Author: Maureen Nevers

  • Speech and Language

    Screenshot of post with large title with two paragraphs of text

    Intermittent, unreliable, insufficient, and expensive speech blog post

    by Assistiveware

    Description

    Blog Page

    Speaking and AAC use – ability, capability and capacity

    by Assistiveware

    Written from the perspective of an AAC user, this post explains how speaking can change based on personal factors. The writer clearly outlines the distinctions between ability, capability, and capacity for speech.

    Blog Post link

    Screenshot of post with large title with three paragraphs of text

  • Vocabulary & Planners

    Core Vocabulary

    video screen with question on the left side over the word "yes" and on the right a student in wheelchair with his arms raised and smiling towards the camera

    Supporting Individual Access to the Universal Core Facilitated Materials

    by Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, Department of Health Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill

    Universal Core Module.

    This module is part of a group and emphasizes the importance of individual core vocabulary systems and gives guidance for determining the format of the display. Facilitator guides and full documentation of the trainings make them perfect for professional development of instructional assistants or others working with these students.

    text with types of videos shown each day, a white woman with glasses and medium dark hair smiling, and a set of electronic devices of colorful symbol grid displays

    Speech Without Limits YouTube Channel

    by Jeanna Antrim

    YouTube Channel

    The Speech without Limits YouTube channel is a great source for ideas about how to use target core vocabulary across the day. Each video is short (about 2 minutes) and focuses on a single core word. You’ll see examples of activities and hear how you can word things differently to incorporate the use of the target word more often..

    Vocabulary Planners

  • Devices and Apps

    Apps and Vendors

    colorful, symmetrical 48 symbols grid with text boxes on the right and message window at the top, light background

    Proloquo

    By  Assistiveware

    Vendor Page

    colorful 45 symbols grid with message window at the top showing text, no background

    Clicker Communicator

    By  Crick Software

    Vendor Page

    mixed color of 60 symbols grid with message window at the top, light background

    Touch Chat with Word Power HD

    by Saltillo

    Vendor Page

    108 small , mostly white background buttons with some yellow on the left, colorful symbols plus text and empty bar at the top

    Speak for Yourself

    Vendor Page

    colorful folders with images and text labels, 15 spaced out with gray background and white bar at the top shows text plus symbol

    Simm PODD

    by Tobii Dynavox

    Vendor Page

    84 symbol grid with groups of colors with message window at the top, light background

    Proloquo2Go

    by Assistiveware

    Vendor Page

    colorful and white 84 symbols in a  grid with message window at the top, no background

    LAMP Words for Life

    by PRC

    Vendor Page

    colorful 45 symbols grid with message window at the top showing text, no background

    CoughDrop

    Vendor Page

    App Features and Selection

    Slide with title What is a Tangible Symbol, one bullet of text with 3 photos underneath. First box shows hand turning a page, a set of dimensional symbols, and cup mounted on flat card.

    What are Tangible Symbols? An Introduction and Discussion of Functional Use Across Settings

    by Emily Macklin, M.S., CCC-SLP at AAC in the Cloud. 2022

    Emily shares clear, comprehensive information about using tangible symbols for communication. She explains what tangible symbols are, describes the range of possible formats, and gives examples of application in real life. This is a solid foundation for teams considering or currently using an object-based AAC system.

    YouTube Video

    Devices and Vendors

    Entry

    by PRC Saltillo

    Description

    Blog Main Page

    Entry

    by Tobii Dynavox

    Description

    Blog Main Page

    Accessories

    Entry

    by X

    Description

    Blog Main Page

  • Goals and Skills

    AAC Goals

    Test form with space for user information at the top and a color-banded chart with skills down the left and ability across the top.

    DAGG-3 Dynamic AAC Goals Grid (2023)

    Tobii Dynavox with Vickie Clark

    The DAGG-3 is the updated version of a goal and intervention guide distributed by the device vendor Tobii-Dynavox. The 21-page tool identifies sets of skills at five different levels of communication.

    This tool can be helpful for thinking of the types of goals that are important to AAC users. The organized, color-coded sections make the complex process a little easier to navigate. The goals need to be individualized but getting some ideas on what to target can be really helpful for SLPs who do not have a lot of experience with writing those types of goals.

    Tobii-Dynavox does require that you sign up to get access to their resources.

    Resource Sign In

    Design to Learn IEP Development Guide

    Charity Rowland, Emily Dayle Quinn, Sandra A. M. Steiner & Gayl Bowser

    This pdf includes 28 questions to use as an IEP quality guide. Specifically, for developing high quality communication-related educational goals for children with complex communication needs.

    IEP Guide

    screenshot of page one of the guide with questions and subquestions

    screenshot of goal framework chart with scale on left, 5 rows, and arrows showing the location of start, middle, and long targets.

    Ready, Set, Goal! 1 and 2

    by PRC Saltillo

    Two videos offer a process for writing meaningful goals for individuals who use AAC. They provide a goal-writing framework, identify assessment tools, and connect to resources. Pathways is a free app from the Saltillo Company that follows the same process and can be a useful reference for developing goals.

    Handout Packet

    Part 1 Video

    IEP Goal Writing Guidance

    AT Lab Community Vision

    Simple but informative handout on the form and content of good AAC IEP goals.  

    Guidance PDF

    screenshot of handout with logo, title, and two bulleted lists

    screenshot of blog post with title in colorful frame, paragraph of text and bulleted section

    PrAACtiCal AAC Goals that Matter

    by PrAACticalAAC blog site

    Includes ideas for qualifiers and goals related to AAC. Over 100 goals are divided into pre-stored messages, combining single words combined, and operational and strategic competence.

    downloadable pdf

    Blog Post

  • Literacy Programs

    Emergent Literacy Programs


    White woman with short dark hair, red glasses, and a lanyard around her next stands in front of a podium with part of a slide projected behind her. Her macbook is open on the lectern and her mouth is open to speak.

    Literacy and Complex Communication Needs: Developing Language

    Website by Jane Farrall

    Video (55mins) on emergent literacy for students with complex needs with an emphasis on writing. Great exposure to more detailed look at the topic from a very knowledgeable source.

    Emergent Literacy Video


    FIve colored bullets with the large labels: Shared Reading, Writing with Adults, Writing From Adults, Writing with Letters and Sounds, and Independent Reading. Emergent Literacy title at the bottom with a graphic of a student holding a book up. Emergent Literacy Instruction written across the bottom.

    Comprehensive Literacy for ALL

    Website by Jane Farrall

    Description

    webpage


    Comprehensive Literacy for All

    Website by Jane Farrall

    Each area of emergent literacy is addressed in detail, with pages with details and resources by a well-known leader in the AAC/literacy world.

    Website

    Comprehensive Literacy for All: Literacy Intervention for ALL our Diverse Students title. An image of a school shape with a book icon in it shows the title A Comprehensive DietBuilding Literacy and Language. The pink top half of this section is above a maroon bottom half with two yellow boxes of text in the bottom section. AAC and Literacy title and Daily Emergent Interventions and Daily Conventional Interventions are titles of the yellow boxes which also include a list of 4 to 6 short phrases.


    Landscape chart with 5 columns and five rows. Each column has a colored header. the second and fourth rows have a short text entry in bold. The third and fifth rows have multiple short text entries and hyperlinks.

    Comprehensive Emergent Literacy Instruction

    E Sheldon

    Grid FIle


    Literacy for All: In conversation with Dr. Caroline Musselwhite

    by Engaging All Learners

    Dr Caroline Musselwhite supports teacher practice in the area of literacy for students with significant support needs. The 11 video clips are all under 3 minutes and each one focuses on a very specific practice related to literacy instruction.

    Good Literacy Instruction for All Students

    Explore and Understand Text

    Symbols and Learning to Read

    Word Wall

    Repetition and Variety

    Building Background Knowledge

    Reinforcement AND Informative Feedback

    Teaching and Testing Questions

    Attributing Meaning

    Engaging Older Students

    Underestimating Potential

    Video Clips

    An image of a caucasian woman with long red hair is partially covered by the youtube red play logo in the upper left corner. The video title is in the upper right followed by a short paragraph of text. The lower left shows a list of titles, each followed by two links.


    blog post with title in colorful frame, Praactical AAC June 21 is at the bottom.

    Accessible Literacy – Emergent Literacy Resources for the AAC-SLP

    by PrAACticalAAC.org

    blog post


    Integrating Comprehensive Literacy Instruction

    by AssistiveWare

    This is a nice balance of a bigger picture of literacy with some important details about what should be part of a comprehensive literacy instruction. They outline the primary elements of both emergent and conventional literacy. The post also emphasizes the role of AAC in the literacy program, so educators can see how instruction can benefit all areas.

    blog post

    The blog title is at the top followed by four short paragraphs of text with some words showing hyperlinks. Near the end the subtitle Emergent vs Conventional Literacy is in bold and followed by a short paragraph.


    Project Core is in caps and bold at the top. A menus is shown horizontally below that. The subtitle Professional Development Modules is written above two adjacent boxes. Both include a title, short amount of text, and an action button.

    Project Core Professional Development

    by Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, Department of Health Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill

    The Project Core focuses on a flexible set of Universal Core vocabulary. The site includes learning modules and materials that show how evidence-based instructional methods are used to teach students to use Core Vocabulary for communication.

    The learning modules are free and include documents and videos on specific topics related to core vocabulary instruction. The modules range from 6 to 22 minutes in length and can be completed as a group with a facilitator or individually.

    • Professional Development Modules link
    • Professional Development Modules handout
    • About Project Core link
    • Link to Teaching Supports and Implementation Resources: link
    • Universal Core options link

    Professional Development Webpage


  • Letters and Writing

    Letters

    Letters and Sounds Activities title with Jane Farral log at the top. Space for identifiers, instructions, and a chart  below. The three column chart lists activities and has two blank columns for writing.

    Teaching the Alphabet with Variety

    by Jane Farrall

    Contains a multi-page “Letters and Sounds Activity Checklist” and “Letters and Sounds Activity Cards”. The checklist has many ideas for how to work on letters with emergent

    Website Page


    index cards with activity described in text on the left half and a picture of the activity, a letter puzzle, on the right. Card is laminated and joined with others in a stack on a ring.

    Writing

  • AAC Instruction

    Ideas for Instruction

    Cartoon graphic of teacher reading to children. Bold title says Using books to build language, followed by text paragraph and core words subtitle

    Practical Ideas for Building Language

    AssistiveWare

    An extremely comprehensive collection of activity ideas to support learning and using vocabulary. Includes core word ideas, ideas for home, and for activities across the day. It is a tremendous resource for ideas that will provide meaningful engagement for AAC users.

    Blog Post

    Handout with short sections of text and bold headings; hyperlinks visible within text; and a science lesson chart about plants show example of activities

    School Year of Core

    by PRC Language Lab

    The series has two levels of monthly vocabulary words along with a comprehensive set of ideas, resources, and materials.  

    SYOC Page

    graphic organizer with different shapes connected to each other with arrows. Lines in each shape for text, two location show 3 vocabulary words already entered.

    Building Language Where do I start?

    by Speak for Yourself

    A detailed graphic organizer to guide the collection of words associated with an activity to support modeling / aided language input. It includes prompt questions that are really helpful for identifying the most meaningful vocabulary across language functions.

    Graphic Organizer


    Core Is All Around

    by Lesson Pix

    Lesson Pix is a website for making visuals for your students. In addition to the paid services they have many materials that are pre-made and available for download. The “Core Is All Around” graphic maps out how core vocabulary can be used across the day in an early childhood setting. Educators can see how they might create maps across different grades to plan for the use of core vocabulary all d

    Core Graphic Organizer

    Bold title, two sets of 3 by 3 bulleted words

    AAC Made Easy

    Vocabulary Lists

    Suggestions for vocabulary to model on an AAC system for nearly 40 activities. Each activity includes ideas for words and phrases to communicate for different functions such as commenting, asking questions, directing others, etc.

    Vocabulary Lists

    Topic word bubbles is in the center spiky circle of the graphic organizier with different related words in the colorfully outlined shapes that surround it.

    Core Vocabulary Activity First

    by PRC / Saltillo

    From Chat Corner resources page, select:

    • “Activities to Teach Core”,
    • “Choosing CORE Vocabulary Activity First Approach”
    • pdf link
    • A single pdf document includes separate pages for each activity entry. Each page is a graphic organizer of a target activity in the center, surrounded by different parts of speech such as: feeling words, questions, recurrence, negate/stop, nouns, describing words, people, and actions. Some activities also include an additional “communication script” handout.

    Saltillo Chat Corner

    Aided Language / Modeling

    Specific Interventions

    post with black title and multiple paragraphs of text

    Communication Partner Skills for AAC Learners

    by from AssistiveWare blog

    Short read of six ways to build communication partner skills: model, comment, pause, appropriate prompts, respond, and accept all forms. Clearly presented overview especially for new partners.

    Blog Main Page

    post with black title and many lines of text

    101 Ways to Use A Sequential Message AAC Device to Access the Curriculum

    by Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs blog

    A handy list of 101 ways that you could use a single-message communication tool/display in various ELA and math classroom activities. Most, if not all, of the ideas could also be applied to more robust devices. Check out the ideas to spark your own creativity and pick a few to try.

    Blog Post

    multiple colorful grids of images, connected to center display with lines

    AAC in the Classroom Handout

    AAC in Class Handout

    blog post with title in decorative frame, paragraph of text and image of an adult printing 'go outside' on a whiteboard with student watching

    Text-Based Aided Language: Making the Literacy-Communication Connection for Children with Autism

    by PrAACtical AAC blog

    This post describes an intervention called “Text-Based Aided Language,” or TAL. It describes how to integrate text into everyday interactions to support communication. The strategy is applied to individuals who have communication challenges who also have strengths in reading/writing.

    Blog Post

    handout with title, paragraph of text, and image of words in different colors, orientations, and sizes creating a word cloud

    What goes into teaching children to answer WH questions?

    by by Alan Schnee, PhD, BCBA-D from Association for Science and Autism

    This post helps explain what is involved in answering WH- questions, and why some of our students may struggle. They go through each wh- word – WHo, Where, Why etc. – and point out the challenges that particular word may present. Really an important read if you want to focus on answering wh- questions to know what is helpful wand what may not be.

    Post

  • Best AAC Resources

    AAC Websites

    screenshot of blog maim page; post titles within colorful boxes, plus author's info and photo

    PrAACticalAAC blog

    by Carole Zangari

    The blog shares information about implementing AAC strategies, provides resources, and discusses news of interest to the AAC community. Carole Zangari, a professor and SLP, oversees the blog and regularly contributes content. The posts are created in a very user-friendly format and with accessible language. A rich tagging system makes it easy to find entries on any topic related to AAC. Most entries include multiple links to additional information. There is a new post daily, a video of the week, and a weekly Link Up post of community entries.

    PrAACticalAAC Main Page

    screenshot of example with decorative image on top half, and narrative text on the bottom.

    PrAACticalAAC Link Up

    by Carole Zangari

    Once a week the PrAACtical AAC site invites readers to share a link to their own AAC-related content, product, etc. Complete the short form with the basic information that you think would be useful to others in the AAC community. Your link will be posted once it is reviewed by the site moderator.

    Link Up Page

    screenshot of handout with title, quote, text, and image of woman pointing

    The AAC Coach

    by Kate McLaughlin

    The AAC Coach website includes over 100 engaging, graphic documents, each with a specific focus related to good AAC practices. The 1-page documents can be posted as a reminder for adults, shared with team members as part of learning about AAC, or used as a guide to instruction and intervention. Sign in is required to access the free resources, which are added to regularly. Some of the materials are also available in Spanish.

    AAC Coach Site

    screenshot of main page with title, menu, and two modules with a title, narrative, and action button.

    Project Core Professional Development

    The Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, Department of Health Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill

    The Project Core modules are a series of videos focused on improving AAC skills of students with high support needs. The modules focus on core vocabulary and range from 6 to 22 minutes in length. Facilitator guides and full documentation of the trainings make them perfect for professional development of instructional assistants or others working with these students.

  • Gestalt Language

    Gestalt Language

    The podcast's logo of title plus image in a circle. Shows a white man with graying beard in business dress, smiling.

    Talking with Tech Podcast Episode 287: Dr. Barry Prizant (Part 1): Echolalia and Gestalt Language Processing

    by Rachel Madel and Chris Bugaj

    This episode focuses on the topic of gestalt language with an interview of one of the authors of the early research in echolalia, Dr Barry Prizant. Dr Prizant shares his view of language acquisition as being on a continuum, and emphasizes the need for individualized approaches. He uses the ASHA definition of evidence-based to support the use of gestalt language interventions as a means to establish a stronger research base.

    Podcast

    Screenshot of page name and menu wtih logo. Chalkboard typeset of phrase "sharing Incredible adventures"

    Communication Development Center

    by Marge Blanc

    One of the most comprehensive sources for all sorts of information on Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) and Gestalt Language Processing (GLP). There are lots of handouts to learn about about characteristics of Gestalt Language Processors and the stages of Natural Language Acquisition.

    Website

    screenshot of blog post title and text with display of sound file of  recorded article.

    Let’s Give Them Something to Gestalt About

    by The Informed SLP

    Review of the research base of the topic of gestalt language processing and the perspective of The Informed SLP research clearinghouse on the topic.

    Post

    Language Sample Instructions

    by Maureen Nevers, M.S. CCC-SLP

    Overview of the process of collecting a language sample for identifying baseline and monitoring NLA progress.

    Download Link Here

    Gestalt Recording Form

    by Maureen Nevers, M.S. CCC-SLP

    Blank form for recording gestalt, what they might mean, and where they were derived from.

    Download Link Here


  • Aided Language / Modeling

    Aided Language Input

    screenshot of video player with colorful grid of images, text and unseen person holding the item and pointing to the screen

    Communication Tips & Strategies: Aided Language Stimulation (ALgS)

    by Autism Association of Western Australia

    Nice two-minute overview of what Aided Language is, how to do it, and why it is important. Shows pictures or recorded images as examples of aided language.

    .

    Universal Core Module

    handout with title, descriptive text, and two decorative images

    Wordless Videos for Modeling Language

    by Dr. Caroline Ramsey Musselwhite

    One-page guidance on how to use wordless videos to promote language and modeling with AAC.

    YouTube Website

    video player with dark background and vocabulary words on the left and a white adult sitting with a young boy looking each other in the eye

    Aided Language Input Project Core PD Module

    by Center for Literacy and Disability Studies
    Department of Health Sciences
    UNC-Chapel Hill

    (18:16) Overview of how to use aided language input strategies to show students what is possible and encourage their use of graphic symbols. Part of a larger set of video training modules aimed at supporting students with communication and emergent literacy..

    Blog Main Page

    text with types of videos shown each day, a white woman with glasses and medium dark hair smiling, and a set of electronic devices of colorful symbol grid displays

    Speech Without Limits

    YouTube Channel created by Jeanna Antrim

    The Speech without Limits YouTube channel is a great source for ideas about how to use target core vocabulary across the day. Each video is short (about 2 minutes) and focuses on a single core word. You’ll see examples of activities and hear how you can word things differently to incorporate the use of the target word more often..

    YouTube Channel

  • The Bridge Assessment

    by Center for Literacy and Disability Studies University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    The Bridge is an early literacy and language assessment framework based on observation and portfolio development/analysis. Several documents including an experimental version of the Bridge Assessment Tool can be downloaded on the linked webpage. 9 page pdf

  • Instructional Practice Briefs

    by PROGRESS Center

    This series of practice briefs highlight six evidence-based, high-leverage practices that research has shown support implementation of high-quality instructional programming for students with and at risk for disabilities regardless of their identified disability category or grade span. 

  • Let’s Give Them Something to Gestalt About

    by The Informed SLP

    Review of the research base of gestalt language processing and professional opinion from The Informed SLP research clearinghouse.

  • Menus

    AAC PLANNING

    This section contains general information about AAC program and documentation.

    • GEMERAL AAC
    • IEPS AND GOALS
    • DATA / PROGRESS MONITORING
    • AAC REFERENCE

    AAC INSTRUCTION

    This section focuses on methods of instruction, specific AAC interventions, and AAC assessment.

    • AAC ASSESSMENT
    • VOCABULARY
    • AAC INTERVENTIONS

    AAC DEVICES

    All topics related to AAC materials, such as devices, software, and materials. The Medicaid device process is included.

    • AAC APPS
    • DEVICE TRIALS / MEDICAID
    • communication SUPPORTS

    AAC AND LITERACY

    These literacy resources are focused on the emergent reader/writer and are appropriate for AAC users.

    • LITERACY INSTRUCTION
    • LITERACY MATERIALS
    • LITERACY ASSESSMENT
    • LITERACY PROGRAMS

    OTHER LINKS

    This section offers additional information about trainings,

    • TRAININGS
    • ITEAM WEBISTE
    • CURRICULUM / INstruction
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • password pages
  • PrAACtical AAC Blog Link Up

    by Carole Zangari

    Once a week the PrAACtical AAC site invites readers to share their own AAC-related content, product new, or anything else you’d like other in the AAC community to know about. There is a blank form on the linked page to provide the necessary information. The site is moderated so the link may not appear right away.

  • PrAACtical AAC Blog

    by Carole Zangari

    The blog shares information about implementing AAC strategies, provides resources, and discusses news of interest to the AAC community. Carole Zangari, a professor and SLP, oversees the blog and regularly contributes content. The posts are created in a very user-friendly format and with accessible language. A rich tagging system makes it easy to find entries on any topic related to AAC. Most entries include multiple links to additional information. There is a new post daily, a video of the week, and a weekly Link Up post of community entries.

  • Device Trials

    VT Medicaid Forms

    Form with multiple fields of questions and blank space or check boxfor answers. State of Vermont emblem and contact information at the top.

    Medicaid SGD Evaluation Form

    by Department of Vermont Health Access

    Required evaluation form for requesting Speech Generating Device to be funded by Vermont Medicaid.

    Evaluation Form

    VT Medicaid Medical Necessity Form

    by Department of Vermont Health Access

    When requesting a speech device from VT Medicaid, the applicant’s Primary Care Physician must complete this form of medical necessity.

    CMN Form

    Application Process Resources

    Data Collection

  • Texts and Materials

    Texts and Text Related

    - [ ] blog post with title in colorful frame, PrAACtical AAC, date, and author listed

    Books for Beginning Readers of Any Age

    by Erin Sheldon on PrAACticalAAC.org

    Blog Post

    Colorful, collection of images of the covers of eight children's books. The top row of 5 has a green label that says Read to Me. The second row has a label that says Audio Book

    Epic Digital Books

    by Epic!

    Access 40,000 read books to read aloud and independently, videos, and quizzes. No cost for educators, monthly or annual subscriptions available for families.

    GetEpic! Website

    A 3 by 4 grid with an image of a PowerPoint book cover in each block. Books have the title, author, star rating, and image. Search bar and filter by topic, reviewed, rating, and language at the top.

    TarHeelReader

    by University of North Carolina

    Website

    Title of article and logo of website.

    Choosing Accessible Grade-Levels Texts for Use in Inclusive Classrooms

    by TIES Center

    Over 100 graphic organizers for all kinds of applications, free to download.

    Graphic Organizers

    Text document of multiple short paragraphs. Along the top (6) and down the right side (3) are symbols for what, talk, turn, look, different, and Oh.

    Core Vocabulary Book Mark

    by Maureen Nevers

    Bookmark File

    Graphic Organizers

    Four part rectangle with a single center square. Labels for a definition, related words, connections and a picture are shown around the center. A second version of the organizer has text boxes with instruction for each box.

    Vocabulary Instruction Materials

    by Maureen Nevers

    Vocabulary Packet

    Tactile Graphic Organizers

    by Perkins School for the Blind

    Instructions for making two types of dimensional graphic organizers: star and a 2-column. The format can be used with different content to make content more hands-on.

    Graphic Organizer Instructions

    Graphic organizer of a timeline. Seven long colored boxes stacked vertically with a large colored arrow icon pointing down ialong the left side of the boxes.

    Graphic Organizers

    by Freeology

    Over 100 graphic organizers for all kinds of applications, free to download.

    Graphic Organizers

    Apps

    Snap Type logo with an iPad image showing a Body Parts app. A line drawing of a woman with text label fields filled in with body parts. A body parts word bank.

    SnapType App

    App Website

    Literacy Materials

    Animated Short Videos for Speech title with three cartoon images on the right side - a boy kneeling with a dog, a large bird with other birds perched on its wings, and a little boy as an astronaut.

    Animated Short Videos for Speech and Language Therapy

    by The Speech Express

    This blog post offers ideas of ways to use videos in therapy to support engagement as well as to address a range of language goals. Ideas for what to say or do to elicit specific skills are provided. A list of suggestions and link to some short videos is included.   

    Website

    Clay shaped as a pizza with a slice cut out like a mouth and a towel with eggs that look like eyes titled Wordless Videos for Inferencing with a paragraph of text introduction.

    10 Absurd Wordless Videos That Teach Describing

    by Speech is Beautiful

    Ten stop-motion videos are shared as tools for using describing words. Aimed at older students (MS, HS), they can provide funny and interesting ways to incorporate describing words into the discussion.

    Prompts and Videos

  • Literacy Assessments

    Literacy Assessment Tools

    Literacy Motivation Profile title with space for student identifiers followed by a 5 column chart titled Reading. Questions in column one are followed by three choices of yes, I don't know, and no for most questions then a space for observations in the last column.

    Literacy Motivation Profile

    by Gretchen Hanser and Rachel Skinner

    Two pages of questions/choices about student’s attitudes, beliefs, experiences, and opinions related to literacy.

    Profile

    All Children Can Read: Literacy Skills Checklist title. Introduction then landscape oriented chart with 10 rows and 5 columns. The first column has short description phrases, followed by spaces to select the column for yes, no, sometimes, or don't know.

    All Children Can Read Literacy Skills Checklist

    by National Center on DeafBlindness

    The checklist describes if/how often specific literacy-related behaviors are observed at home, school or in the community. At the end of each section there is information about where to locate strategies and resources to assist in developing and improving literacy skills.

    NCDB Checklist

    Six column landscape oriented chart with 6 rows. Print skills listed in column one. Each of the other 5 columns has a short text descriptor sentence. The first column is not labeled, then columns 2 and 3 are titled early emerging literacy, the next two are transitional Emerging Literacy and the last one is Early Conventional literacy. The second row shows a point value 1 through 5 for each column of descriptions along with a descriptive word for that level.

    Literacy Rubric

    by Kathy Staugler 2007

    One page rubric of literacy behaviors ranging across early emergent, transitional emergent, and early conventional skills. Areas described include:

    • phonemic awareness
    • concepts of print
    • word recognition
    • fluency
    • comprehension

    To use the rubric, start by engaging the student in story reading and/or reading related activities. Observe student’s behaviors and level of participation. Mark the space in each row that most clearly defines the student’s level of concept understanding. At the end, calculate the total points. You will use this information to determine the level of text to select to help the student move further in their skill and understanding.

    Literacy Rubric

    Interactions with Books title. First column is a list of interaction behaviors each followed by a small sets of bulleted descriptions. Each of the bullets in the six sets of behaviors is followed by three checkboxes which line up with the spaces for dates at the top of each column. A large rectangle with the title Observation Notes takes up the right side of the page.

    Emergent Literacy Behaviours Checklist

    by Literacy for All

    The checklist provides a guide to describe a student’s current behaviors related to literacy. It specifically focuses on emergent literacy skills, going beyond the most basic features to more detailed observations. It can be used periodically throughout the year to monitor progress, inform instruction and document growth. The 10 page document includes one page of items for each of the sections below:

    A. Interactions with Books
    B. Engagement in the Act of Reading
    C. Interactions During Literacy Activities
    D. Engagement in Storytelling
    E. Interactions with Symbols/Print
    F. Drawing/Writing and Representing
    G. Alphabet Knowledge
    H. Phonological Awareness

    Literacy Behaviors Checklist

    The Bridge: Foundations of Reading title at the top of the page of a landscape oriented set of charts. Each chart starts with a fill-in sentence, then the row below gives a short description in each column. The row below that shows the number value for that box. There are three sets of these fill-in response charts on the page.

    The Bridge Assessment

    by Center for Literacy and Disability Studies University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    The Bridge is an early literacy and language assessment framework based on observation and portfolio development/analysis. Several documents including an experimental version of the Bridge Assessment Tool can be downloaded on the linked webpage. 9 page pdf

    Bridge Assessment

    A landscape chart with 9 columns and 5 rows. The first and third row are headings for the row beneath. The other rows have short text description in each box.

    Modified Bridge Assessment

    by Erin Sheldon

    Modified Bridge Assessment

    Vocabulary Score Sheet titled vertical orientation page of three charts. Each chart has a title and 2 columns of lists of words or phrases followed by one or two lines for a short response or mark. There is a space for notes at the bottom.

    The Abecedarian Reading Assessment

    by Sebastian Wren and Jennifer Wells

    The Abecedarian was designed to provide diagnostic information about early reading skills. The 52 page document includes the administration and scoring of items in the sections below:

    • Letter Knowledge
    • Phonological Awareness
    • Phoneme Awareness
    • Alphabetic Principle
    • Vocabulary
    • Decoding

    Reading Assessment

    Literacy Goals

    Opening screen of video with words "Assessing and tracking literacy development in students with Angelman Syndrome". ASF logo is in the middle and the picture of a young girl with red hair covering part of her face and the word mailz typed underneath

    ASF Educational Webinar Series: IEP Goals for Early Literacy Development for Students

    by Angelman Syndrome Foundation

    Description

    YouTube Video

    Literacy Progress Monitoring

    Literacy Program Progress Monitoring Targets title with student and date fields. Column one has short phrases and is titled Reading Measurements. Column two has the question Could this measure be used to show progress in literacy? at the top and space for a written response.

    Book Reading Progress Options

    by Maureen Nevers

    Progress Options File

  • Reading Instruction

    Emergent Literacy Instruction

    Document has title and numbered steps to shared reading process. An image of an open books with speech bubbles with suggestions of comments.

    Shared Reading and Aided Language

    by Maureen Nevers

    Shared Reading File

    7 Key Literacy Strategies title, Shared Reading (emergent) and Guided Reading (Conventional) subtitles with text descriptions

    Integrating Comprehensive Literacy Instruction

    by AssistiveWare

    18 Home Practice Activities for Speech and Language title with a large image of a house and different objects pictured around it.

    18 Home Activities

    by The Speech Express

    Short descriptions of 18 activities to help generalize the use of AAC to the home. Each activity includes a description, goals addressed, and suggested age range. Seems slightly geared towards older students (not preschool) which can be harder to find.

    Website

    Shared Reading withAAC Users Improve Literacy and Language title , Mother and girl looking at a book in photo. Cartoon girl holding up a book

    Shared Reading with AAC Users

    by Life Skills 2 Learn You Tube channel

    Short video with on-screen text presentation of good shared reading strategies.

    Shared Reading Video

    Project Core title with spaced out text subtitles of Shared Reading Module, Description, Learning Outcomes, and Online Self Directed Module

    Shared Reading Module

    by Project Core

    Project Core module that tells and shows how to participate in shared reading for students with complex communication needs who may require AAC.

    Project Core Webpage

    Title: Shared Reading: Its all about the interaction. The Great Eight. Images of books floating around in the background. Lists the eight guiding concepts and short description of each.

    Shared Reading: It’s All About Interaction The Great Eight

    handout by Jane Farrall

    One-page graphic guide to using aided language input during reading.

    PDF

    Symbol Supported Text?

    by AAC Voices Website

    Blog Entry

  • Academics and AAC

    Academics

    youtube video screenshot showing a smoke sentence over two symbols 'it' and 'earth'

    Teaching Communication During Academic Instruction Module

    The Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, Department of Health Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill

    This module focuses on basic methods of teaching communication in the context of academic instruction.

    This module is part of a series of videos focused on improving AAC skills of students with high support needs. The modules focus on core vocabulary and range from 6 to 22 minutes in length. Facilitator guides and full documentation of the trainings make them perfect for professional development of instructional assistants or others working with these students.

    Module

  • AAC Assessment

    Student Assessments

    screenshot of matrix: 8 row and 18 column chart with labels in each cell, some grayed out, some colored, most white with key in upper corner

    The Communication Matrix

    Charity Rowland and DesignToLearn

    The Communication Matrix is an assessment tool designed to pinpoint exactly how an individual is communicating and to provide a framework for determining logical communication goals. It was designed primarily for speech-language pathologists and educators to use to document the expressive communication skills of children who have severe or multiple disabilities who are at the earliest stages of communication. Its concise online format is designed for rapid administration by persons familiar with the assessment, and yields a visual profile of the student’s information.

    Matrix

    screenshot of profile chart with text phrases and 5 options for check boxes on each line

    The Pragmatics Profile of Everyday Communication in Children/Adults

    Dewart, H. and Summers, S.

    • consists of informal interview with an open form of quesitoning
    • focuses on communication in daily life facilitates working with families/caregivers; their insights and knowledge are valued, and they are encouraged to contribute to intervention and to monitoring progress
    • provides a way of establishing a client’s own perceptions, placing value on people’s own insights into their experiences as communicators
    • yields qualitative, descriptive data which can provide an added dimension to other quantitative assessments
    • can help plan intervention that is relevant to everyday communicative need

    .

    Prolfile

    Test form with space for user information at the top and a color-banded chart with skills down the left and ability across the top.

    DAGG-3 Dynamic AAC Goals Grid (2023)

    Tobii Dynavox with Vickie Clark

    The DAGG-3 is the updated version of a goal and intervention guide distributed by the device vendor Tobii-Dynavox. The 21-page tool identifies sets of skills at five different levels of communication. The skills within each section represent the range of AAC abilities known as linguistic, operational, social, and strategic competencies. The student’s abilities are identified from within these sets and potential goals and intervention targets are selected with basic steps for monitoring progress included.

    This tool can be helpful for thinking of the types of goals that are important to AAC users. The organized, color-coded sections make the complex process a little easier to navigate. The goals need to be individualized but getting some ideas on what to target can be really helpful for SLPs who do not have a lot of experience with writing those types of goals.

    Tobii-Dynavox does require that you sign up to get access to their resources.

    DAGG-3

    Device Assessments

    graphic organizer showing title of four resources with a call to action in each

    Assessing Students’ Needs for Assistive Technology

    by Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI)

    The WATI group has a long history of offering quality materials related to assistive technology (AT). The student assessment guide is divided up into chapters that include forms, checklists, and instructions. They provide a comprehensive look at the student across all areas that might be related to AT – sensory, motor, cognitive, communication, and more. The checklist format and details make it a nice tool for looking at the breadth of issues within and across a domain. The AAC section can be used as part of an AAC/AT evaluation.

    WATI Assessment

    Screenshot of rubric; title, introduction, chart with 6-columns of ratings, 4 questions on left side

    RUBRIC for EVALUATING the LANGUAGE of APPS for AAC: RELAAACs

    by Carole Zangari

    This rubric is a user-friendly reference for considering the features of AAC apps as part of a comprehensive evaluation. Fifteen different app features are listed, related to communicative functions and language learning characteristics. The app being considered is rated from 1 (does not support) to 5 (fully supports) for each feature. The levels have a short description along with the number value, making it easier to determine where a particular app would fall. Calculating the total score across all the features is one way to compare apps. Looking at the descriptions associated with the higher ratings is a good reminder what we would expect to see (and use) in a robust communication system.

    RelAACs Rubric

    AAC Finders Checkllist

    by Assistiveware

    text

    Form

    AAC Needs Assessment

    by Tobii Dynavox

    AAC Evaluation Summary

    by Georgia Project for Assistive Technology

    Rubric for Evaluating the Language of Apps for AAC: RELAAACs

    by Robyn Parker and Carole Zangari

    AAC Skills Assessment-R

    by Vickie Clarke

    Link AT’s Choosing A Communication Device: Considerations and Feature Matching

    Feature Match Checklists

    by Scott Marfilius & Kelly Fonner

    UW Health AAC Feature Matching Overview

    by University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

    WATI Assistive Technology Checklist

    by Wisconsin AT Initiative

  • AAC: Ready, Set, Goal! Part 1 and 2

    videos by PRC Language Lab

    Provides a goal-writing framework, assessment tools, and resources to write meaningful goals for individuals who use AAC. Pathways is a free app from Saltillo that follows the same process.

  • School Year of Core Vocabulary Words

    by PRC Language Lab

    The series has two levels of monthly vocabulary words along with a comprehensive set of ideas, resources, and materials.  

  • The AAC Coach

    Website by Kate McLaughlin

    The AAC Coach is a website that is maintained by Kate McLaughlin, an SLP in Connecticut. who specializes in AAC. She has created over 100 graphic documents, each with a specific focus related to AAC practice. The materials can be used as reminder posters on the wall or as a guide to support instruction and intervention.

  • The IRIS Center Resource Locator

    at Vanderbilt University

    The IRIS Center is a national center dedicated to improving education outcomes for all children, especially those with disabilities birth through age twenty-one, through the use of effective evidence-based practices and interventions

  • IEP Tip Sheets

    by PROGRESS Center

    This series of tip sheets introduce key components of the individualized education program (IEP). They include brief summaries of federal regulations, tips for implementation, and resource.

  • PROGRESS Center

    Professional Development Website

    Provides information, resources, tools, and technical assistance services to support local educators and leaders (K through transition age) in developing and implementing high-quality educational programs that ensure students with disabilities have access to free appropriate public education (FAPE) which allows them to make progress and meet challenging goals.

  • Project Core Professional Development

    by Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, Department of Health Sciences, UNC-Chapel Hill

    The Project Core implementation model is aimed at helping teachers provide students with significant cognitive disabilities and complex communication needs with access to a flexible Universal Core vocabulary and evidence-based instruction to teach them to use core vocabulary via personal augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems.

    • Professional Development Modules link
    • Professional Development Modules handout
    • About Project Core link
    • Link to Teaching Supports and Implementation Resources: link
    • Universal Core options link

  • Emergent Literacy Behaviours Checklist

    by Literacy for All

    The checklist provides a guide to describe the student’s current behaviors related to literacy. It can be used several times throughout the year to monitor progress, inform instruction and document growth. The Observation Notes section can be used to record the learning context, observations and reflections. This includes the use of scaffolds, assistive technologies or communication devices that support this student’s access to literacy.

    The 10 page document includes one page of items for each of the sections below:

    • Interactions with Books
    • Engagement in the Act of Reading
    • Interactions During Literacy Activities
    • Engagement in Storytelling
    • Interactions with Symbols/Print
    • Drawing/Writing and Representing
    • Alphabet Knowledge
    • Phonological Awareness
  • Why is Literacy Critical in AAC?

    by Karen Erickson – Director of the Center for Literacy and Disabilities Studies, UNC Chapel Hill.

    Keynote speech for International AAC Conference, 2019. 54:43


  • Shared Reading PD Module

    by Project Core

    Training in how to participate in shared reading for students with complex communication needs who may require aac


  • Tarheelreader

    by University of North Carolina

    Books for beginners of all ages.

  • Epic Digital Books

    by Epic

    Access 40,000 read books to read aloud and independently, videos, and quizzes. No cost for educators.

  • Comprehensive Literacy for All

    website by Jane Farrall

    Different areas of emergent literacy are listed, with links to pages in the site that provide more detail and resources for each:

    • Shared Reading link
    • Writing with Adults link
    • Writing from Adults link
    • Writing by Myself link
    • Working with Letters and Sounds link
    • Independent Reading link
  • Project Core Shared Reading PD Module

    by

    Training in how to participate in shared reading for students with complex communication needs who may require AAC

  • Shared Reading: It’s All About Interaction The Great Eight

    handout by Jane Farrall

    One-page graphic guide to using aided language input during reading.


  • Literacy and Complex Communication Needs: Developing Language

    Video by Jane Farrall

    55:26 View a video on emergent literacy for students with complex needs with an emphasis on writing

  • Language Sample Form and Instructions

    by Maureen Nevers

    by Maureen Nevers, M.S. CCC-SLP

    Overview of the process of collecting a language sample for identifying baseline and monitoring NLA progress.


  • Aided Language Input Project Core Module

    by Center for Literacy and Disability Studies
    Department of Health Sciences
    UNC-Chapel Hill

    (18:16) Overview of how to use aided language input strategies to show students what is possible and encourage their use of graphic symbols. Part of a larger set of video training modules aimed at supporting students with communication and emergent literacy.

    link to PD Module

  • Literacy Motivation Profile

    by Gretchen Hanser and Rachel Skinner

    Two pages of questions/choices about student’s attitudes, beliefs, experiences, and opinions related to literacy.

  • Abecedarian

    by Sebastian Wren and Jennifer Wells

    The 52 page document includes the administration and scoring of items in the sections below:

    • Letter Knowledge
    • Phonological Awareness
    • Phoneme Awareness
    • Alphabetic Principle
    • Vocabulary
    • Decoding
  • Concepts of Print Assessment and Instructional Strategies

    from Michigan Literacy via Reading Rockets

    Two-page chart of concepts, prompts, and responses for eliciting early emergent literacy behaviors with a scoring checklist.

  • All Children Can Read: Literacy Skills Checklist for Children with Combined Hearing and Vision Loss

    by National Center on DeafBlindness

    The checklist describes if/how often specific literacy-related behaviors are observed at home, school or in the community. At the end of each section there is information about where to locate strategies and resources to assist in developing and improving literacy skills.

  • Literacy Rubric

    by Kathy Staugler 2007

    One page rubric of literacy behaviors ranging across early emergent, transitional emergent, and early conventional skills. Areas described include:

    • phonemic awareness
    • concepts of print
    • word recognition
    • fluency
    • comprehension

    To use the rubric, start by engaging the student in story reading and/or reading related activities. Observe student’s behaviors and level of participation. Mark the space in each row that most clearly defines the student’s level of concept understanding. At the end, calculate the total points. You will use this information to determine the level of text to select to help the student move further in their skill and understanding.

  • Communication Partner Skills for AAC Learners

    from AssistiveWare blog

    Short read of six ways to build communication partner skills: model, comment, pause, appropriate prompts, respond, and accept all forms

  • Communication Tips & Strategies: Aided Language Stimulation (ALgS)

    by Autism Association of Western Australia

    2:16 Nice overview of what Aided Language is, how to do it, and why it is important. Shows pictures or recorded images as examples of aided language.

  • Core Vocabulary Activity First

    by PRC / Saltillo

    From Chat Corner resources page, select:

    • Activities to Teach Core”,
    • “Choosing CORE Vocabulary Activity First Approach”
    • pdf link
    • A single pdf document includes separate pages for each activity entry. Each page is a graphic organizer of a target activity in the center, surrounded by different parts of speech such as: feeling words, questions, recurrence, negate/stop, nouns, describing words, people, and actions. Some activities also include an additional “communication script” handout.
  • Building Language: Where Do I Start?

    by Speak for Yourself

    Graphic organizer to collect words associated with an activity for aided language input.

  • Prioritizing GE Curriculum Vocabulary

    by Maureen Nevers, M.S. CCC-SLP Vermont I-Team

    Instructional program outlining the process for identifying descriptive vocabulary related to curriculum content.

  • What are Tangible Symbols? An Introduction and Discussion of Functional Use Across Settings

    by Emily Macklin, M.S., CCC-SLP at AAC in the Cloud. 2022

    Learn what makes a “good” tangible symbol including considerations when making them that I have found to be successful. Demonstrating how this form of AAC can be powerful tool to provide access to AAC, not just in school, but also at home and how they can be used to facilitate and open doors for community interactions.

  • TRAINING

    links to page sections

    Vision and Hearing Assessments

    Motor Skills Assessments

    Communication Skills Assessments

    Adaptive Behavior Assessments

    Literacy Skills Assessments

    Number Skills Assessments

    Other Assessments

    PowerPoint Presentation

    Contacts

    sections

    Literacy Skills Assessments

    adaptive behavior Assessments

    Number Skills Assessments

    source

    Vision and Hearing Assessments

    Adaptive Behavior Assessments

    Other Assessments

    KeyMath-3 DA (KeyMath-3 Diagnostic Assessment)

    KTEA-3 (Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement | Third Edition)

    WJ-IV (Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement| Fourth Edition)

    OWLS-II (Oral and Written Language Scales | Second Edition)

    PPVT-5 (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test | Fifth Edition)

    Sensory Profile 2 (Sensory Profile 2)

    TOWL-4 (Test of Written Language | Fourth Edition)

    Vineland-3 (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales | Third Edition)

    WIAT-4 (Wechsler Individual Achievement Test | Fourth Edition)

    WISC-V (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children | Fifth Edition)

    (CASL-2) Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language, Second Edition

    PowerPoint Presentation

    Contacts

  • My Graphic Organizers

    source

    by Autism Association of Western Australia

    2:16 Nice overview of what Aided Language is, how to do it, and why it is important. Shows pictures or recorded images as examplesof aided language.

    Project Core

    (18:16) Overview of how to use aided language input strategies to show students what is possible and encourage their use of graphic symbols. Part of a larger set of video training modules aimed at supporting students with communication and emergent literacy.

    Maureen Nevers

    Maureen Nevers

    from Speak for Yourself

    description

    source

    PRC Saltillo

    From Chat Corner resources page, select:

    • “Activities to Teach Core”,
    • “Choosing CORE Vocabulary Activity First Approach”
    • pdf link
    • A single pdf document includes separate pages for each activity entry. Each page is a graphic organizer of a target activity in the center, surrounded by different parts of speech such as: feeling words, questions, recurrence, negate/stop, nouns, describing words, people, and actions. Some activities also include an additional “communication script” handout.

    from AssistiveWare blog

    Short read of six ways to build communication partner skills: model, comment, pause, appropriate prompts, respond, and accept all forms