FREE Special Ed Conference, South Pasadena (3/1/14)

While not an AAC event, per se, the 3rd annual South Pasadena Special Needs Conference is free half day of sessions and vendors that is open to the public of parents, professionals, and carers thirsty for information...

Click HERE for specifics

FREE webinar from Texthelp, Inc. (2/6/14)

Via Closing the Gap:

"Gone Google? Accessibility Tools for Struggling Readers and Writers"

SPONSORED WEBINAR By Texthelp, Inc.
Participate FREE OF CHARGE

Thursday, February 6, 2014
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Central Standard Time

Millions of students use Google Apps for Education to create, consume and collaborate on information every day. However, many of these students, including struggling readers and writers, students with learning disabilities and English Language Learners, do not have the supports they need when working within the Google Apps environment. Attendees at this webinar will learn how Texthelp’s cloud-based Google accessibility tools can help overcome this barrier by integrating support tools, such as text-to-speech, word prediction, text and picture dictionaries, study skills and more. These supports help to make common file types, such as Google Docs, PDF, ePub, KES and the Web, accessible through the Google Chrome Web browser on PCs, Macs and Chromebooks.

For those looking for a more traditional approach, the presenter will also discuss Texthelp’s desktop offering, Read&Write Gold, and the supports it provides for Chrome and Google Docs directly from the Read&Write Gold toolbar.

Both of these innovative solutions for Google allow students with reading difficulties to have access to the same content as others on a wide range of devices at home, school or anywhere they are needed. This webinar is a must for anyone using Google in their school/district/college.

JASON CARROLL, Product Marketing Manager  for North America, Texthelp, Inc.

$0.00Participants must first “order” this webinar and will then receive a follow-up email with registration and log-in details.

Participation in this FREE, sponsored webinar is limited to the first 100 log-ins.

Questions? Please contact Webinar Coordinator, Becky Hagen

Free! Assistive Technology 101 Workshop, Alhambra, CA (2/20/14)

Assistive Technology 101

DATE: February 20th, 2014 (Same workshop from 2012)

TIME: 8:00am – 8:30am (Registration)

8:30am – 3:00pm (Workshop)

REGISTER here!

AT? AAC? Technology? Have you heard these abbreviations or words but aren’t quite sure what they 

mean, where to start, or what to do? This workshop will provide an overview of Assistive Technology

/ Alternate Augmentative Communication, the assessment process, and tool selection. Information 

and resources will be provided for those who wish to learn more about implementing specific 

interventions discussed in the training.

SKILL LEVEL: Beginning , Intermediate AUDIENCE: Classroom teachers, administrators, and other direct service providers from Private Schools, Public Schools and Non – Public Schools PRESENTER: Jenn Park, WSGV SELPA Program Specialist LOCATION: WSGV SELPA Office - 15 West Alhambra Rd, Alhambra, CA 91801 (entrance to building is on Garfield Ave) COST: Free!

Webinar from VanTatenhove (2/20, 12:30 p.m.)

Webinar Title:  Making Activity-Based Instruction Count with Core Vocabulary 

Speaker(s): Gail Van Tatenhove, President, AACell, Inc.

Webinar Type: Live Broadcast

Webinar Code: AT14-WEB05-LB
Live Webinar Date/Time: Thursday, February 20, 2014 3:30 - 5:00 PM (Note: All times are Eastern Time Zone)
Webinar Fee:  $49.00

---

Overview: When someone says “‘it counts,” it means something has value and importance. “It” makes a difference and matters. When a person says “make it count,” they usually mean that whatever they are doing or experiencing, they are going to make the most of the opportunity. They want to make the experience meaningful. This webinar takes these two ideas to remind participants of how valuable and important it is to give people access to core vocabulary. By giving them core vocabulary and then teaching them to use core words, it counts because it makes an important difference in that person’s communication skills and ultimately their life. This webinar demonstrates how to make the most of the different activities that are part of special education programs and make them count by using these activities as opportunities to practice use of core vocabulary. A four-step process will be discussed for providing access to core, selecting activities, establishing communication goals, and scripting the activities. Videos will be used to demonstrate use of core in activities. Additional ideas will be presented for integrated core into additional classroom routines (e.g., choice making, social etiquette, etc.).

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to list 3 criteria for selecting an activity as a platform for teaching and reinforcing use of core vocabulary.

Participants will be able to develop a simple script for an activity that promotes use of core vocabulary in generative language.

Participants will be able to describe strategies for replacing the use of specific nouns with descriptive core vocabulary during activities.

Participants will be able to de-construct a social script into it's core vocabulary parts in order to encourage use of generative language with core vocabulary.

JOBS! AT Specialist, Temple Univ

Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist - Temple University Institute on Disabilities

Philadelphia, PA

The Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist will serve as Consumer Educator and statewide coordinator of Consumer Education and Outreach for the Telecommunication Device Distribution Program (TDDP), conducting program outreach at regional and statewide events such as expos, exhibits and conferences and developing and implementing various strategies to increase public awareness regarding the program. The AT Specialist will provide AT-related supports to individuals with disabilities of all ages and their families in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region in the use of a wide variety of assistive technology devices for telecommunication, computer access, activities of daily living, and communication. The AT Specialist addresses the needs of individuals of all ages with sensory, physical, and intellectual disabilities in a variety of settings (e.g. employment, education, community living) through device demonstrations, AT trainings, and presentations; completes all necessary reports, meets established deadlines, and assists with compiling reports from subcontractors for state and federal reporting.

Interested parties should apply online athttp://www.temple.edu/hr/departments/employment/jobs_within.htm referencing requisition: TU-17335

You  may also contact amy.goldman@temple.edu for more information

Research: Seeking Adults Using AAC

From ASHA Community's SIG 12 AAC message board:

My name is Kristen Muller and I am a master's speech-language pathology student at the University of Kansas. I am conducting a survey research study that explores employment and employment-related barriers for adults who use AAC. The main objective of this study is to gain information that can be used to increase employment rates for adults who use AAC. This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at the University of Kansas.

I would greatly appreciate if members of SIG 12 could send my survey to adults who are employed and use AAC. If you have any further questions about my study please e-mail me at kmuller2@kumc.edu or call me at 501-517-0393.

Here is a link to my survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AACandEmployment

Thank you!

-------------------------------------------
Kristen Muller
Overland Park, KS

FREE webinars - Growing Language, AAC Evals (from PRC)

Mark your calendars and clear your schedules for these upcoming FREE professional Development webinars from PRC!

Ten Tips to Help Grow Language January 14, 2014 - 11:00am to 12:30pm (Pacific Time)

February 13, 2014 - 9:00am to 10:30am (Pacific Time)

AAC Evaluations: Painting a Successful Submission January 28, 2014 - 8:00am to 9:00am (Pacific Time)

February 12, 2014 - 11:00am to 12:00pm (Pacific Time)