Minspeak E-Newsletter, Issue 49

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Send to Friend May 15, 2012 Pixon Teaching Tip: Many children with emerging language confuse the ideas of “asking” vs. “telling,” making it challenging to help them learn how to ask questions of others. To help them learn about “asking,” create a simple, laminated paper prop, such as a 6 x 8 Prompt Card with the Pixons for “ask” and “question.” When the person has a question to ask, write the question on the back of the Prompt Card using a dry-erase marker and have him/her hand the other person the card. The person answers the question. Then asks the same question as he/she hands the card back to the student. This type of picture exchange may help the person understand his/her role in the question asking process, while learning the Pixon picture. Intervention Planning: Create communication opportunities this week to encourage your person using Minspeak to ask questions. Select 1 or 2 things you will do this week (e.g., change your routine, create barriers, use sabotage, etc.) and use them in your daily routine, providing repetition with variety. Encourage question asking through modeling, environmental cues, and specific prompts. If necessary, create a simple script for what you will do. Teaching Materials Exchange: Celebrate Memorial Day with a book that asks 6 questions about this holiday. This books is coded with Pixons and icon sequences from Unity®45, Unity®60, Unity®84, and Unity®144. Pittsburgh Language Seminar Series: Check your calendars to see whether or not you can attend one of the upcoming seminar series. June 19-21 will feature presentations by Seminar Alumni with topics including specific implementation strategies and ideas for families, teachers, therapists and individuals using Minspeak. There will be no seminars in July and August, but they start up again in September. September’s seminar (11th-13th), will feature Caroline Musselwhite as the guest speaker. All of these seminars are provided free of charge, with meals and lodging provided. To register, contact Renee McGough immediately at 412-885-8541 x105 or email her at rmcgough@minspeak.com. Announcements: Don’t forget to register for the ISAAC conference!       Benefits of Minspeak Using multi-meaning icons. The power of motor automaticity. Use of Minspeak Minspeak systems with different disabilities. Minspeak and cultural-linguistic diversity. The Power of Minspeak Minspeak, language and literacy development. Using Minspeak in the classroom. Support of Minspeak Strategies to support use of Minspeak. Minspeak teaching materials. Visit us online www.minspeak.com © Semantic Compaction Systems 2009 1000 Killarney Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15234, USA. Tel. 412.885.8541 Fax 412.885.8548 This message was intended for: gmeier@villaesperanzaservices.org Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails. Unsubscribe

SCAAC-N Quarterly Meeting - Tuesday, 5/15/12

Join us next Tuesday, May 15, from 6:30-8:30 as Kara Bidstrup, MA, SLP (Prentke Romich Co.) presents:

From “eat cookies” to Asking Questions:  Getting beyond simple requesting through AAC language therapy

FREE! as always. Bring a colleague. Forward this email.

Some topics Kara will cover:

What am I going to do to help an individual who uses AAC expand function and use of language?
     Motivate

Identify other functions of communication

Thoughtful selection of…

§  Vocabulary

§  Language targets … that promote expansion of communicative functions

Expose to other functions of communication

§  Expression – AAC user saying something on the talker

·      Exploration

·      Direct instruction

§  Reception – input from communication partner 

·      Model

·      Recasts and expansions

·      Increase number of opportunities

On going assessment

Where: Villa Esperanza Services, Braun Conference Center
2116 E. Villa Street, Pasadena, CA 91107
Brick building on the corner of Villa and Craig
Ample street parking

When: Tuesday, May 15, 2012
6:30-8:30 p.m.

Agenda
6:30-6:45 Networking, snacks & beverages
6:45-8:30 Presentation

AAC 101 Webinar (YouTube, 1 hour)

This webinar will provide a broad overview of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). The topics will include communication basics, AAC terminology/ concepts and a brief overview of intervention models.

Presented by Karen Coulter, Ph.D, CCC-SLP, A.T.P. Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center, University of Louisville

Jobs! Children's Hospital Colorado (Outpatient)

Fulltime position for an AAC specialist to work at Children's Hospital Colorado in our outpatient clinics located in Parker and Colorado Springs.
Ability to perform essential functions of the job including strong pediatric diagnostic and treatment experience with a variety of disorders and etiologies. Specific knowledge of and clinical experience with neurological based disorders, syndromes, language learning disabilities, multiple handicapping conditions and cognitive rehabilitation preferred. Use of a multidisiplinary, family centered approach needed. Will not consider clinical fellows for this position
 M.A./ M.S in Speech Language Pathology from an ASHA accredited University program.
Please contact:
Kim Lich, Manager Speech Language Pathology
Phone (720)777-6023
Kim.Lich@childrenscolorado.org

-------------------------------------------
Lisa Nobel Martin
Denver CO

Medical AAC Workshop (New Britain, CT)

Augmentative Communication Tools & Resources for Medical Settings

New Britain, Connecticut Location: Hospital for Special Care 2150 Corbin Avenue New Britain, CT. 06053 Saturday, June 16th, 2012 (8.00am-3.30pm) Hosted By:

Workshops

CONTENT :  Learn how to meet the communication needs for patients requiring augmentative and alternative (AAC) communication throughout the continuum of care.
New Joint Commission standards, as of July 2012, require AAC resources to be provided in hospitals to facilitate “two-way communication between the patient and . . .
providers in a manner that meets the patient’s needs.”
This workshop will:

• Provide “roadmaps” for evaluation & treatment for persons
  with limited verbal communication (including forms/templates).
• Review lists & demonstrate toolkit items to use which are low-cost and easy to acquire including no-tech, lite-tech, and high-tech options.
• Introduce options to meet the new Joint Commission standards.
• Discuss options and differences of services for acute
  care, rehab, long-term care, home-based and outpatient settings.
• Discuss options for use of new mobile options.

COST:
$135 early registration (by June 1, 2012)
$145  (after June 1, 2012)

ISAAC 2012 - Pittsburgh (Early Bird thru 4/30!)

Thanks for the heads up, PRC!

The AAC event of the year. Largest AAC conference in the world. First time in the United States in eight years. Innovative new strand for people who use AAC. Workshops, AAC Camp, presentations, and research symposium.

Earlybird registration rate ends April 30, 2012.

Los Angeles AT Collaborative - Announcements from April 2012

Lauren Wetzler (ATEC) shared the following AT resources, announcements, and events from the April 2012 Los Angeles AT Collaborative meeting:

·        Foothill SELPA CAC Conference – Saturday, April 28^th 8-12 p.m.

http://www.foothillselpa.org/community-advisory-committee-cac/events-2

(See next post)
·        So Cal AAC Network Quarterly Meeting – May 15^th 630-830 p.m.

Contact: Gwendolyn Meier (Villa Esperanza) socalaacnetwork@gmail.com

·        Disability Capital Action Day – Wednesday, May 30^th

Contact: Rosemarie Punzalan (CFILC/ATN) rosemarie@cfilc.org

·        First Annual EmpowerTech Golf Tournament – Sunday, July 15^th

Contact: Joan Anderson, 310-338-1597 ex. 305

·        AT Network – http://www.atnet.org

·        CA AT Reuse Coalition (CATRC) – The CATRC represents a collaboration of diverse organizations that are interested in or directly involved in the re-use process. The CATRC is open to any organization or individual that engages in re-use. It is supported by the AT Network, a project of DOR and the CA Foundation for Independent Living Centers. For more information on the CATRC, please contact Shannon Coe at shannon@cfilc.org.