Blog: Let's Talk AAC

If you haven't been keeping up with Let's Talk AAC (the blog from PRC's AAC Language Lab), it might be time to follow! There are weekly posts, but be forewarned, some of the content requires a subscription to the Language Lab ($84 for a year, review to come).

Here are some of the categories for posts. 

• Stories and Strategies for Success - PRC Consultants and other AAC Professionals share stories of strategies and success.
• Communicators in Action - PRC Ambassadors are real people who share their stories of everyday life as a person using AAC.
• Making AAC Work - Jane Odom offers tips and suggestions for implementing AAC.
• What’s New - Find out what is new on the Language Lab website.
• Link the Let's Talk AAC, HERE. 

JOBS! Fort Collins, CO

Full Time Speech-Language Pathologist with specialty in AAC!
This a home based position based in Fort Collins, CO.  

As a Speech-Language Pathologist you will be part of a talented multidisciplinary team working with children and families to deliver individualized therapy services in their homes to children with varying disabilities. 

Qualifications:
• Licensed by the State of Colorado as an Speech-Language Pathologist (or be eligible upon completion of CF)
• ASHA CCC or highly qualified CF
• Ability to work within a team
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Preference will be given to applicants with the following
   - Knowledge and experience working with children with autism & related disorders
   - Knowledge and experience working with augmentative communication
   - Passion and commitment for working with children and their families

Contact:BrandiLynn Greig
Inspiring Talkers
www.inspiringtalkers.com
720-378-6670
brandilynngreig@inspiringtalkers.com

JOBS! Part-Time AAC position at Shriner's Portland

Shriners Hospitals for Children- Portland is seeking a part-time (0.8 FTE, 30 hours per week) Speech Language Pathologist.   Master Degree in Speech Pathology, Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech- Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), current Oregon Speech Therapy license, CPR certification, and previous experience in pediatrics, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), articulation and early language acquisition is required.  Knowledge of cleft lip and palate and pediatric feeding is preferred. Must enjoy providing individual therapy in a supportive team setting.

To apply, contact: Kelly Cook, MBA

Human Resources Specialist

Shriners Hospitals for Children - Portland

3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Road Portland, Oregon 97239

Phone: 503-221-3428 | Fax: 503-944-1175 | Email:kncook@shrinenet.org |

FREE Webinar Wed, 5/28: AAC Treatment and Data Collection

Wednesday, 05/28/2014
AAC Treatment and Data Collection
Many of the applications and software programs currently utilized for communication highlight and/or combine numerous linguistic features. But, what works optimally for your student/client/patient: common or core vocabulary (icons and/or text); spelling (letter-by-letter and/or with abbreviations); OR combinations of character/word/phrase and/or grammar prediction, which is static or dynamic and can be based on factors such as frequency or recency?

• Time: 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM CDT
• Presenter: Patricia R. Ourand, MS, CCC-SLP
• Level: Beginner

iPad Mini Giveaway from AMDi

AMDi is looking to expand our social media audience to help as many people in the special needs community that we can. We set a goal of 2,000 likes on our Facebook page. Every person that "likes" us on Facebook will be automatically entered into a drawing for an iAdapter^™Mini with an iPad^® mini!  As soon as we reach 2,000 likes, we will pick a winner!

Click to go to our Facebook Page

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Spring Quarterly Meeting - Tomorrow, Submit your Questions

"Ask an Expert: AAC Assessment" is the topic of our Spring SoCal AAC Network meeting tomorrow (Tues, 5/20, 6:30 p.m. in Pasadena, FREE as always).

Topics might include anything from Assessment... 

• Guidelines
• Procedures
• Team Members
• Protocols
• Templates
• Activities
• Timelines
• System/Device Selection
• Non-spoken Language Assessment

...and whatever else you want to talk about!

Here are some initial questions: (but we want to hear from you, too!)

• How should I prepare candidates for an AAC evaluation? What should parents do? What should teachers do? What can the speech therapist do? to help the candidate shine when the evaluator comes calling.
• What models/timelines/flowcharts have you seen for the referral process? In school districts, private clinics, through regional center, in hospitals...
• What models/timelines/flowcharts do you use for your assessment activities(both indirect and direct)?
• What can SLPs, SLPAs, and teachers do today to get more AAC into the hands of students that could benefit?

Submit your burning AAC Assessment questions for our experts one of two ways:
1 - Confidentially via email to socalaacnetwork@gmail.com, enter "Expert" in the subject line 
2 - Facebook Message to SoCal AAC

We certainly won't have easy answers or all the answers, but it's bound to be a great discussion.

Join us! And please send your RSVP reply to socalaacnetwork@gmail.com.

Where:   2116 E. Villa Street, Pasadena, CA

When:    Tuesday, May 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Who:      Bring yourself, your curiosity, and a colleague!

Free WEBINAR & HANDOUT Online - AAC Generalization (Musselwhite)

This link will remain active for one month.

RPM-GO WEBINAR

The accompanying handout is attached below:

RPM-GO Handout

THANKS CAROLINE!!!

Re-Post: 10 Cool AAC Things to Do for Better Speech & Hearing Month

LINK to PrAACticalAAC.org

Visit the PrAACtical AAC Blog and try some of Robin Parker's great activities this month! May is Better Speech & Hearing Month every year. Make this May extra great - COMMUNICATE!!

Kids App for Core Words

The Minspeak E-Newsletter and Jeremy Legaspi (the-speechguy.com) have endorsed this app, and I do to! One-, two-, and three-word phrases are fun to produce with the cheerful graphics and actions built into Let's Make Friends - Play Toy, as it is called in the app store (others have called it "Pocket Playground" but that will get you nowhere in the app store). The FREE Lite version gives you two characters (and a bonus penguin) to play on 3 playground attractions. The full version adds 7 more ways to play.

Below are some examples of phrases you can "say" (in whatever way you do that) while playing the app - the characters are nonverbal themselves.

LINK to the-speechguy.com's review

AAC Tech Connect - DISCOUNTS!

In honor of Better Speech and Hearing month, Let us help you make the "Best Choice for the Best AAC Voice!" AAC TechConnect can help you with your augmentative communication (AAC) needs . . . and we have 2 resources to assist you  . . . 1) Sort through and find the best AAC App or AAC Device  with our online clinical tools  on S A LE    for 50% off ! 2)  Purchase one of ACES Evaluation Toolkits to assist you in your AAC evalutions for up to 10% off !   Get BOTH resources get started with effective and efficient AAC assessments! 1) Do you need help sorting thru AAC Apps and/or deciding on the right AAC Device?   Try our AAC Apps Assistant & AAC Device Assistant Bundle.  Choose what features you need in an App or Device and we sort through the options and give them to you in a side-by-side comparison!  For info, go tohttp://aactechconnect.com/?page_id=1945   HURRY and purchase now and you will enjoy the new upgrades coming .  . .    50% OFF ONLY THROUGH 6 / 30 / 2014 AAC Apps Assistant and AAC Device Assistant Bundle for only $30 / year for a single user* & $83 / year for up to 10 users* (* prices slightly higher if Purchase Order is used) Use code AADA50%off  . . . Click here for ordering info  AND  2) Do you need help with your AAC Evaluations so you can decide which communication tool / App / Device you may need?  Rollback pricing available! Go to www.aacTechConnect.com/ACESdiscount    Try our ACES Evaluation Toolkit! We have an ACES  Low-Lite Tech Toolkit that has 25 communication tools  needed for your evaluation  (5% off thru 6/30/2014. . . cost )  & the ACES High-Tech Toolkit that is a convertible laptop loaded with valuable resources to assist in your evaluations for dynamic display devices and Apps (10% off -  hurry limited availability . . . cost) &   get the ACES Evaluation Toolkit Bundle (10% off thru 6/30/2014) and all includes online training  & a notebook of materials activities & ideas Let us know how we can help! Contact information below . .  .

AAC TechConnect, Inc. 866.4u.AAC.RX (866.482.2279) info@aactechconnect.com www.aactechconnect.com

ASHA Online Conference - Severe Disabilities, June 11-23

Online Conference | June 11-23, 2014

People with severe disabilities face complex communication issues, which are best met with integrated, collaborative services. After attending this conference, led by Billy T. Ogletree, PhD, CCC-SLP, you'll possess a broader context for serving this unique client while being more prepared to be an integral part of an interprofessional circle of care.

Join us for this online conference; it will help you provide team-based services that lead to the greatest and most socially valid therapeutic gains for individuals with severe disabilities.

After attending, you'll get:

• Take-away solutions to communication-related and other everyday problems
• Collaborative solutions to working with people with severe disabilities
• Communication-based practices within broader interprofessional contexts
• An overview of research and practice issues specific to communication impairment in this population

Take a look at the handpicked courses and the speakers* who are passionateabout serving this unique population. Then, sign up and take advantage of our early bird rate.

*Conference Faculty:

Susan M. Bashinski, EdD

Susan M. Bruce, PhD

Karena Cooper-Duffy, PhD

Kerri Eaker

Karen Erickson, PhD

Howard Goldstein, PhD, CCC-SLP

Judy Lariviere, MEd, OTR/L

Beth Mineo, PhD, CCC-SLP

Sally Norton-Darr, MS, CCC-SLP

Billy T. Ogletree, PhD, CCC-SLP

Judith Schoonover, MEd, OTR/L, ATP

Lorraine Sylvester, PhD, PT

Carole Zangari, PhD, CCC-SLP

JOBS! PRC SoCal Consultant needed

Margaret Perkins, our Southern California Consultant, has notified us of her decision to leave PRC to become a private clinician serving people who need support in the San Diego area. Margaret plans to leave PRC in mid-July 2014.

Margaret has provided superior service to those who have needed her, and has done an outstanding job representing PRC. We will miss Margaret and wish her all the very best as she begins this new phase of her career.

Due to Margaret’s upcoming departure in July, we are seeking a full-time replacement for her position in the Southern California area. A job description which includes skills and education requirements is posted on our website www.prentrom.com. If you are interested in applying for this position, please email your resume (including salary requirements) to humanresources@prentrom.com.

As the territory is transitioned, please know that PRC recognizes that you are a large supporter not only of AAC, but also PRC AAC devices and the Unity® language program.  PRC is very focused on continuing to provide excellent support and service to our clients and their long term success with our AAC devices.

Interested in learning more about our AAC solutions?  Visit our website at prentrom.com for information on products, funding, training and other support services.  Also, be sure to visit the popularAAC Language Lab, your online resource for teaching language.

Thank you.  We look forward to continuing to work with you.

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