In this interview episode, Sarah Gregory shares all about school age AAC - including how to write goals, how to get team buy in and what makes for successful intervention sessions.
Time Stamps
0:00 Introduction
5:00 Impostor Syndrome and AAC
6:42 Lightning Round
12:57 School Age AAC - Where do you start?
15:39 Getting buy in from the team (parents, families, teachers)
19:41 Common classroom challenges for AAC
31:00 How does my student get a device?
34:59 Writing Goals for AAC
49:22 Examples of interventions with younger learners
52:07 Examples of interventions with older learners
54:22 Recap & Wrapping up with a story
58:07 Where to connect with Sarah Gregory SLP
Quotes from Sarah Gregory:
“The more I share out, the more I get back.”
“Sometimes we feel like we are fumbling through it, and that’s OK.”
“AAC is not the only thing going on in the family dynamic.”
“I like to put ‘provided language input’ throughout the IEP so the responsibility is on all the adults working with the child with AAC.”
“It’s never too early and never too late for AAC.”
Other Quote:
“It’s only communication if we are being told something we don’t already know.” Erin Sheldon
Book recommendations:
Little Weirds by Jenny Slate
Better Conversations by Jim Knight
Comprehensive Literacy for All
Suggested:
What’s your easiest time of day? Pick one time to model AAC and talk about it the next time you meet.
For kids who get dysregulated - when are they regulated? Sometimes you do intervention on the treadmill or on the swing.Acknowledge what kids are saying, even if you can’t honor it (For example: a student doesn’t want to go on a fire drill - we have to go - do you want me to jump you or squeeze your shoulders as we go?)
Goals - try goals on repairing communication breakdowns, writing goals for commenting, do observations and take language samples to determine what’s next
Follow a kid’s lead - they will show you what they are interested in
As much as possible - pull in gross motor and sensory activities
When is your child laughing and having fun? Incorporate AAC then!
What is your child interested in? Incorporate AAC then!
Use Google Slides and/or Canva to make activities focused on what student’s like
Focus first on engagement and relationship, and second on targeting the skills
Resources:
OMazing Kids: How can I get free AAC apps to trial for my students?
How to get Dynamic Display Devices on your Computer Sarah Gregory YouTube
Dynamic AAC Grid Tobii Dynovox
Karen Erickson Literacy YouTube
Boom Decks on Early Developing Sounds https://bit.ly/3rRjUl8