Date: January 28, 2021
Links to resources shared:
Paper-based back-up communication:
- How to make a communication book from AssistiveWare
- Lite-tech Communication Board Options from Saltillo
- Communication Boards from SmartboxLite-tech Communication Board Options from Saltillo
- [Also check out our Resources for Lite-tech Communication Boards]
Examples of having communication access to participate fully:
- Jamie Dolan speaks before the United Nations using his Nova Chat 8
- Poetry by AAC device user Darryl Porter
Additional resources and references:
- National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons With Severe Disabilities (NJC)
- Support for communication with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) from AssistiveWare
- Learn about AAC by exploring the NWACS website
- AAC Language Lab from PRC-Saltillo
- AAC Devices: Merely the Tip of the Iceberg– There’s More to Good AAC Implementation Than Meets the Eye from Chapel Hill Snippets blog [no longer available]
Link to recording on YouTube: AAC and Early Intervention
Date: March 25, 2021
Links to resources shared:
- Let’s learn Body Parts – Early Intervention Speech-Language Therapy from Communication Station on YouTube (SLP uses signs while teaching body parts 2:55 – 3:10)
- The 15 MOST useful SIGNs for Mealtime – Food – Drinks from Extra Love 21 on YouTube (using signs with a child with Down Syndrome)
- How to Use a Communication Board to Get Your Child Talking from Rachel Madel SLP on YouTube (Rachel Madel explains how to start using a lite-tech core vocabulary board)
- Go Talk 4+ from Understand Me – the Communication Library on YouTube (video describing the GoTalk 4+ mid-tech communication device)
- A Family of Ohs YouTube channel has been discontinued, so the final video shared in the slides is no longer available
References:
- AAC and Early Intervention: Getting Started from PRC-Saltillo on YouTube
- Attainment Company
- PRC-Saltillo
- AbleNet
Related:
- AAC in Early Intervention resource page
- Don’t Wait! Start AAC in Birth to Three blog post
Link to recording on YouTube: AAC Assessment: What to Expect
Date: June 24, 2021
Links to resources shared:
- Communication Matrix
- A Family of Ohs YouTube channel has been discontinued, so the video shared in the slides is no longer available
Related:
- AAC Evaluation category on the NWACS website
- AAC/AT Evaluation Tools resource on the NWACS website
Link to recording on YouTube: Introduction to Core Vocabulary
Date: October 19, 2021
Links to resources shared:
- Introduction to Core Boards from Speech in a Sec on YouTube
- What Are Core Words? Vocabulary to Increase Communication from Rachel Madel on YouTube
- Core word teaching strategies from AssistiveWare
- Project Core
- Explore the core words tag on the NWACS website
- Choosing CORE Vocabulary: “Activity-First” Approach tool from Saltillo
Link to recording on YouTube: Implementing Core With a Partner
Date: November 9, 2021
Links to resources shared:
- The AssistiveWare Core Word Classroom
- SMoRRES – learn more in this guest blog post
- Modeling AAC from Worcestershire Speech and Language Therapy on YouTube
- Aided Language Stimulation Explained from Icpsat on YouTube
- Tar Heel Shared Reader from the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill
- Predictable Chart Writing Module from Project Core
- Core word teaching strategies from AssistiveWare
- Project Core
- Choosing CORE Vocabulary: “Activity-First” Approach tool from Saltillo
- Explore the core words tag on the NWACS website
- Monarch Reader by Building Wings (formerly Tar Heel Reader)
2022 Recordings
NOTE: The NWACS Information Nights For Caregivers in 2022 all centered around the Communication Bill of Rights (NJC). The Communication Bill of Rights was updated in 2024 (to the 3rd Edition). These recordings were based on the 2nd Edition. While the numbers and descriptions of the rights have changed, the information discussed in these recording is all still relevant and applicable. Visit our resource page about the Communication Bill of Rights to learn more.
Topic: Introduction to the Communication Bill of Rights and the right to be social
Link to recording on YouTube: Introduction to the Communication Bill of Rights
Date: January 11, 2022
Links to resources shared:
- NJC Communication Bill of Rights
- Accessible Communication Bill of Rights from Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs (Kate Ahern)
- AAC Fundamentals: The Communication Bill of Rights from AltShift Information on YouTube
Topic: The rights to request, to refuse, and to express preferences and feelings
Link to recording on YouTube: Communication Bill of Rights, Rights 2-4
Date: March 8, 2022
Links to resources shared:
- NJC Communication Bill of Rights
- Accessible Communication Bill of Rights from Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs (Kate Ahern)
- Phrases to Express Negatives activity from AAC Language Lab (by PRC-Saltillo)
- Lesson Plans from AAC Language Lab (by PRC-Saltillo)
- I Do, I Don’t (subscription required to access)
- Let’s Teach Core from Saltillo
- Let’s teach don’t
- Let’s teach not
- Let’s teach worry
- I Feel ___ When… fill-in-the-blank manipulative book from Saltillo
- Implementation resources, materials, and tips from Saltillo
Topic: The rights to make choices, comment and share opinions, and to ask for and give information
Link to recording on YouTube: Communication Bill of Rights, Rights 5-7
Date: May 10, 2022
Links to resources shared:
- NJC Communication Bill of Rights
- CAR shared reading with core vocabulary from The TalklinkTrust on YouTube
Links to apps/items (paid) shared:
- Mini Schedule Board from Pyramid Educational Consultants
- Pictello app from AssistiveWare
- Choiceworks from BeeVisual
- FTVS HD: First Then Visual Schedule HD from Good Karma Applications
- CoPilot app from Goally
Topic: The rights to be informed about people and events, to access interventions and supports, and to have communication act acknowledged and responded to
Link to recording on YouTube: Communication Bill of Rights, Rights 8-10
Date: July 12, 2022
Links to resources shared:
- NJC Communication Bill of Rights
- Support for communication with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) from AssistiveWare
- Learn about AAC by exploring the NWACS website
- Lesson Plans from AAC Language Lab (by PRC-Saltillo)
- Lilly’s AAC Journey from Lillys Voice on YouTube
Topic: The rights to access functioning services and equipment, to access environments and interactions as full communication partners, and to be treated with dignity and addressed with respect and courtesy
Link to recording on YouTube: Communication Bill of Rights, Rights 11-13
Date: September13, 2022
Links to resources shared:
Paper-based back-up communication:
- How to make a communication book from AssistiveWare
- Lite-tech Communication Board Options from Saltillo
- Communication Boards from SmartboxLite-tech Communication Board Options from Saltillo
- [Also check out our Resources for Lite-tech Communication Boards]
Examples of having communication access to participate fully:
- Jamie Dolan speaks before the United Nations using his Nova Chat 8
- Poetry by AAC device user Darryl Porter
Additional resources and references:
- National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons With Severe Disabilities (NJC)
- Support for communication with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) from AssistiveWare
- Learn about AAC by exploring the NWACS website
- AAC Language Lab from PRC-Saltillo
- AAC Devices: Merely the Tip of the Iceberg– There’s More to Good AAC Implementation Than Meets the Eye from Chapel Hill Snippets blog {no longer available]
Topic: The rights to be addressed directly and to have clear, meaningful, and culturally and linguistically appropriate communications
Link to recording on YouTube: Communication Bill of Rights, Rights 14-15
Date: November 8, 2022
Related resources:
- NJC Communication Bill of Rights
- National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons With Severe Disabilities (NJC)
- Support for communication with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) from AssistiveWare
- Learn about AAC by exploring the NWACS website
- AAC Language Lab from PRC-Saltillo
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