There is a wealth of information and materials for you on our website, so you may be asking yourself, "Where in the world do I start?" No worries, we've got you! This is the first stop in your training! In this unit we will be answering some primary questions to get you started!
Our specialized training hub dedicated to supporting communication success in Early Intervention in the home and our preschool classrooms
AAC Partner Strategy Kits are engaging posters/handouts, descriptions and short videos explaining and modeling techniques for you to use to help your student be willing, and able to communicate using their AAC system!
5 steps to move from training to talking, give you a clear path for you and your student learner. Learning to communicate is a shared journey between the learner and their partners, and that makes sense! Communication is a shared activity between two people. It is the means for us to make connections, meet our needs, engage socially, participate in shared experiences, and bridge the gap between our experiences and sharing these their partners.
In this video, Stephanie Ponte discusses the importance of cultural responsiveness when working with families in AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) interventions. She emphasizes that while practitioners may bring research, best practices, and tools to the table, if they fail to consider the family's cultural values and beliefs, their efforts may not be well-received. Cultural responsiveness means appreciating both cultural patterns and individual variations, engaging in self-reflection to address bias, and incorporating family dynamics into clinical decision-making. Stephanie highlights the need to balance empirical evidence with cultural sensitivity, addressing challenges such as differing views on communication independence, concerns about stigma, and the integration of AAC into daily routines. She also touches on interpersonal communication styles, vocabulary selection based on family values, and access to training and resources, stressing the importance of respecting and understanding each family's unique cultural and social context.
In this 30 minute video, we are discussing the use of the Communication Matrix, a free or low-cost on-line assessment tool to determine how and why our student communicates, and applying this knowledge to our goals determination!
In this video, Stephanie Ponte explores the critical role of cultural responsiveness in AAC interventions. She emphasizes the need for practitioners to consider the unique cultural values and beliefs of families when introducing AAC tools and strategies. By balancing empirical evidence with cultural sensitivity, Stephanie highlights how effective communication and mutual respect can lead to better outcomes for children using AAC.
Why would we use AAC supports for our very young students? In this training we are looking at myths, reasons for using AAC and how to conduct a contextually relevant assessment.