Talking With Tech AAC Podcast

AAC Agreements: Universal Principles for AAC Intervention

Join Chris, Rachel and Lucas this week for a discussion of universal principles in AAC intervention - in other words, what do we all agree on, and why? Then Chris sits down with Shaun Pearson and Chris Chichoskikelly to talk about the "AAC Agreements," which continues along the same theme in more detail and highlights the opinions of clinicians and researchers from the Assistive Technology Industry Association conferences in 2016 and 2018.
Shaun is a Speech-Language Pathologist, trained at McGill University in Montreal and now practicing in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He currently works as an Assistive Technology Specialist supporting students with complex communication needs ages 5-21. Shaun believes his primary focus is to foster relationships and build capacity with others therapists, teachers, classroom staffs, and families.
We'd love to hear your feedback and opinions! Come join us on Facebook, email us at tech@speechscience.org, or @talkingwithtech on Instagram or Twitter. Like what we do at Talking With Tech? Take a moment to leave us a review on iTunes as that helps others find us!

Roundtable: Modeling

After many requests to cover modeling in more detail, for the second time ever Talking With Tech is interview-free this week so that we can take a deep dive into the who, what, where, when, and why of modeling in Augmentative/Alternative Communication. We'd love to hear your feedback and your strategies! Come join us on Facebook, email us at tech@speechscience.org, or @talkingwithtech on Instagram or Twitter.
Like what we do at Talking With Tech? Take a moment to leave us a review on iTunes as that helps others find us!
Referenced during the episode: AAC Modeling Intervention Research Review - Samuel C. Sennott, Janice C. Light, and David McNaughton -102 Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities 41(2)

WPS: Assessment Considerations for AAC and Assessment Authorship

This week members of the team from Western Psychological Services (WPS), creators of the Arizona, CASL, and more, join Rachel and Lucas to talk about assessment authorship and the assessment process generally. Meanwhile, Chris, Rachel, and Lucas discuss specific considerations for AAC users, including using materials otherwise not normed for your student population for informal assessment and progress monitoring.
For more on WPS visit https://www.wpspublish.com! Like what we do? We appreciate any gesture via http://patreon.speechscience.org - and please take a moment to leave us a review on iTunes as that helps others to find us!

Eva Sweeney: Consultant for ABC's Speechless, Author, Activist, AAC User

In this episode Eva Sweeney, filmmaker and consultant for ABC's Speechless - as well as author, activist, AAC user, and overall dynamo - talks with Rachel and Lucas about her AAC device, the importance of aides (and giving them breaks), her work as an activist on sexuality in the disability community, and more. Meanwhile, Lucas briefly flies solo to talk about the importance of a whole-person approach to AAC assessment and intervention - and our work generally.
For more on Eva, check out Speechless (obviously) and follow her on twitter at @disboi. 
Like what we do at Talking With Tech? Take a moment to leave us an iTunes review - it helps others find the information we share - and join our Facebook group (or page) to chime in on the conversation! We'd also love to hear your comments and questions at tech@speechscience.org, and appreciate any gesture via patreon.speechscience.org.

Leanna Fox: Professional Development and AAC in Australia

In this week's show Chris sits down with Leanna Fox, a Speech-Language Pathologist based out of Sydney who works as a consultant with Liberator, the Australian arm of the Prentke Romich Company, as well as other settings. The discuss international work (she's previously also practiced in Ireland and New South Wales), funding in Australia and the local AAC community, and the need for constant professional development due to the rapidly changing nature of the field.
Meanwhile, Lucas, Rachel, and Chris discuss options for professional education ranging from websites to conferences to individual resources and blogs - and, of course, the upcoming ISAAC conference, which just happens to be in Australia.
Like what we do here at Talking With Tech? We appreciate any small donation to help keep the lights on via Patreon! Also, follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @talkingwithtech or our Facebook page and group, where we will link many of the resources discussed! We'd love to hear any questions or feedback as well at tech@speechscience.org, and please take a moment to give us an iTunes review as it helps others find us.
Talk to you next week!

Vicki Clarke: Tips on Making Clinical Decisions in AAC Assessment

In this episode Vicki Clarke of Dynamic Therapy Associates and @AACchicks joins us to share advice and talk through clinical considerations related to AAC assessment and selection of a communication system. Meanwhile, Lucas and Rachel discuss the ethical considerations - and potential advantages - related to cultivating vendor relationships.
For more from Vicki, follow her on Twitter at @AACchicks, on Facebook at Dynamic Therapy Associates, or her website www.mydynamictherapy.com.
Like what we do here at Talking With Tech? Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @talkingwithtech or our Facebook page and group! We'd love to hear any questions or feedback as well at tech@speechscience.org, and please take a moment to give us an iTunes review as it helps others find us. Talk to you next week!

Lauren Enders: AAC Implementation and Consultation in the Schools

In this episode the incomparable Lauren Enders, SLP and AAC specialist, joins Talking With Tech's Lucas Steuber and Chris Bugaj to talk practical tips for implementation and consultation in the schools. Meanwhile, Lucas and Rachel discuss some of the resources Lauren has created, including the "dos and dont's" of AAC instruction. Thanks so much for listening! For more on Lauren check out her frequent submissions to PrAACtical AAC as well as prolific posts on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. 
If you like what we do, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review on iTunes! We also appreciate any help keeping the lights on at patreon.speechscience.org. Happy listening!

Mark Barlet: Making Video Games Accessible to All

In this episode Rachel Madel and Chris Bugaj (and later just Chris) take over the episode to talk about accessible gaming! We welcome Mark Barlet of AbleGamers to talk about their work in making recreation available to everyone. Like what we do at Talking With Tech? Make sure to subscribe and rate on iTunes - and check out Chris's new book coming out soon: http://bit.ly/thenewatforall
Interview Notes:
Chris explain how he met Mark Barlet
Mark discusses what Ablegamers is all about
Mark talks about using videos games to escape
Video games as a social experience with meaningful friends
Mark talks about how Ablegamers was founded
Mark talks about how Ablegamers blossomed to what it is today
The focus changes from add single feature for single user to designing games for everyone because the market demands it
All game companies are building accessibility features into their design
Now Ablegamers is building new technologies with 3D printing
Ablegamers is reaching out to build game centers in places where people with disabilities are located
First steps to making games more accessible in schools
Getting administrators involved
Tablets are cracking the idea that games are meant for home only
Find someone who is passionate about games to lead the endeavor
Some schools have after school gaming clubs
Making games and coding could be part of STEM curriculum
When people come to Ablegamers, what do people do?
Ablegamers skew more to people with physical disabilities but are growing to people with cognitive disabilities or others
Ablegamers do an assessment

Jayne Clare: Criterion to Determine the Best Educational Apps

Jayne Clare, a thirty-year veteran teacher in special education, has been a leader in introducing educational technology into the classroom. She is co-founder of TeachersWithApps, a National School Boards Association "20 to Watch;" Leader Advancing Education Technology, and weekly host of EdAppTalk, an open table Facebook Group. She has worked with Brainpop facilitating webinars, served as an educational curator for many organizations and is an avid blogger. School reform, diversity, reading readiness and teacher tools are among her favorite topics. Through her extensive work critiquing educational content for TeachersWithApps, she has created a viable and valuable resource for educational technology and anything trending in the digital space.
In this episode, she joins Rachel and Lucas for an informative, inspirational, and often very funny conversation - and you'll learn a lot about apps!
As always, don't forget to rate, subscribe, and come join our the Facebook Page and Group, not to mention Twitter and Instragram. We'll only get better if we know what will benefit your practice!

Roundtable: Core Words

In a small departure from form, the gang - Rachel, Chris, and Lucas - decided that they had so much to say about core words (especially after speaking to Jane Odom last week) that an interview wasn't even necessary. Let us know what you think about this format, as we're considering alternating between strictly educational content like this interspersed with thought leaders like those we normally have.
Click here to visit the Patreon mentioned in the episode. Also, check out www.aaclivenow.com to visit AAC Live Now (seriously, reach out to lucas@speechscience.org or call him at 541-952-1699 if you would either like to help or would LIKE help - spoiler alert, Lucas - or even one more member member of TWT - just may end up being your consultant). 
... and of course, as always, don't forget to rate, subscribe, and come join our the Facebook Page and Group, not to mention Twitter and Instragram. We'll only get better if we know what will benefit your practice!