By Carrie Clark, CCC-SLP When children are learning to speak, one of the things they learn is how to answer questions. Some children pick this up easily, and others need a speech therapist or parent to help them through and teach it to them directly. Children who use Augmentative-Alternative Communication AAC are no dif...

By Daniel F. Dardiz M.A. CCC-SLP For the majority of us who have the privilege of working with individuals who may have special needs, we picture the young child beginning their first “communicative steps” learning how to access their devices, communicating those first words and phrases. This is such an awesome time...

By Tracy Custer, M.Ed, SLP, Regional Consultant, PRC The school year is quickly winding down and the summer months are soon here. One thing I know for sure is that the summer gives us the ability to rest, relax and engage in some of those activities that we never have time for during the school year. It also is the time...

By Sarah Williams, classroom teacher Some of the realities of teaching in a K-1 (in reality Pre-4th grade), self-contained classroom for students with intellectual disabilities are as follows: Communication is extremely important: receptive and expressive communication from students, communication with parents, commun...

Jeanne Tuthill, MA, CCC-SLP AT Specialist, Collaborative for Educational Services, Northampton, MA Adjunct Faculty, Simmons College, Boston, MA jtuthillslp@gmail.com Jeanne Tuthill Each time I teach my graduate class I try to invite at least one AAC user in as a guest speaker to share their story with the students in the ...

By Helen Canfield, MA, SLP, Augmentative Communication Specialist We teach parents and caregivers the best way to help their child to learn to use a communication device to talk is to respond, respond, respond. That means no matter which button gets pushed and words spoken the parents are to respond as though it was pu...