One of the most well known methods for working with students who are non-verbal is the Picture Exchange Communication System, or PECS. According to the PECS website, “PECS was developed in 1985 as a unique augmentative/alternative communication intervention package for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related developmental disabilities.” As the name suggest, PECS begins …
Category Archive: AT
Jan
31
Staying up to Date
The most common question I am asked when I speak at a local or national conference is “How do you stay up to date with all of this stuff?” While it would be nice to be able to say that I travel the world going from classroom to classroom and lab to lab to find …
Jan
17
Interactive Timelines
The use of graphic organizers in classrooms have been shown to be an effective practice for some time now. Graphic organizers can be anything from a Venn diagram or KWL chart to an interactive web based support. These types of supports help students make previously invisible connections visible. Now before you get too excited, there isn’t any …
Jan
10
Learning Styles
Are you a visual learner? If not, maybe you are more auditory or kinesthetic? If you are not sure, don’t worry because there is no shortage of websites or preference assessments you can purchase that will help you determine what type of learner you are. I bring this up because learning style preference assessments are …
Jan
03
AT vs IT (Instructional Technology)
Definitions are funny things sometimes. For example, if there is a student with a disability in my classroom and she receives an iPod Touch to help with basic study and time management skills, she has assistive technology. However, if everyone in the class has an iPod Touch it is instructional technology. That just seems odd… …
Sep
02
Comparing Newer AAC Devices
I’ve been saying for sometime now that the iPad and iPod Touch may fix many of the problems with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device abandonment we see so much in schools. I mean let’s be honest, even though some devices cost upwards of $5,000, kids do not want to carry these dedicated communication devices …
Aug
20
Helpful iPad Post
Ran across this post on an AT blog from the Virginia Department of Education about iPad orientation locking. iPads are becoming more and more popular in the classroom setting. However, I see some students struggle when it comes to holding them. If tilted just a little too much in one direction or the other, the …
Jul
06
MindMeister – Another Brainstorming Tool
I just came across a site called MindMeister, which is a web based mind mapping/brainstorming software. It is similar to mywebspiration.com (which is currently in beta and free, but will likely be available as a paid subscription only soon) and is free for up to three boards, or if you are in education you can …
May
11
A Low Cost AAC Alternative – Proloquo2Go
If you haven’t already heard, there is an App in the apple application store for iPhone and iPod Touches that can turn your iPod into an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device. If you’re not familiar with AAC devices, they help people who are unable to speak communicate with others… they give you a voice. …
Apr
20
Digital Text Resources
Finding sites with digital text (mostly free) is a job in itself. However, this is one of the most important things overlooked when schools decide to purchase text to speech software. I remember doing a 2 or 3 hour training on how to use such software, then asking participants where they were going to get …