March 31, 2023
Special School District
2888 Brightside Lane
Baton Rouge
Overview
7:30- 8:15 Registration
8:30 – 10:00 Session 1
10:15 – 11:45 Session 2
11:45 – 12:45 Lunch Break
12:45 – 2:15 Session 3
2:30 – 4:00 Session 4
About
A full day of free professional development focused on Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
Presentations
Rocking out AAC
Presenters: Justin Sims
Presenters: Katie Sample
Listening to music and reading books are fundamental activities for all children at school and at home. This training demonstrates how popular music and traditional literature are used in creative ways to teach core vocabulary on AAC devices. Participants learn to create songs and stories to use during SLP sessions, classroom activities.
Core Board Make and Take
Presenter: Josh Miller
Core vocabulary consists of a relatively small set of very powerful words that make up about 85% of the words that we use. Complex communicators can use a low tech “paper based” board that utilizes core language as a primary or secondary means of communication. In this hands-on session, participants will be able to create a core language communication board that they can customize and take with them. Making the board to the user preferences can help with implementation by increasing motivation to use the board. Materials such as core vocabulary boards, plastic backing, Velcro and colorful duct tape will be provided.
He Talks Through Movie Quotes
Presenters: Katie Sample & Ereeni Roulakis
In this session, we will discuss and define gestalt language processing (GLP) and Natural Language Acquisition (NLA), the developmental language framework for GLPs on the Autism Spectrum and beyond. We will review how AAC is appropriate for more than just “nonverbal” students and how AAC can be utilized to support gestalt language processors. Finally, we will discuss different AAC apps and highlight different features that can support gestalt language development with case examples. Participants will leave this session with the confident understanding that AAC is an effective tool for all complex communicators.
Communicative Intent
Presenter: Tammy Dupre
Do you have students who grab your arm, point, grunt, scream, push, or bite to communicate? In this session we will explore strategies and techniques to help identify communicative intent. We will create a communication dictionary, script and role play communication responses to student behavior. These tools will allow teams to create consistent communication modeling to support language development.